AUGUSTA, GA. — The 2019 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships began Friday with the first eight of 16 titles decided in time trial competitions. All events took place at Fort Gordon, a large, multi-mission, multi-service military installation located southwest of Augusta, Ga.
Team time trial events in the morning used a looped course that covered 21.8 miles (35.2 kilometers) of rolling rural roads lined with loblolly pine trees. Billowing clouds and rising humidity cloaked the riders in the afternoon for individual time trial categories. Club and varsity riders used an out-and-back, 13.8-mile (22.2-kilometer) course to decide medalists in the races against the clock.
TEAM TIME TRIAL
Women
The bronze medal team in the Club Division for women a year ago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) took the gold medal in this year’s opening Team Time Trial event. The squad finished in 54 minutes, 26 seconds and included three riders from 2018, Emma Edwards (Cambridge, Mass.), Tori Wuthrich (Cambridge, Mass.) and Amy Ousterhout (Cambridge, Mass.), and newcomer Joanna Millstein (Boston, Mass.). Stanford University repeated with the silver medal, just 34 seconds off the winning pace. The University of Colorado Boulder clinched the bronze.
In the Varsity Division, powerhouse Marian University scored its 10th national title in the TTT for women, finishing in 53 minutes, 10 seconds. Returning from last year on the Marian squad were Emma Swartz (Madison, Wisc.), Alijah Beatty (Washington, Iowa), and Laurel Rathbun (Monument, Colo.). The fourth rider was Marta Morris (Grand Junction, Colo.). Taking the silver medal 44 seconds back was Milligan College, reigning champions of the SECCC. Following for the bronze was Fort Lewis College.
Men
On the men’s side, University of Colorado Boulder successfully defended its Team Time Trial title in the Club Division, completing the course in 47 minutes, 14 seconds. Returning for the Buffaloes was Ross Ellwood (Boulder, Colo.), and he was joined by teammates Jack Tanner (Boulder, Colo.), Reade Warner (Golden, Colo.), and Parker Gara (Boulder, Colo.). Among the 13 challenging teams, Stanford University secured the silver medal, finishing just 6.7 seconds back, and Colorado State University grabbed the bronze.
In the Men’s Varsity Division, it was a slim 6.9-second margin that separated the top two teams. Five-time Varsity champions Marian University were overtaken this year for the gold medal by Colorado Mesa University. The Mavericks, which finished second last year, had two returning riders, Caiden Plummer (Tucson, Ariz.) and Torbjorn Roed (Grand Junction, Colo.), who rode with newcomers Henry Lutz (Wauwatosa, Wisc.) and Alexander Marr (Fort Collins, Colo.). Marian University finished seven seconds back for silver. Savannah College of Art & Design - Atlanta captured the bronze for a second consecutive year, 9 seconds behind Marian.
INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL
Women
Last year’s fourth-place finisher in the Women’s Club Individual Time Trial vaulted her way to the top step on Friday afternoon. Lauren De Crescenzo (Broomfield, Colo./University of Colorado Denver) snared herself a Stars-and-Stripes jersey with a solid time of 33 minutes, 40 seconds. Finishing more than a minute back was Cécile Lejeune (Tempe, Ariz./Arizona State University) for silver. The bronze medal went to Clio Dinan (Falls Church, Virg./Smith College). Last year’s gold medalist, Margot Clyne (Boulder, Colo./University of Colorado Boulder), finished half a second behind Dinan for fourth.
In the Varsity Division, the top three positions went to teammates from Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah. Olivia Ray (Auckland, NZL) crossed the line in 34 minutes, 31 seconds to take the gold medal. The silver went to Abigail Youngwerth (Boise, Idaho) and the bronze went to Erin Blumel (Savannah, Ga.).
“It was very hot. The course was quite hilly. On the way out, very difficult. On the way back, a lot easier,” said Ray, surrounded by her teammates. “The last hill, about one kilometer to go, was torture. I think I was stuck at 15 miles per hour pace, not going anywhere. But it was fun. I pushed through the pain.”
Men
The Men’s Club Division featured the largest field of the day with 52 riders surging from the start ramp. The winning time of 30 minutes, 11 seconds went to Spencer Moavenzadeh (Durham, N.C./Duke University) for a gold medal. He finished 10th in the same race last year. A mere 1/100th of a second separated the next two medal positions. Marcel Berger (Las Cruces, N.M./New Mexico State University) finished 4.47 seconds behind the Duke Blue Devil, and James Snitzer (Atlanta, Ga./Emory University). It was a repeat for the bronze for Snitzer, while last year Berger finished fourth.
The fastest time on the course was recorded in the Men’s Varsity Division, a time of 28 minutes, 59 seconds posted for a gold medal by Zach Gregg (Roanoke, Virg./Midwestern State University). Andrew Scarano (Atlanta, Ga./Savannah College of Art & Design-Atlanta) secured the silver medal. Spencer Miller (Indianapolis, Ind./Marian University) rolled across the line just four seconds behind Scarano to secure the bronze.
Road Race - Saturday
Collegiate Road National Championships continue Saturday at Fort Gordon with four road race events. Club and Varsity women will complete four laps on a 14.72-mile course for a total of 60 miles (96.6 kilometers). The Club and Varsity men will ride five laps for a total of 75 miles (120.7 kilometers). Club Women begin at 9 a.m., and Varsity Women begin at 9:15 a.m. Club Men begin at 1 p.m., and Varsity Men begin at 1:15 p.m.
For results, maps and start lists, visit the resource page for the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships - click here. Follow information about the races on Twitter @USACyclingLive and the hashtag #CollNats.