CU Cycling - Victories & Awards
Cumberland Cycling has continued stepping up onto the podium in recent weeks despite me not keeping you updated. Cumberland has tasted success at recent events hosted by the University of Georgia, Lees-McRae College, and most recently at Auburn University.
At Georgia and Lees-McRae it was either Jason Chatham or Peter Fairbanks setting the tone for each particular race. In cycling terms these two riders are "marked" men, but it has yet to keep them from riding others off their wheels. In each road race and criterium either Jason or Peter were part of a breakaway, but each time were unable to step on the top spot. The Georgia races saw the return of professional Brent Bookwalter to the Lees-McRae squad, and immediately Brent became a force on two wheels by winning three of those four races.
The results from those two weekends are:
Georgia road race - Jason Chatham - 2nd
Georgia criterium - Peter Fairbanks - 3rd
Lees-McRae road race - Peter Fairbanks - 2nd
Lees-McRae criterium - Jason Chatham - 3rd
Cumberland's most exciting races took place this past weekend at Auburn University. This event served as conference championships and would determine who would win the overall individual men's "A" conference championship. The entire team has been focused on this weekend knowing a lot would be at stake. Jason, Peter and Scott Jackson of Lees-McRae have been in a tight three-way points competition all spring. Ben Bevans, Whitney Stanbrough and Robbie Yost were also on tap and responsible for helping Jason and Peter secure results. With double points on the line it meant everyone must be attentive, at the front, and ready to attack.
Saturday's road race was three laps of a 26 mile loop for a total of 78 miles. The weather was warm as half the course was getting hit with rainstorms early into the race. Once the rain subsided the sun opened up as well as the pace, but on this day nobody was allowing a breakaway to form. Attacks were constant and fierce, but Lees-McRae and Florida had a full team ready to chase everything down. Peter was suffering from sinus congestion and taking antibiotics to recover, and this forced him to drop out after the first lap. Sickness and bike racing are incompatible, but he did make a difference covering attacks during the lap. It was better for him to rest and hopefully recover for Sunday's criterium.
This disappointment actually played to our advantage. As the story goes more than one rider was asking to sit on Jason's wheel throughout the race knowing he was the rider to follow. Fortunately, Whitney Stanbrough was there every time to deny their request and point them to his wheel instead! Coming into the last five miles it was Florida and Lees-McRae working their trains to set up the pack sprint. Jason wisely positioned himself in the top five and patiently waited for the last 500 meters. Coming into the sprint Wes Shirey of Lees-McRae was launched into victory as Jason was close behind taking 2nd place!
Jason's success in the road race made the squad even more determined for Sunday's criterium. The crit was held on the Auburn campus around Jordan-Hare stadium for a total of 70 minutes plus five laps. With such a wide open and fast course it was difficult for a group to breakaway, but I will give you one guess as to who broke through.....Jason Chatham.
A little more than half-way into the race Jason and two other riders were finally able to make a breakaway stick. Peter Fairbanks was feeling healthier as he and Whitney controlled counter attacks as the three leaders increased their lead to an insurmountable gap . With four laps to go Jason and his breakaway partners lapped the field and went straight to the front once again. At this point Peter took over leading Jason through the pack and positioned him nicely for the sprint finish.
Coming into the final 300 meters Peter led out Jason as both riders destroyed the field in the sprint finish. With that lead out Jason WON the race and WON the overall conference title! It was an incredible way to top off the regular season, and despite being a lap down Peter finished a solid 4th place.
The final season rankings has Jason Chatham winning the overall men's "A" SECCC Conference Championship with Peter Fairbanks finishing 3rd. This makes the second season in a row a Cumberland Cycling rider has taken the overall title. To put this remarkable feat into perspective the remaining top eight riders were all from Lees-McRae College. Quite an accomplishment for such a small group of men.
I hope you enjoy these updates because there is one more to come. Cumberland has qualified for the collegiate national championship races held at the University of Kansas during May 12-14.
Stay tuned because the Cumberland boys are not done.....
At Georgia and Lees-McRae it was either Jason Chatham or Peter Fairbanks setting the tone for each particular race. In cycling terms these two riders are "marked" men, but it has yet to keep them from riding others off their wheels. In each road race and criterium either Jason or Peter were part of a breakaway, but each time were unable to step on the top spot. The Georgia races saw the return of professional Brent Bookwalter to the Lees-McRae squad, and immediately Brent became a force on two wheels by winning three of those four races.
The results from those two weekends are:
Georgia road race - Jason Chatham - 2nd
Georgia criterium - Peter Fairbanks - 3rd
Lees-McRae road race - Peter Fairbanks - 2nd
Lees-McRae criterium - Jason Chatham - 3rd
Cumberland's most exciting races took place this past weekend at Auburn University. This event served as conference championships and would determine who would win the overall individual men's "A" conference championship. The entire team has been focused on this weekend knowing a lot would be at stake. Jason, Peter and Scott Jackson of Lees-McRae have been in a tight three-way points competition all spring. Ben Bevans, Whitney Stanbrough and Robbie Yost were also on tap and responsible for helping Jason and Peter secure results. With double points on the line it meant everyone must be attentive, at the front, and ready to attack.
Saturday's road race was three laps of a 26 mile loop for a total of 78 miles. The weather was warm as half the course was getting hit with rainstorms early into the race. Once the rain subsided the sun opened up as well as the pace, but on this day nobody was allowing a breakaway to form. Attacks were constant and fierce, but Lees-McRae and Florida had a full team ready to chase everything down. Peter was suffering from sinus congestion and taking antibiotics to recover, and this forced him to drop out after the first lap. Sickness and bike racing are incompatible, but he did make a difference covering attacks during the lap. It was better for him to rest and hopefully recover for Sunday's criterium.
This disappointment actually played to our advantage. As the story goes more than one rider was asking to sit on Jason's wheel throughout the race knowing he was the rider to follow. Fortunately, Whitney Stanbrough was there every time to deny their request and point them to his wheel instead! Coming into the last five miles it was Florida and Lees-McRae working their trains to set up the pack sprint. Jason wisely positioned himself in the top five and patiently waited for the last 500 meters. Coming into the sprint Wes Shirey of Lees-McRae was launched into victory as Jason was close behind taking 2nd place!
Jason's success in the road race made the squad even more determined for Sunday's criterium. The crit was held on the Auburn campus around Jordan-Hare stadium for a total of 70 minutes plus five laps. With such a wide open and fast course it was difficult for a group to breakaway, but I will give you one guess as to who broke through.....Jason Chatham.
A little more than half-way into the race Jason and two other riders were finally able to make a breakaway stick. Peter Fairbanks was feeling healthier as he and Whitney controlled counter attacks as the three leaders increased their lead to an insurmountable gap . With four laps to go Jason and his breakaway partners lapped the field and went straight to the front once again. At this point Peter took over leading Jason through the pack and positioned him nicely for the sprint finish.
Coming into the final 300 meters Peter led out Jason as both riders destroyed the field in the sprint finish. With that lead out Jason WON the race and WON the overall conference title! It was an incredible way to top off the regular season, and despite being a lap down Peter finished a solid 4th place.
The final season rankings has Jason Chatham winning the overall men's "A" SECCC Conference Championship with Peter Fairbanks finishing 3rd. This makes the second season in a row a Cumberland Cycling rider has taken the overall title. To put this remarkable feat into perspective the remaining top eight riders were all from Lees-McRae College. Quite an accomplishment for such a small group of men.
I hope you enjoy these updates because there is one more to come. Cumberland has qualified for the collegiate national championship races held at the University of Kansas during May 12-14.
Stay tuned because the Cumberland boys are not done.....
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 4/25/2006 11:09:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home