Khashan Culmer

[ by khashan poitier ] Courtesy Tom Judd Photography A the scenic route ntiques shops, barbecue shacks, Victorian-style landmarks and Denton’s limestone clock tower will be just a blurry kaleidoscope of color for 500 cyclists racing through the city’s historic downtown streets for the first Premier Criterium Cup this fall. Hang out under the massive pecan trees by the Courthouse-on-the-Square while professionals and amateurs zoom by on the 1-mile course, all in hopes of becoming the next Lance Armstrong. Professional cyclists such as German-born Stefan Rothe, New Zealander Heath Blackgrove and former national champ Chris Wherry of Colorado will whoosh by at 35 miles per hour. The Cup is one of only five races in the state with Premier Cup distinction. This spectator-friendly type of competitive cycling—shorter and faster than most bike races—is a peculiarly American brand of racing that challenges world-class athletes while playing to the crowds and highlighting the arts and entertainment of host cities. The Denton Convention and Visitor Bureau worked four years to bring the race to town. Coming as the cycling season winds down, the Cup is part of an already packed calendar including 300 other state races. While other Cups shut down cities, the Denton Cup will showcase the city’s shops, pubs and sites. “Denton has charm, that European flavor,” www.dentonlive.com says race promoter Christian Williams. Not that the bikers will notice, given their speeds. Fast means a bigger draw, says Christian, who is hoping for a turnout of 1,000 spectators. “Our little Euro race,” he says affectionately. The race will be swarming with guys seeking to imitate Lance Armstrong, but not everyone fits that mold. Meet the rebel: Andrew Dahlheim, a 20year-old high school dropout from Lance’s hometown of Plano. Andrew’s personality fits his feisty 5-foot-6, 140-pound frame, the scruffy jaw line, the pierced ears and the signature Oakley sunglasses. (For any given day, he has 32 pairs to choose from.) No, he is definitely not a Lance wannabe. Nor does he want to be. No one’s ever going to win seven Tour de France titles again, he thinks. No one’s ever going to match Lance’s celebrity status. “To be honest, there are other races that I would like to win,” he says cockily. Andrew is an unconventional rider. He didn’t finish high school. He didn’t attend college like most of his teammates from the FCS/Metro Volkswagen Cycling Club. (That’s Foundation for the Cultivation of Sport.) He doesn’t have a job, although getting up at 7 a.m. to ride his Retül bicycle from White Rock Lake in Dallas to Flower Mound or Denton - 15 to 30 hours a week - is a lot of work. People question how he does it. Andrew is a punching bag for criticisms, especially the fact that he left school. “I kind of like it,” he says, ever the rebel. The Cup is just another stage that allows him to prove his critics wrong. Andrew is definitely “living the dream,” as he says. With no other responsibilities, all he does is ride. His career highlight was riding for the U.S. national team in Belgium and he once beat Tyler Hamilton, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist. He’s raced the big names like Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, too. He is a down-to-earth athlete, not one of those taking-life-too-seriously jocks. He has … personality, to say the least. Denton’s Cup race could expand someday into a multi-day race. Andrew is eager for that. It means more crowds to cheer him on, pushing him to become a legend that spectators lining Denton’s streets could someday remember nostalgically. [ just the facts ] When: Sept. 26 & 27 Where: Downtown Square Highlights: High Wheel Bicycle Expo, live music, face painting, and much more! Parking: Free spots around the Square 11