Student-athletes from across the Bluegrass State converged on Burlington this past weekend for a mountain bike race.
Dubbed the “Showdown on the Creek,” the event, which took place on Sept. 13 at England Idlewild Park in Burlington, was the second race in the Kentucky Interscholastic Cycling League’s 2026 Pedal for the Roses series. The race included students in grades five through 12.
The race featured around 300 racers, marking the fourth consecutive year the Kentucky league has held an event at England-Idlewild Park.
The race was hosted by the Northern Kentucky Roots, a composite junior mountain biking team comprised of athletes from Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, as well as a few athletes from Ohio. Since the team’s founding in 2021, it has grown to over 75 members.
“This park has an amazing trail network that really highlights the hard work our student-athletes have put in all season. It’s more than just a race; it’s a community event where families, coaches, and volunteers come together to support these young riders. The energy is electric, and we had a huge showing of families and community members out to spectate for the event,” NKY Roots Head Coach Brian Bozeman said in a news release.
The Kentucky Interscholastic Cycling League organizes five races during its fall season. Three races remain on the 2026 schedule, beginning Sept. 27 at Capitol View Park in Frankfort. Additional races are scheduled for Oct. 11 in Grand Rivers and Oct. 25 in Greensburg, where the league will hold its state championship.
The season will be followed by a Midwest regional event in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in early November.
