Neal Shepherd raced at the Swamp Classic for about six consecutive years.
Last February was the first time he competed at the collegiate level, and he went home with the highest achievement. A vice president of Team Florida, UF’s bike club, said he was excited to defend his title as a senior this year.
But after about 16 years, the Swamp Classic, a two-day road race and a fundraiser for Team Florida, was canceled.
Team Florida president Dustin White said the club didn’t raise any money at last year’s race because there were not enough participants due to conflicts with other races and the Super Bowl.
White, a 21-year-old UF mechanical engineering senior, said the race was scheduled for Super Bowl weekend again.
“To stop a near 20-year tradition, it kind of sucks,” he said. “But we didn’t want to take the chance.”
White added the race was also much more expensive to host than in previous years.
“Our major killer on costs was police officers [that regulate the race and traffic] on that downtown course,” he said.
Shepherd, a 19-year-old UF applied physiology and kinesiology major, said the cancellation wasn’t what the club wanted, but it was for the best.
“I am certainly disappointed,” he said, “but it was a hit-or-miss.”
