With Rust Shaker postponed to April 27th, all eyes will be on the BISSELL/Einstein showdown in Cedar Springs.

BISSELL’s 2013 season has started off red hot, and they’ll call on a new line-up to keep things bubbling at the Fisk Knob Time Trial this weekend. After impressive rides at Barry-Roubaix and a 1-2 at the Lowell 50, BISSELL is looking unbeatable thus far.

They’ll send the number one ranked time trialist in the state, Alex Vanias, to the start line in Cedar Springs. The start itself is a bald little bump in the middle of rolling farmland that hosts one of the state’s oldest cycling events around. Vanias is a regular at Fisk Knob, and the small course change shouldn’t bother him in the least. It knocks off roughly two miles of flat road and a hairpin corner, so for the strongmen, it only gives them more time at top end.

Vanias will be joined by teammates Daniel Lam and Jordan Diekema, giving BISSELL a solid squad to contest the day. However, Einstein Racing is sending two of its strongest riders as well, including Chris Fisher astride his new FOCUS Chrono. Fisher has a long and illustrious pedigree in the “Race of Truth” and will use Fisk Knob as a big test after getting some great race miles in at Barry-Roubaix. John Leach has targeted the time trials this season and has noted the State Championships on June 23 as a big target this year, his first full campaign in the 1/2 ranks.

The dark horse of the day is James Minnema, rounding out the relatively small Men’s Pro 1/2 field.

Interestingly, there are no Women’s 1/2 entrants. Einstein Racing’s Zoe Reeves will be racing as a Junior, and Mackenzie Woodring has opted for the tandem class. The battles there will fall in the CAT 3 and 4 races, where Katie Hamel of New Holland Brewing Cycling Team will look to take the team’s first win by nipping off Sandy Reid and Christy Burt. In the 3s, Hagerty’s Melissa makes her full time trial debut in style, unleashing a Cervelo P2 against powerhouse Lori Hotchkin and Danielle Mullis.

There’s also some big bragging rights on the table as the Rapid Wheelmen crown sends five riders to the Fixed Gear class. Dennis Hamel, Brian VanZweden, David Durkee, Joel Bierling and Benham DeJohg will start assured of the team taking a win, but will certainly rather take it for themselves.