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By C. David Kotok
World-Herald Staff Writer

Karla Ewert stood on the balcony of her fifth-floor Riverfront Place condo and checked out the view she will have of the new pedestrian bridge linking Omaha and Council Bluffs across the Missouri River.

Stephen Moore leads high school bands from Omaha and Council Bluffs at today's groundbreaking of the pedestrian bridge linking the two cities. He is conductor at Thomas Jefferson High in the Bluffs; he also was conducting the Omaha Central band.

The span across the river moved a step closer to reality for Ewert today as Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan ceremonially turned over the first shovels of dirt on the $22 million bridge.

"I'm looking forward to looking out the window at that bridge all lit up," Ewert said. "That's my dream."

The second Tour of Puerto Rico (UCI 2.2) was cancelled Tuesday, less than 48 hours before it was scheduled to start after race organizers said sponsorship money could not be secured to hold the event.

Unfortunately, some of the more than 100 riders and 17 teams who were scheduled to start the four-day, five-stage event on Thursday learned of the development after they arrived.

Team Kaos of Nebraska, which competed in the inaugural edition of the race in April of 2005, found out the bad news as it was gathering its bags off the carousel at the airport.

San Juan, Puerto Rico - This year's Tour of Puerto Rico (UCI 2.2) promised to be a longer, harder and - its promoters said - a much more organized race.

Unfortunately, the more than 100 riders and 17 teams who were scheduled to start the four-day, five-stage event on Thursday will never know. At noon Tuesday, the Puerto Rican Cycling Federation held a press conference to announce the race had been canceled.

Alexis Cruz, federation president, said the race organization failed to gather the $30,000 needed to cover expenses and prizes.

Team Kaos, made up mostly of Nebraskans, won't race in Puerto Rico after all.

The five-stage, four-day race was canceled Tuesday, less than 48 hours before it was to begin. Cycling federation president Alexis Cruz said the race organization failed to raise the $30,000 needed for expenses and prizes.

Team Kaos was one of 17 teams entered from around the world. The inaugural 2005 version was hampered by logistical problems, including inadequate housing, last-minute course changes and traffic jams.

Omaha World-Herald, Wednesday, Sept. 13

Team Kaos, made up mostly of Nebraskans, begins competing Thursday at the Tour of Puerto Rico.

The five-stage, four-day race starts with a 65.1-mile race at Guaynabo-Hatillo, followed by a 68.2-run at San German-Salinas. The final stage Sunday is a 53.3-mile circuit race.

Team Kaos is one of 17 teams entered from around the world. Gering. Neb., native Jarred Berger is the top returning Team Kaos member, having finished 13th a year ago in Puerto Rico.

PELLA, Iowa - Tim Farnham of Team Kaos ventured off on his own halfway through the Iowa State Criterium Championships Saturday and stayed away to score his fourth victory of the season.

The Lincoln resident won the Pro-I-II race on the sixth-tenths of a mile course around Caldwell Park in Pella by riding solo for the last 15 laps of the hour-long race.

Farnham's victory was the 40th race won by a member of Team Kaos in 2006. Last year, the Nebraska-based racing team won 42 races.

The following letter to the editor was printed in the Aug. 25 edition of the Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska's second-largest daily newspaper.

I was disappointed to read the letter by Derald E. Gottsleben (“No rules for bicyclists,” Aug. 18) criticizing the behavior of bicyclists in Lincoln.

It is unfortunate that a very small percentage of commuter cyclists are ruining the image of those who are obeying the traffic laws. However, the same runs true for motorists. For every 200 cars that pass me on my commute, there is usually one that nearly clips me with its side mirror, cuts me off at a turn or honks at me as if I have no business riding in the street.

As a member of one of Nebraska’s largest bicycle clubs, Team Kaos, we constantly preach to our members to follow the rules of the road, ride defensively — and to always wear a helmet. The majority of us also own cars, so we are paying for our right to ride on city streets.

Sean Weide, Omaha

NORFOLK, Neb. - Omahan Jon Randall came within a tire length of winning all three stages of the inaugural Norfolk Classic Stage Race which concluded Sunday.

Riding for Lincoln Plating-Lemond, Randall finished second in Sunday's 75-minute Pro-I-II criterium to Team Kaos' Tim Farnham of Lincoln, but easily secured the overall victory on the strength of his victories in Saturday's 77-mile road race and 15.6-mile time trial.

Farnham finished second overall, 1:16 behind Randall, while another Team Kaos rider, Marco Vasquez, was third, 2:28 behind.