Laguna Beach’s Lopes is Hall of Fame-bound

Four-time world champion and Laguna Beach resident Brian Lopes is about to be inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.

Lopes is to be inducted under the “Race History” category on Sept. 24 in Las Vegas during the Interbike Show.

The induction ceremony will be open to all Interbike attendees and the public.

Elected by a vote of past Hall of Fame inductees and current Hall of Fame members, Lopes has had an unprecedented career since becoming a professional cyclist at age 17. USA Today once called him “indisputably the best all-around world class cycling athlete.”

Lopes learned how to ride a bike at age 4. When he turned pro at 17, he competed on the BMX circuit for seven years before moving onto mountain biking in 1993.

He has won 19 titles in his mountain biking career.

“I am really honored to be inducted into the hall of fame,” Lopes said Tuesday. “It has always been a goal of mine to leave a high mark of achievements in the race world when I retired and although I have not retired from racing, it is rewarding to know that my success has been recognized by current inductees and members of the Hall of Fame.

“Knowing you have achieved something that will be part of history is a pretty cool feeling and to be on a list with other mountain bike greats is simply awesome.”

“” Mike Sciacca