A memorial bicycle race and fundraiser was held in Carlsbad Saturday for a North County bicyclist who was killed in August when he was hit by a North County Transit District bus on Camp Pendleton.
Bicyclists of all backgrounds gathered at around 8 a.m. at the SPY Optic global headquarters to race in honor of Udo Heinz.
Heinz, a well-known cyclist, was killed on August 4 when he and two other bicyclists were hit by a NCTD bus while riding on Camp Pendleton.
Heinz grew up in Idar-Berstein, Germany and was said to have discovered the sport of triathlon as a teen, before going on to compete in several cycling races, contests and competitions.
Last weekend, sponsors and organizers of the Southern California Cyclocross Prestige Series (SoCal Cross) honored Heinz by changing the name of their "Cyclo-Cross" race to "Udo-Cross."
A board member of the Ranchos Cycling Club, Heinz is credited with helping develop the Ranchos Cyclocross Race at Lake Hodges, a race which now bears his name.
He also served as a cycling trainer for his wife, Anjte, who went on to become a four-time California and Nevada State Time Trial Champion and two-time SoCalCross Prestige Series winner.
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Heinz, who was also a mechanical engineer and vice president at TUV Rheinland Global Group, is survived in death by his wife and two children.
