The 2012 edition of the Healthy Newton Omnium is ready for you! Newton County is less than 30 miles east of Atlanta. The volunteers of Healthy Newton are generally from Rockdale, Newton, Morgan and Walton counties. We put on races and benefit rides in our counties showcasing the great low traffic riding we love. You can see 200 year old mansions in town or 200 hundred year old farm houses out where we ride and race. Goals for this race are to raise money for our Newton Trails efforts and safe road markings.

The race is quite junior friendly where a junior can choose to race the junior classes which are generally shorter than the open classes but on the same roads. It is also masters Cat 4-5 friendly. The masters Cat 1-3 have their own races.

We have some new volunteers working behind the scenes to make this event better. Same courses as last year. Crit races start a half hour sooner but most crit races are 5 minutes shorter. One sponsor is looking to do some fun crit primes. We shall see.

Course description: All races are in Newton County just a few miles east of Atlanta south of I20. The Saturday morning time trial is a rolling course on the east side of the county just east of Highway 11 south of I20. You are in the Brick Store voting district. Less than a mile northeast of the TT start is the old historic stagecoach brick store off 278. We start at Crossroads Baptist and ride towards Newborn past some subdivisions and row crop farms. The junior course is 7.5 miles out and back. The adult course is about 14.2 miles out and back. The start is a gentle downhill and rolls up and down until you turn back. That last kilometer is all uphill and is payback for that fast start you enjoyed.

If you take the scenic route to the crit course you could drive past some mansions on Floyd Street near Downtown Covington with the historic courthouse in the square. Lots of good eateries around the square. The Saturday afternoon crit course is ten minutes west of the square. Located on the west edge of Newton County just south of I20 in a subdivision with no houses. No traffic and good pavement. A unique course about a kilometer in length. How many crits have you done with one turn? That left turn is after a gentle climb past the finish line.

The Sunday road race is back over towards the east side of the county. About 28 miles long. Lots of gentle rollers, false flats, turns and a few punchy short steep climbs. Newton County Deputies at all major turns or road crossings. Junior course is a shorter version with the same start and finish.

Omnium info: You have to do all three races to be in contention. We pay three deep for the money classes. Prizes or medals for the prizes and medals classes. Scoring: If 20 people start your race first place is 20 points. Second place is 19. Third place is 18. Person with the most points for all three events wins the omnium for your class.

We will try to avoid any combining of classes. Last year we had a good turnout so there was never a concern about combined classes. Minimum class size of 5. No mixing of women's and men's classes. Note that the USA Cycling rules say the Cat 5 race has a limit of 50 riders.

Preregistration is a big help. Avoid the day of registration fee. Pre-registration closes Thursday at midnight. https://www.edgereg.com/registration/event/898

Volunteers Needed! We are looking for volunteers for the Sunday race. We need turn marshals and wheel trucks. Send me an email or call 404-643-8863 if you want to help out. -Jim Behning, race organizer