Time trials for the 2012 Missouri State Bicycle Championships started at 9 a.m. Saturday in Callaway County along State Road 94 next to the Missouri River.
A closed-course criterium race is scheduled Sunday afternoon through downtown Jefferson City.
Mike Weiss of St. Louis, who is coordinating the championship events, said time trials along Missouri 94 Saturday attracted 136 riders competing in 33 race categories.
"We have a really great day for the event. We are pleased with entries from not only Missouri but also from around the nation," Weiss said.
Entries, he said, came as far away as Arizona and Minnesota
"But since this is the Missouri State Championships," Weiss added, "most of the entries are from Missouri."
Big Shark Bicycle Co. of St. Louis is coordinating the Saturday time trials and the Sunday criterium races in downtown Jefferson City.
All lanes of Missouri 94 remained open to regular vehicle traffic during the time trials. Bikers traveled in the driving lane for the duration of the event.
All of the bikers were widely separated along the route. They were racing against the clock, not each other. The wide separation between bikers made it easier for drivers and bikers to share the road.
Missouri 94 is a relatively flat and straight asphalt surface running along Missouri River bottom land between rock bluffs and the Missouri River.
Competition was in 33 categories for men, women and juniors in various age groups.
On Sunday the state bike competition moves across the river to downtown Jefferson City for the Missouri Championship Criterium Bicycle Races.
The downtown race course will go from the Missouri Capitol, east on High Street to Madison Street, north on Madison to East Capitol Avenue and back to the Capitol.