Photo by Bonnie Heater Doyce Johnson streaks by in Fort Gordon's Tour de Fort Century Plus Bike Ride held Nov. 1 on Range Road. The Grovetown cyclist earned first place in the 35-54 age category and was named the overall winner of the event with a finishing time of 5:38:03. He won last year's Fort Gordon Tour de Fort, which was a 12-hour endurance race. Fort Gordon's Tour de Fort Bicycle Race took on a different twist this year. First of all it had a new name. It's the Tour de Fort Century Plus Bike Ride and instead of the usual 12-hour endurance road race it was a 100 miles plus bike ride.

"The thought was that there would be more interest with the change in format," said Neil Smith, the sports coordinator, for the post's Recreation Division of the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "We had 48 riders participating this year."

The event kicked off at 8 a.m. Nov. 1 at Fort Gordon. The race was once again open to the public. The race course was a 15- mile loop [about 105 miles], which offer a challenge of flat and hilly terrain on Range Road.

In the individual bicyclist competition all the participants had to be 18 years old or older.

In the team competition two, three or 4 individuals could make up a team. Co-ed teams were classified as male teams. Older riders could compete in the Younger Age Groups, but young riders could not compete in Older Age Groups in the team competition. There were three age groups competing in the event - 18 to 34 years old, 35 to 54 years old and 55 and older.

Thomas McClelland finished first in 7:19:53 in the male 18- 34 age group. Also, finishing and placing in that age group was Eliezer Rodriguez. He placed second and Tom King Jr. took third place. McClelland won the $100 prize and a trophy as the top male solo finisher in his age group.

Doyce Johnson earned first place in the 35-54 age category and was named the overall winner of the event with a finishing time of 5:38:03. The Grovetown resident won last year's Fort Gordon Tour de Fort, which was a 12-hour endurance race, according to Smith. He took home the $100 prize and a trophy for his age group, as well as another $100 for being the overall winner- . Earning second place in the same age category was Kevin Kaiser and Yuan Hsu took third place.

In the 55 and over category, Gary Carter captured first place with a finishing time of 6:28:12 and earned himself $100 and a trophy. Richard Thompson earned second place; Jim Wallace took third place.

Anne Ledbetter took first place in the overall category for women after completing 6 laps in 7:21:57. Leslie Shapiro earned first place in the 35-55 category of women after finishing 6 laps with a time of 7:21:58. Both women took home $100 each and a trophy.

In the team competition, Lonnie Peplau, Peter Bommicino and Josh Boggs placed first in 5:16:48 in the 18-34 year old category. Craig Zimmerman, Peter Bauer and Michael Terry capture first place in the 35-54 year old category with a finishing time of 6:05:36.

And in the 55 and over category, the two men team of Paul Biddinger and David Slobodin crossed the finish line and earned first place with a time of 6:55:55. All three teams won $200 each and a trophy.

Outspokin' Bicycles, Herbert Homes, Chain Reaction Cycling and Ann Taylor Certified Pre-Owned Car and Truck Sales of Augusta sponsored this year's Tour de Fort Century Plus Bike Ride.