Weekly Collegiate Racing Wrap - April 10, 2012

  
  


WCCC: UC-Davis Race Weekend – by Robbie Seldomridge


Photo courtesy Erika Pearsons
Photo courtesy Erika Pearsons
This past weekend marked the penultimate race weekend for the WCCC. The University of California, Davis was the designated host for the weekend’s festivities, and come Saturday they did not disappoint with a 6.2-mile road race course. With temperatures hovering around the mid-60s, Davis in early April appeared to be the dream location for spring racing. The morning started early with the always fun team time trials. For some this was a chance to score some late season team points, and for others it was a way to familiarize themselves with the course and its four turns. Despite not being an overly technical course, riders still found places to attack and create splits within the pack during the road race, most notably was Steven Larsen’s (CPSLO) solo victory in the men’s A category.

On Sunday, the following morning, racers arrived to the criterium course to find a newly paved course. The logistics of the course did not deviate much from what the race flyer advertised as two right hand turns, a round about, and a pesky 120-degree turn. The stage was set for a day of fast and technical bicycle racing. With moderate temperatures keeping each rider from overheating, the med D’s started the day and provided some racers with important information on how to handle the course. The day brought thrills and some spills, with a small pile up that took out about six riders in the men’s Bs. As the end of the WCCC season nears, the excitement and beauty of bicycle racing continues. Much appreciation goes out to the UC Davis Aggies for providing a great weekend of racing.


NWCCC: University of Montana/Montana State Race Weekend – by Evan Schmitt


This past weekend, Montana hosted one of the wildest race weekends yet. Saturday morning's road race was delayed by 2 hours due to snow and the afternoon team time trial was canceled due to the late road race starts. The final climb of the road race was shortened due to snow on the roadway.

Oregon's Aleah Davis would win the Women's A road race ahead of Jacquie Spoon (Montana State) and Kristen Moore (Western Washington). Jake MacArthur (Washington State) won the Men's race ahead of Davis Shepard (Washington) and Zach Heskett (Montana State).

Sunday morning's criterium brought sunshine and temperatures in the high 50s. Davis would repeat her performance from the day before by winning the Women's A race ahead of Washington's Kelly Plese and Western Washington's Moore. On the men's side, it came down to the final sprint. MacArthur picked up his second win of the weekend with Montana sweeping the final podium spots with Nate Keck and Marshall Opel.

After the Montana weekend, Plese still leads the women's standings ahead of Davis and Spoon. MacArthur increases his lead ahead of Shepard and Ryan Short (Western Washington). The NWCCC heads to Ellensburg, Washington next week for the omnium hosted by the Central Washington University Wildcats.


MWCCC: Marian University One-Day Classic – by Michael Kubancsek


The MWCCC celebrated Easter with the one-day Midwest Cycling Classic hosted by Marian University in Indianapolis on April 7. The lengthy course presented technical challenges to racers that tested their limits and also nearly eliminated the chances of any breakaways in the largest fields. Marian used the home advantage to launch their women’s team to a win, taking first through sixth in the A race and a win in the B’s race, but Lindsey Wilson’s Justin Lowe prevailed in the men’s A event. At the end of a fast race than included guest riders from the SECCC’s Cumberland University, Lindenwood’s Matt Brandt appeared headed for his second victory of the season when a rolled tubular tire in the last corner derailed his charge for the line and nearly spelled disaster for those behind him. Successful bike handling by all led to Lowe’s win and a second and third place for the host school with Alex Wieseler and Weston Luzadder. Wieseler keeps his conference individual omnium lead for another week as the Midwest varsity programs continue to prepare for Nationals.



RMCCC: CSU Race Weekend - by Dylan Jones


Photo courtesy Caley Fretz
Photo courtesy Caley Fretz
This weekend the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference headed North to Colorado State University for a weekend of fun in the sun, with temperatures approaching an unseasonable 75º. Saturday’s road race kicked off the proceedings with a twisty, rolling loop that featured a 3-mile dirt section.  The demanding course combined with a stiff crosswind section shattered every field and made for a lonely day for many a rider.

Sunday brought more sunshine and another technical course, this time the historic Oval Criterium through CSU’s campus, the longest-running criterium in Colorado. Timing one’s sprint was crucial on the curving, slightly uphill drag to the finish, and track racers had a distinct advantage over their tarmac-exclusive brethren. The afternoon’s Pro 1/2 race saw many domestic professionals toe the starting line, including Bissel’s 2011 US Pro Crit champion and former collegiate national champion Eric Young.

Full results available at www.rmccc.org




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