Weekly Collegiate Racing Wrap - February 21, 2012
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Print WCCC: UCLA Race Weekend - by Lisa Mueller
Collegiate races are often small, making them appear to some onlookers like inferior offshoots of bigger USAC events. However, the collegiate cyclist knows that small races often consist of a handful of insanely talented racers and nowhere to hide. Last weekend exemplified this kind of competition to a T, with a start list featuring pros, ex-pros, and soon-to-be-pros.No matter the fields, UCLA’s road race is one of the least forgiving in the conference, with altitude, snow, and fabled stair-step climbs that test riders’ lungs and mental fortitude. A long, non-technical descent means that any rouleurs who manage to hang with the climbers on the first lap can initiate gravity mode and break away at 50-plus miles per hour before widening their gap in the cross winds.
All of the above unfolded on Saturday, with breaks forming, getting caught, and reforming. Danielle Haulman (UC Davis) will go down in history for her phenomenal early breakaway and solo win. From the two-woman chase, Maura Kinsella (Santa Clara) out-sprinted Lisa Mueller (UCLA) for second. On the men’s side, the UCLA B team swept the top three spots, with Youssef Azzazy leading the last lap off the front. Grant Van Horn (UC San Diego) soloed to victory in the men’s A field, with Mack Champlin (UCLA) and a tenacious Bryan Larsen (UC Irvine) a safe distance behind. Champlin settled the score by winning Sunday’s hill climb time trial, establishing himself alongside Van Horn and Larsen as an omnium contender.
Photo by Youssef Azzazy
ACCC: UNC-Wilmington and Campbell Race Weekend - by James McCabe
UNC-Wilmington hosted their road race on Saturday in 70-degree weather in the farmlands of Watha, N.C. In the Women’s A field, Nina Laughlin of App. State (ASU) dug deep to pass the rest of the field in the final 200m, but her foot slipped out of her pedal. She sat back down and pedaled as hard as she could with just one foot clipped-in and held out for the win. Chrissy Esposito of Virginia Tech and Corinne Landis of the U.S. Naval Academy would round off the Women’s A podium.While the conference rubbed aloe on their sun burn, the rain clouds rolled in to blanket Campbell University in a slick coating of rain on Sunday. With the crit course featuring uneven pavement and two sharp turns on bricks, the rain certainly made the race more interesting. The Women’s A field took to the course as the rain picked up. Two ladies dropped, leaving a group of three for the final few laps. On the final stretch, it was Nina Laughlin (ASU) and Caroline Moakley (NCSU) coming down to a photo finish. By a few inches, it was Laughlin for her second win of the weekend.
In the Men’s A race, Nick Inabinet (ASU) launched a powerful escape on the uphill, and though Navy came to the front to bring the field to Inabinet, it was no use. The field was left in shambles from the driving force of the first few laps. With six laps to go, Inabinet lapped the field. He attempted to break away again once he caught the group. This time, however, no one was letting him go. In the end, two of his teammates placed second and third, making it an ASU-only podium.
After two tactical weekends of racing, ASU holds the number one spot in Division I, followed by Navy and NCSU. In Division II, Duke has a narrow lead over Wake Forest and Johns Hopkins.
A full report can be found at collegiatecyclingnews.com and videos from the ACCC can be viewed on YouTube.
Photo by Michael Evans; cover photo by Eric Fischer
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