The first weekend of the collegiate road race season shaped up to be a great one for American University Cycling. We brought 8 riders to NCSU for the Wolfpack Classic, which consisted two road races on a couple of fun courses in North Carolina.
SATURDAY's race was a very flat course near Jordan Lake with nothing too technical making for a great race for our new riders. Sam, Jen, Sylvan and Adelaide all competed in their first races ever. The Woman's C division started around 9am after a new-rider clinic. They did three laps of the 11.5 mile course. All four AU women rode strong with Adelaide placing 2nd despite her visor. A large crash in the field took Adelaide down but she persevered and got back on the bike to sprint with the group at the finish. Congrats to all of our women racers on a great first race!!
After a long wait the Men's C division went off at 3pm to do three laps. Elliot, Billy, Harry, and Payne raced for AU. The race started with an up and down tempo but heated up when freshman, Payne Griffin, jumped off the front of the field towards the end of the second lap. Payne rode strong while Harry and Billy worked hard to block the pelaton, resulting in a solo victory for Payne and top ten finishes for Harry and Billy. It was a great first day for AU cycling!!SUNDAY's weather provided an obstacle but many Men's C and Women's B/C riders came out to brave the 30 degree temperatures at 9am. The Sanford Road Race was a 7.8 mile rolling course. The Men's C race got heated up within the first of four laps as Payne and Billy got into a seven-man break about 6 miles into the race. Payne rode strong and confidently again. The break stayed away to the finish and Payne finished 2nd in the final sprint against three strong NCSU riders. Billy dropped back to a six-man chase group to finish 11th.
Adelaide and Jen braved the weather in the Women's C race, which started right after the Men's C and did 3 laps around the course. Adelaide impressed us again by riding strong all the way through to the sprint, finishing with the B group. Time to cat up Adelaide??
Congrats to Payne, Adelaide and the entire AU team that competed this weekend. Great way to start the season. I'm proud of everyone.
We'll be taking a week off. Up next: Duke!! Excited for some more hills and the TTT!!
Roll Tide!
