2006 Collegiate Nationals Road Race
Saturday was the Collegiate Nationals Road Race Championship in Lawrence, Kansas. The boys from Cumberland were once again the major players, but rival Lees-McRae College was there as well and in the waning moments ended hopes of a National Championship for Cumberland.
Teams from all over the country competed in this Division II event. There were approximately 120 to 130 starters, but many were either well off the back or eventually dropping out completely. Weather conditions warmed up to the low 70s, but the wind was fierce throughout the course. Dropping off the back of the pack proved costly as the wind would certainly keep you from catching back on.
The action heated up on lap two of a three lap race along a 28 mile loop. Peter Fairbanks of Cumberland was involved in a 3-man breakaway for the better part of 50 miles of the 84 mile event. Peter broke away with Scott Jackson of Lees-McRae and one other rider I wasn't familiar with. These three guys at one point had approximately four minutes on the pack before it got whittled down as the last of three laps was completed.
Coming into the final five miles the gap had come down to below two minutes with the chase coming hard into the final stretch across Perry Dam. As Brent Bookwalter and others reached the damn they saw Fairbanks and Jackson ahead, and at this point Brent and one other teammate drilled it again at the front. The final kilometer had a short climb before a right turn into a finishing stretch of 200 meters.
Peter Fairbanks of Cumberland was caught during the final climb as the boys from Lees-McRae took over leading Bookwalter to a sprint victory in the Division II road race. Peter continued on ahead of the main chase group to finish an impressive 8th place just 27 seconds down. For Peter and the entire team from Cumberland it was a big disappointment to come so close to claim a national champion jersey. However, despite the frustration of falling short of the main goal it was still a successful day.
To win big one must be willing to risk losing.
Velonews has a good report HERE.
USA Cycling has another report HERE.
Teams from all over the country competed in this Division II event. There were approximately 120 to 130 starters, but many were either well off the back or eventually dropping out completely. Weather conditions warmed up to the low 70s, but the wind was fierce throughout the course. Dropping off the back of the pack proved costly as the wind would certainly keep you from catching back on.
The action heated up on lap two of a three lap race along a 28 mile loop. Peter Fairbanks of Cumberland was involved in a 3-man breakaway for the better part of 50 miles of the 84 mile event. Peter broke away with Scott Jackson of Lees-McRae and one other rider I wasn't familiar with. These three guys at one point had approximately four minutes on the pack before it got whittled down as the last of three laps was completed.
Coming into the final five miles the gap had come down to below two minutes with the chase coming hard into the final stretch across Perry Dam. As Brent Bookwalter and others reached the damn they saw Fairbanks and Jackson ahead, and at this point Brent and one other teammate drilled it again at the front. The final kilometer had a short climb before a right turn into a finishing stretch of 200 meters.
Peter Fairbanks of Cumberland was caught during the final climb as the boys from Lees-McRae took over leading Bookwalter to a sprint victory in the Division II road race. Peter continued on ahead of the main chase group to finish an impressive 8th place just 27 seconds down. For Peter and the entire team from Cumberland it was a big disappointment to come so close to claim a national champion jersey. However, despite the frustration of falling short of the main goal it was still a successful day.
To win big one must be willing to risk losing.
Velonews has a good report HERE.
USA Cycling has another report HERE.
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 5/14/2006 10:19:00 AM
1 Comments:
Pass this around to anybody you know that raced.. I'm a KC resident that has been taking pictures out there in Lawrence this year and last. Good times.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josh_gray/sets/72057594134887596/
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