Local racers have produced impressive results during the past three weekends of racing.

The races were a collection of events within the highly regarded Greenville Training Race Series in Greenville, S.C., hosted by Rich Hincapie. Hincapie is the father of the renowned professional cyclist George Hincapie.

The first event was on Feb. 23 at the Donaldson Center. Justin Beard of Team "Black Sheep Cycling Cartel" placed 39th in the Pro/1/2 elite field in the 56-mile road race. Sam Adamy of Team Flight Club placed 28th in the category 5 event.

Both of these riders rode very aggressively and were in the lead of their prospective events, but were both caught just before finishing their races.

Mike "Vandy" VandenHeuvel of Team Flight Club finished 13th in the elite Masters 35+ event. Mac Canon, who races for Team Hincapie/Coca-Cola, placed 18th in the elite Masters 45+ race.

On Sunday, Feb. 24, the races took placed at the BMW Performance Center where the competitors challenged themselves on a closed circuit. In the Pro/1/2 race Justin Beard demonstrated his elite potential as a criterium specialist by coming in sixth, putting him as the highest placed amateur against the professionals. Canon also placed sixth in his race.

The Fork Shoals Road Race was held on March 1 where local racers once again demonstrated their early-season racing form. Beard again finished sixth among the professionals in a highly competitive and difficult road race. Adamy came in third and Canon finished 18th.

Beard finished 21st against the professionals the next day at the Donaldson Center event. Adamy finished in sixth place in the category 5 race.

On Saturday, March 8, Beard came in 17th with the pros at the River Falls Road Race. Adamy finished 23rd. Once again these two racers were very aggressive during their events, but things did not go as planned and their efforts were diminished by the organized chasers.

The final event was once again held at the Donaldson Center on March 9. Beard finished in the middle of the field in 21st place and Sam Adamy came in seventh place in his race.

Upcoming races include March 15 and 16 in the "Out Like A Lion" race weekend in Albemarle and Salisbury. For more information visit Web site ncsccyclingassoc.com.

Weekly rides: Since the time change there are now local rides leaving Rainbow Cycles hosted by the Sandhills Cycling Club at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

On March 22, Team Flight Club is hosting a training race/ride at 9 a.m. from the BP gas station in Southern Pines at the corner of Broad St. and Connecticut Ave.

Greg Combs is a cyclist and coach for more than 30 years and is considered an expert in bicycling fit and rider positioning. He is also the director of the Sport Management Program at Methodist University in Fayetteville. For more information browse www.velosmart.com or e-mail him at gcombs@methodist.edu.