Doylestown Health Team Ready to Roll at Bucks County Classic, Sept. 11

Photo: Bethany Matsick (right) & Jessica Chong (left). Photo Credit: Brad Landis. 

It’s become a cherished tradition in Doylestown as well as the premier cycling event in Southeastern Pennsylvania: The Bucks County Classic. Attracting more than 200 racers from a dozen countries and 20 states, the event is celebrating its 18^th year on the streets of Doylestown alongside the Doylestown Arts Festival on September 11, 2022.

As a major supporter of the bike race, Doylestown Health sponsors the 14-person elite cycling team, Doylestown Bike Works p/b (powered by) Fred Beans, and the Doylestown Health Pro Women’s Race.

Racing Through the Town

For the five Bucks County Classic races, the course is the same: a 1.4-mile loop consisting of eight turns and with 90 feet of climbing per lap. It circles the Doylestown Arts Festival and loops through residential and business areas. This type of race is called a criterium — the Bucks County Classic is considered one of the toughest courses in the United States.

“It’s a very unique race and very hard. It has a lot of elevation to it,” explains Brian Boger, team director of Doylestown Bike Works p/b Fred Beans and partner at Bike Works. “There are places where racers are going 35-plus miles an hour and suddenly having to make a hard, right turn and slowing down to 17 miles an hour and having to get right back up to 35-plus miles an hour again. It has a lot of tight turns and can be dangerous.”

Unfortunately, accidents are not uncommon with so many racers in such close proximity on such a challenging course, says Brian.

While the course is the same for all races happening that day, each race differs in its distance or its time. The Thompson Pro Men race is 50 miles; the Doylestown Health Pro Women race is 25 miles; the Masters 45+ and Amateur Women are 35 minutes each; and the Eagle Power Turf and Tractor Amateur Men is 45 minutes.

Local Interest

One of the goals of our cycling team is to develop local athletes, according to Brian. “After that, our goal is to get our racers to the next level,” he says, adding that the racing culture in Doylestown is very strong — it’s essentially, an epicenter.

One of the two women on our elite team participating in the Doylestown Health Pro Women’s race is Bethany Matsick from Warrington. She started racing two years ago at Liberty University but graduated in 2021 and is now riding for Bike Works. This will be at her first-ever Bucks County Classic.

“I have really enjoyed racing with my teammate, Jessica Chong, as she has a lot more experience than I do and has helped me a lot in the last year. Although it’s just the two of us on the women’s team, it’s been fun to get to know Jess,” says Bethany.

And she can’t wait to race as a local. “My goal is to do as well as I can for the team whether that means helping Jess place well or achieving a high placement myself,” Bethany says. “I am just excited to have a hometown race and to be able to truly enjoy the experience.”

Schedule of Events

The annual Bucks County Classic includes a professional men’s race, the Doylestown Health Pro Women’s race, amateur, and children’s events. The race day schedule includes:

• 9:10 AM Masters 45+ Race
• 9:55 AM Amateur Women Race
• 10:40 AM Eagle Power Turf and Tractor Amateur Men Race
• 11:30 AM The Herald Ride the Course
• 12:05 PM Doylestown Health Pro Women Race
• 1:10 PM Jarrett Vaughan Builders Kids Races
• 1:50 PM Thompson Pro Men Race
• 3:45 PM Awards Ceremony

For more information on the race, visit the Bucks County Classic.