Here is a recap from head cycling coach Richard Geng from the USA Collegiate
National Mountain Biking Championships October 28 through October 30.
Geng wrote:
– Conditions were brutal. It was so muddy that major parts of the uphill
section in the cross country race were unridable. Race was shortened due to harsh conditions. Snow on top and mud on the bottom.
– Alexis Skarda wins the women’s cross country race (she had the fastest
time even including the Div I). She also finished 2nd in the short track
race. We qualified her for Nats with the minimum amount of races at the last minute. Geng had to take her to a race in Utah last weekend, which is in a different conference.
– Michael Zeek takes a great 6th place in the dual slalom and finishes 28th
in the downhill.
– Evan Biner takes 32nd in the downhill.
– Pat Röstel finishes in 21st in the cross country and 12th in the short
track.
– Geng was sitting in the top ten in both races until both of my breaks gave out in the cross country downhill section. Geng hit a couple of trees and was forced to break with my feet and run most of the downhill part, giving up a bunch of spots. Pat came by but couldn’t help me. The only reason I didn’t pull out after the first lap was to get at least a few points for the team.
At least still Geng managed a 26th place in the cross country and a 20th place in the short track, for which he had to borrow a different bike, but stillhad to deal with mechanicals that cost him a top 10.
All in all we had a good weekend. Despite some mechanical upsets that cost us in the team ranking, we brought home a National Championship and represented well considering that we only brought 5 athletes.
cmucycling 