The Do Indiana Off-Road (D.IN.O) Mountain Bike Racing series has called the Winona Lake Trails home since 2002, a full three years before partnering with the Fat & Skinny Tire festival in 2005 to make the first race in a series of six a headlining festivity of a three-day festival that celebrates those who love to get their exercise and fun done on two wheels.
The festival was back once again this past weekend, as were the D.IN.O races. Contests for all different skill levels and age groups were held Saturday at the trail. With groups ranging from riders just beginning their cycling careers to the more experienced riders competing, fans of all ages were in attendance to give the races a big time feel.
D.IN.O will host around 25 events around the state of Indiana in a given year, including the six mountain bike races in a series that will run until the end of August. The rules are simple: compete in a race and try to finish with the best time possible to get the most points. Points are then accumulated over the course of the series. D.IN.O also has trail run and triathlon events.
“We love coming out here because the KCB Cycling Club is so good to us. A lot of people come together to help us make this happen and we just love being out here,” D.IN.O Director Brian Holzhausen said.
While conditions for racing weren’t perfect, it was a scorcher of a day, but Holzhausen praised the quality of the trail.
“It’s one of the better-maintained ones in the state,” he said. Some of our trails get super muddy and they stay muddy in the spring, but the sand in this one helps it dry up and get ready for some races.”
For the second straight year, Rick Mezo of Crown Point took first place in the Elite Men division, finishing with a time of 2:15:29. He was able to beat second-place finisher Kevin Broadstreet by 40 seconds. He wasn’t the only Mezo to win their race, as Kaitlyn Mezo took first place in the Elite Women division, taking first in a field of five women with a time of 2:03:07, nearly three minutes ahead of Jana Upton.
The next race in the D.IN.O Series will take place at Brown County State Park in two weeks. Competitors can count on returning to Winona Lake for years to come, as the relationship between the Fat & Skinny Tire Festival and D.IN.O is as strong as ever.
“We love being a part of it, we make sure that it’s on our calendar to come back every spring,” Holzhausen said. “The community support is absolutely fantastic and it’s a natural fit for us to do the race as the festival. Our relationship has only gotten better and we’re thankful for the support and exposure they’ve provided us with.”