While Lawrence’s John Hackman aims at becoming an elite cyclist the caliber of the legendary Lance Armstrong, his most challenging obstacle so far in the sport didn’t even involve a bike.

Nope, that conundrum came when Hackman lived in Germany last summer for a month with a host family that didn’t speak a lick of English.

“We communicated a lot with hand signals and stuff,” said the 17-year-old Hackman, a senior at Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst High, who traveled abroad strictly to race.

So Saturday’s fourth race of the eighth annual Mojo’s Spring Fling Criterium cycling series at Clinton Lake must have been a breeze for Hackman.

“Yeah, I don’t think anything that I do in this sport will be quite as challenging as that,” said a smiling Hackman, who began cycling only two years ago after enjoying the biking portion of a triathlon he participated in.

He didn’t win Saturday’s most competitive race (Category 1-2-3), but winning isn’t always the No. 1 goal in team racing.

“We did pretty good as a team,” said Hackman, who blocked for his Team X teammate Steve Rouff, who won the sprint lap portion of the race.

Five Kansas racers finished in the top five of the 25-lap race around Clinton Lake’s .75-mile course, including Lawrence’s Adam Mills. Topeka’s Bill Stolte won the race while brothers Steve and Chris Tilford, also of Topeka, were second and fourth.

Hackman, however, sees plenty of victories for himself in the future.

“I’d like to become a pro in Europe and race in the Tour de France,” said Hackman, who will attend Kansas University in the fall and race for the Jayhawks’ club cycling team.

Hackman isn’t the only one who foresees success for himself.

“He has not even reached his complete physical maturity yet,” said Team X member Jim Whittaker, who coaches Hackman. “That usually happens about age 20 and then it can take four to five years of training to reach their potential.

John Hackman, 17, Lawrence, right, completes a lap during the Category 1-2-3 race. The event was Saturday during the Mojo's Spring Fling Criterium series at Clinton Lake.

“Most of the great riders are ages 27-33, because it takes so many years of training.”

Hackman welcomes the opportunity.

He currently spends about two to three hours a day training inside or out, and the sport has given him some great traveling opportunities.

Hackman participated in U.S.A. cycling’s developmental system, traveling to Phoenix for a training session.

“He’s the best young cyclist in the state of Kansas,” Whittaker said, “maybe Missouri, too.”

And the most difficult part of his sport might be behind him.

“Yeah, that language thing sure was tricky,” Hackman said.

The Mojo’s Spring Fling Criterium series, at Clinton Lake campground No. 1, continues at noon Saturday. KU’s cycling club will play host to a conference race beforehand at 9 a.m. with teams traveling from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota and North and South Dakota.