International Cycling Classic: Feng attacks to secure overall lead

Feng Chun-Kai launched a bold attack Wednesday to win the Humboldt Park Bay View Rumble and take a firm hold on an international title to go with his Taiwan national championship.

The 23-year-old surged out of a breakaway group with five laps to the finish and held off a hard-charging Andrew Crater. The win gave Feng (Action Cycling Team) a 40-point lead over Laurent Beuret (Team Atlas Personal) in the chase for the overall title in the 43rd Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic.

With four races left in the Superweek series, Feng's lead is nearly insurmountable.

Crater, of Fox Point, nearly matched Feng's aggressiveness in the overwhelming heat on Wednesday (heat index of 110), and won the day's four sprint contests. He moved into second place, behind Feng, in pursuit of the red sprint champion's jersey.

"The scorching heat and humidity are making life miserable for cycling stars from around the globe, said series announcer Eddy Van Guyse. "Nevertheless they endure and race at incredible speeds."

On Thursday, the racers will turn laps on a .8-mile criterium course in the Brewers Hill Challenge, adjacent to Schlitz Park.

While Feng can ease through the day and hold his yellow jersey, the masters riders will have to work to hold position in a tight race for the title. John Fleckenstein (Team Mack Racing) rode to second place in Humboldt Park and moved into the overall lead. His margin is just four points over Patrick Briggs, of California.

The masters race starts at 11:15 a.m. and the pros hit the line at 2:55 p.m.