photos by Todd Newcomer

Approximately 1,450 riders crowded the starting lines Saturday morning for the 35th Annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Cyclists anxiously gulped a last few precious ounces of coffee, double checked their tire pressure and filled their water bottles. Jerseys crammed full of energy bars and bananas, citizen racers packed it in at the starting line waiting for the train to blow its whistle and the race to begin. In a flash Camino del Rio was awash in a blur of Lycra as riders calmed their nerves and readied themselves for the long haul to Silverton.