Winston wheels.

• Author: Overman, Ogi
• Position: NC TREND: Triad Region

Given Winston-Salem's ancestral roots with tobacco, it may seem ironic that the city is poised to become home base for Olympic-caliber athletes in one of the most grueling and training-intensive sports--bicycle racing. But it makes perfect sense to Richard Rauck, who is spearheading a campaign to establish the National Cycling Center in the Twin City.

"Our topography, with rolling hills as well as rather steep inclines, and our proximity to rural areas makes us a perfect location," says Rauck, an anesthesiologist who is also executive director of the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic, an annual race that for five years has attracted elite riders from across the globe. "Plus, our temperate climate and size works to our advantage. You wouldn't want to put these world-class cyclists out on big-city streets to train, especially in winter." Rauck's daughter, Lauren Komanski, is a member of a professional women's cycling team based in Silicon Valley.

Rauck and his partners are coming down the homestretch on the project, which will serve as a comprehensive training facility for about 20 elite athletes from across the country. A youth program also will have access to the center. In addition to 10 double-occupancy rooms, it will include training equipment; exam, study and meeting rooms; a metabolic testing lab; plus a kitchen and lounge. The only similar U.S. facility is in Carson, Calif., Rauck says.

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