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Collegiate NATs Report |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Rose Long
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Sunday, 11 November 2007 |
2007 Collegiate Nationals
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So I journeyed down to North Carolina in the middle of my semester to partake in three days of wild collegate mtn bike racing. The venue was Sugar Mountain, which was host to a NMBS race this summer. The weather was miserable, mostly a cold misty rain which soaked you to the bone, especially if you were at the race venue ten hours a day.
The scenery was amazing, with North Carolina at the peak of foliage and the mountains reminescent of the Greens in Vermont. Cross-country started the action on Friday.
After pre riding the cross country trail, I was trying to scrap together what little heritage as a runner I had. The course was 20% bike-able and the rest was running. I actually considered ditching the Eggbeaters for a pair of running shoes. Come race day, the boys dried out the trail a little and biking made up about 60%. I finished 6th in the first and most difficult race of the weekend.
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The next day was for Downhill and Short Track. 8am rolled around a little too quick but I was up to the top of the mountain just in time to hear our race was delayed thirty minutes because of the fog. Then thirty more mintues. I took a run down the course and felt great. There was this gnarly jump at the bottom. You either had to gap it perfectly or die. There was actually an alternative route, but it was way slower. I went for the jump during the prerace ride and cased a little but was able to keep the bike rolling. Come race time, I ripped down the mountain and ended up tenth place. Not bad for a cross country poseur. My favorite part of the whole weekend was when someone asked me if I was mainly a downhiller.
The Short Track that afternoon consisted of a bit of field and a little bit of technical that ended with an unrideable stream crossing. It made the course into a cyclo-cross wannabe. This was a pretty difficult race for me because I have difficulty concentrating on such a repetitious race. During the race, I thiught we were done when we had three laps to go, so I cranked out and passed three girls. When I found out we had three laps to go, I expected to see them again, but they never came back. At least my messup worked out for the better. I ended up twelfth in the shortrack.
As with most collegiate events, the banquet that Saturday turned into a bit of a party. I stayed in for the most part in order to be well suited for Dual Slalom the next day. The DS course was pretty fun and I was borrowing a tried and true DS bike, so it rolled very nicely. The course had a good rhythm. I ended up eleventh.
My reward for racing my body hard all weekend was being tallied up for the omnium, which is the best all around biker. I ended up fifth overall and Luna Rider Chloe Forsman ended up first.
Rose |
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