Photo by Shawn Matthews LocalOzarks Contributor

With Thursday’s breaking news that seven time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong will give up his fight against doping allegations, the world of professional cycling will be front and center on everyone’s mind for the next few days. While this scandal is tarnishing Armstrong’s legend, Springfield’s Charles Bradley “Brad” Huff is celebrating years of hard work as a professional cyclist who has ridden “clean” his entire career.

At 33 years of age, the Fair Grove native is currently ranked #1 nationally by USA Cycling in the PRO Road Criterium division. Criterium racing, also known as “crit” racing, is a timed road race in which riders compete for cash prizes. It’s a highly competitive sport with lots of high energy thrills and spills.

Brad Huff will protect his title this weekend at the Chris Thater Memorial Criterium in Binghamton, New York, a multi-day bike race featuring competitors of all skill levels and age-brackets.

Follow Brad Huff on his blog, and check Local Ozarks for updates on this local professional cyclist.