NCCCC

Congratulations to the NCCCC who took on USA Cycling’s Cyclocross National Championships in Madison, WI. Results include:

Men’s Collegiate D1

24th – Adam Prosise, Iowa State University
25th – Matias Peret, University of Iowa
34th – Kevin Severs, Iowa State University
41st – Jesse Leonard, Iowa State University

And though I don’t believe this was formally a ‘sanctioned’ competition, I’m getting reports that we did take the gold in another CX Nats competition:

CX Nationals Cheering Squad

1st place – NCCCC
2nd place – Everyone else

Congratulations and THANK YOU to everyone who competed and spectated!

(Photo courtesy of Dave Mable)

The North Central had three entries in today’s Team Time Trial event at Collegiate Road Nationals. The event was held at the Trek Bicycle headquarters in Waterloo, WI and featured a very nice 19.2 mile out-and-back course.

First up was the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities D1 Women’s Team. Despite feeling the effects of yesterday’s difficult road race, Gracia Folkeringa and Megan Kelly both felt confident heading to the line with the fresh legs of Jennie Zhu and Alida Mau in tow. The four riders quickly got into formation and proceeded onto the course into the wind. Fifty-three plus minutes later, all four riders would come charging through the finish area, showing the efforts of their hard work – finishing with an official time of 53:07.17, good for 12th place for D1 Women and 16th place overall for all Women teams.

Next up was the University of Iowa’s D1 Men’s Team. With a start time of 10:15 am, the starting gate was looking a bit too empty at 10:14. And at 10:15. And at 10:16.

By 10:16 the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities D1 Men’s team was called to the line, who was scheduled to follow Iowa at 10:17. The team of Alexander Matson, Ken Hum, Jake Boening, and Karl Schuchard were eager to see how they’d fare against some of the top collegiate time trial teams in the country. Shortly before 10:17 came, the Iowa team rolled up, perhaps giving UMTC more motivation knowing they’d now be starting shortly before the Iowa team. After a clean start, UMTC would take the course and roll through the finish with a time of 43:00.91 – good enough for 20th in the D1 Men’s category.

Approximately 15 seconds later, the Iowa team of Austin Turner, Kevin Tempel, Matias Perret, and Alex Libin took the course. With three of the four riders having ridden the difficult road race the day before, legs were feeling a bit heavy, but the foursome quickly got into formation despite the ~2:15 late start. Proving that they have strength in the discipline, the Iowa team would roll through the line with an official time of 44:03.87 – good enough for 21st in the D1 Men’s category. In the coulda-shoulda-woulda category, their adjusted time (for the late start) could have given them an approximate time of at least a 41:45 – and maybe even better knowing they wouldn’t have had a 2:15 deficit from the outset. But alas, it wasn’t to be on this day.

Collegiate Road Nationals 2011 wrap up tomorrow with the Criterium on a course that features wide, sweeping turns and the potential for wind. Knowing this will be the last opportunity to strut their stuff, all the NC riders are anxious to show the nation what they have, which should make for some very exciting racing.