Worcester cyclists tackle steep hill in race to honor 'Major' Taylor

WORCESTER – Hunched over the handle bars, teeth gritting and calves bulging, more than 90 cyclists crested one of the city's steepest hills Sunday, July 26 for the annual George Street Bike challenge.

Held in honor of legendary cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor, many riders dawned jersey's with Taylor's face and name as they battled the near-vertical looking 500-foot roadway that connects Main Street to Harvard Street above it.

Taylor once confronted the George Street incline himself after moving to Worcester from his native Indianapolis in 1895 and kicking off a professional racing career. He'd go on to face steeper obstacles of racial discrimination before being crowned the world cycling champion in 1899 – the first Black American to achieve a world championship in any sport.

Known as the "Worcester Whirlwind," Taylor died in 1932, but his memory was well alive at Sunday's event, July 26.

"We just like having to honor him and everything he brought to the cycling world," said participant Denise Scotia, 57.

For Bryon Sweeney, who co-organizes the challenge – now in its 24th year – Taylor paved a path for his own racing career.

"You're trying your hardest to be this thing that you can't be and you feel like you're gonna let down a whole group of people that you've never met. I'm carrying their hopes and dreams," said Sweeney who said he started cycling competitively in high school from the pressure to achieve as a Black man.

"But then you find out what Major Taylor did, you know he was champion of the world, and it's like, 'OK. Now the weight is off of me,'" he said.

Sweeney's son, Ayre Stephenson-Sweeney, 18, went on to claim the race's fastest time, crossing the finish after only 22.94 seconds.

Don Bonner, 61, and Scotia both read a book about Taylor's life before the race Sunday morning, July 26 – Scotia for the first time and Bonner retuning for his sixth go at the incline.

Bonner remarked on Taylor's perseverance despite the vitriol often flung at him from competitors and spectators alike.

"He would have to stay in front of the path because he said, 'If they catch me, they're going to kill me,'" said Bonner. "That was his biggest fear."

Well attended

The near perfect weather Sunday, July 26 was a welcome turn from last year’s rain – though the torrent had been a good excuse for riders displeased with their times.

“Oh yeah, it was totally the rain’s fault that I was so slow last year,” said Sweeney.

“I was just peeling the whole way, couldn’t get traction,” he added with a wink, later conceding that beyond the discomfort, rain doesn’t have much impact on race times.

This go-around, 85 cyclists preregistered for the event followed by a handful of registrations the day of, according to Seth Popinchalk, the second arm of the organizing duo.

Lining both sides of the George Street sidewalk were over a hundred onlookers shouting encouragement as some riders stalled on the hill’s second half or shook their heads in amazement as some appeared to zip effortlessly up the slope.

Amongst those unfazed by the hill’s 18% grade was Thomas Goguen, 32, who completed the race in 23.31 seconds, just shy of the 22.19 all-time record.

Goguen, one of six of his siblings to compete, came back down the hill shaking his head.

“So close,” he said.

Goguen's father, Ron Goguen, crested the incline donning a collared shirt and khakis. The family, many of whom are competitive cyclists, had popped over to the race after church, he explained. He estimated it to be his 13th time competing.

"It's a fun family event. It's simple because even I can do it in under a minute,” said the father of 10.

Bike strategy

Many of the cyclists took test runs before a blow horn sent them barreling up the hill for the real deal. Chatter rife with cyclist jargon followed as competitors obsessed over the right gear to put their bike in and when to come out of the saddle.

Margo Pawlak who finished second overall amongst the women with a time of 39.60, had never ridden the hill before she competed for the first time five years ago.

“It cracks me up now because everyone kept asking how my test run went and I was like, ‘You’re supposed to do that?’" said Pawlak.

The 59-year-old from Westford said unlike other slopes she faces while biking, George Street challenges riders to begin at an incline with no time to build momentum.

“The beginning is hard but then it gets real, real steep in the second half,” she said. “I always say I won’t come out of the saddle right away but then I do.”

Rather than overcomplicate his approach with specific strategies or set high expectations for himself, Mack Maloney, 31, of Lancaster just planned to give it his all.

“I’m just going to pedal as hard and as fast as I can,” he said.

Results overall:

Men: First, Ayre Stephenson-Sweeney, 22.94 seconds; second, Sean Goguen, 23 seconds; third, Tyler Paquin, 23.13 seconds

Women: First, Madison Johnson, 37.88 seconds; second, Margo Pawlak, 39.60 seconds; third, Catherine Holmes, 51 seconds

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester cyclists tackle steep hill in race to honor 'Major' Taylor

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