West Virginia University Race Weekend

West Virginia University Race Weekend
April 3 & 4, 2004

Race Review by: John DeLong

Morgantown West Virginia, “Wild and Wonderful” may describe Virginia Tech’s Cycling Teams experience this past weekend. It started out as a beautiful spring weekend, with potential for some great racing in the beautiful hills of northern West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania. The Tech team travel to the race with about 15 riders prepared to take on the tough collegiate completion.

Day one Saturday 3rd WVU Road Race. The race was in the shape of a lollypop, where we would ride out the handle to the course to do laps. The thirteen-mile course consisted of two climbs. Climb number one was long and gradual steadily getting steeper before coming out to a false flat on the top. Climb number two was a shorter switchback climb that could really ramp the heart rate up quickly. After a hearty team breakfast at Bob Evans the team was fueled and ready to rip some legs off with the exception of Mark Hardman who suck away from the team to eat at McDonalds because he was not used to eating semi healthy food.

The First race of the day was the men’s C race and then the Woman’s B race both about 30 miles. As the C’s and B women rolled out to the course Mother Nature threw her hand into the race. A tree had fallen across the course about five minutes before they arrived at a sweeping turn. Only in WV could this happen, the race organizers took matters in their own hands and knocked on the local residents doors looking for chain saws. Before you knew it we had a pack of cyclists, four locals, two chain saws, and a pick up truck working on clearing the road. After about 30 minutes of clearing one lane of the road could be ridden in and the races finally started. The C’s did on lap of the course and The VT riders’ rode strong tearing apart the field with their aggressive racing style. Colin Beaber and Matt Janeway finished 2nd and 3rd only because they didn’t know where the finish line was.

The Men’s A race and the Men’s B with the Women’s A race riding with the B’s started at noon. The VT A team consisting of seven riders for the weekend unleashed their top secret plan of team time trial from the gun plan. This consisted of every member riding pace line as hard ass we could until the race blew apart and then we would see what was left and try to form another plan to maybe win the race. The plan went flawlessly until the top of the first climb. By the top of the first climb most people were on the rivet and any one who was not in shape was dropped or about to be. The plan broke down over the top of the climb when the stronger riders in the field rode away with out any VT riders. Luckily these fit riders were not ready to race so early in longer road race and about 5 of the VT riders were able to scramble back to the front. As soon as the group was starting to form back together VT started sending riders up the road again. Te goal was to make the race as hard as possible so the strongest may win. For the next four laps the VT team rode aggressively if they were not attacking or driving the pace every one was wondering when and where the pain train would start chugging again. The final came down to nine riders, the Tech riders were pretty shot from the aggressive racing, most everyone else was hurting from covering moves but the two racers looking the smoothest were from NC state and UVA, not only may they have been in the best form for the day but they had been abusing a couple other riders to chase down the VT attacks. Mark Hardman with the McDonalds fuel was the last hope for VT and tried an attack with three miles to go but his lack of experience, this being his first year racing got him disqualified when he crossed the center line of the road. The race finished with the two strongest sprinting for the win an every one else suffering up the final climb. I do believe I heard a rider admit that the race was the hardest effort he had every ridden on his bike. To me that was more gratifying than a win.

The men’s B Race and woman’s A races went well for VT also. Michele Lindsay drove in for a strong second place after hanging with the men’s B field for part of the race. The Men’s B race was also a strong battle with VT coming in with some strong results. The B race consisted of a long all day breakaway that was caught about one mile from the finish. The sprint came down to a sprint and Brian Baitis of VT was able to take third.

Day Two, WVU circuit race. The course was a four-mile loop with three short climbs on small narrow roads. It would have been a beautiful race but due do snow the race was canceled. I know I am looking forward to this course next year. Keep riding and ill see you at the races.