One might picture a sizable contingent of local riders in a Lawrence bike race.

Except for a smattering of city cyclists, that wasn’t the case Thursday at the penultimate running of this season’s Cycle Works Twilight Bike Race at Haskell Indian Nations University.

“A lot of people use (cycling) as transportation, but not a lot of people know it as a sport,” Lawrence native Ben Robertson said. “Until a year ago, I didn’t really know anything about it.”

Robertson got his start racing with local promoter Jim Whittaker, who lent Robertson a bike to ride with Team X, an Kansas City-area club. Whittaker, who also runs the Twilight Series races, said racing competitively and just riding were worlds — or wheels — apart.

“There are a lot of local enthusiasts,” Whittaker said. “There aren’t a lot of local racers. These are harder than most races. They’re shorter so they’re racing hard. It’s like doing a 400-meter run versus a marathon.”

Robertson finished first in the C category (lowest group) Thursday. Lance Sulzen, a Team X member from Kansas City, Mo., took first in the A category (top group), and Overland Park resident Chris Hess won the B category (middle).

Besides a lack in locals, the event was low on women competitors — only two women raced. One was Terri Chang, a Leavenworth resident racing with Santa Fe Trails Bicycle Racing Team.

Dave Pitt leads heading into the first turn of the Cycle Works Twilight Bike Race. The race was Thursday at Haskell Indian Nations University.

“I think they don’t compete because they only have one women’s race,” she said of area cycling events. “If you have an ego, you’re just gonna get crushed. I’m just out here to have fun, to learn and to get stronger.”

The other female, Jill Thole of Olathe, said she rode for exercise and competition.

“It’s like the chicken and the egg question,” said Brenden Sheehan, captain of the Santa Fe Trails team. “Ladies say there’s not enough categories. Promoters say there’s not enough ladies to have more categories. But we intend to bring more women out here.”

Despite these obstacles, the sport is gradually picking up speed.

Whittaker said 12 years ago he had 30 people show up to his first event. Last April, 140 people rode in a race, a high number considering there’s only about 225 competitive cyclists in the state.

The final race in the series is at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Olathe's Jill Thole rounds a corner during the Twilight Criterium. Thole raced Thursday at Haskell Indian Nations University.