Hills and wind decide victors at Western Collegiate Cycling Conference races

By Adam Switters

Riders flocked from all over California and Nevada this weekend to participate in the first race held in Northern California this year of the Western Collegiate Cycling Conference. The race was hosted by the reigning national champions, the University of California-Davis. This was a crucial weekend for teams to gain points as the upcoming races are split weekends between Southern California and Northern California. With two new tough courses, racers were tested to the limit in climbing, handling, and tactical savvy. Although full race results have yet to be posted, UC Davis is poised to be atop the leader boards after a dominating performance over a resurgent Cal Poly and UCLA squads.

Road Race

The University of California-Davis moved from their normal flat and gravel-strewn course to a new venue in the foothills of Livermore. Riders competing in the road race and TTT faced a brutal 15.5-mile out-and-back course that gained over 1300 feet of elevation per lap.

In the Men’s A race, attrition took its toll early on. After an early breakaway by Will Rifflemacher (UC Davis), Adam Switters (UC Davis) would attack the race’s penultimate climb within the last 30 miles, to solo to a three-minute victory over a strong John Bennett (CPSLO). Riffelmacher displayed a gutsy race holding on for third spot on the podium.

In the Women’s A race, three riders broke away on the first lap, not to be seen again till after the finish. Rae Brownsberger (Stanford) rode a great race, but was out-powered by the team tactics of UCLA’s Sara Palmer and Courtney O’Donnel who would finish 1st and 2nd respectively.

In the Men’s B race, Joe Dickerson (UC Davis) continued his surprising rise through the ranks with a win from a 3 man sprint over Khristian Oftedel (UCSD) and Tony Rodriguez (UC Davis)

In the Men’s C race, UC Davis once again took command with a two riders, Byron Anson and Ned Britten, coming across together for a 1,2 finish. Jim Tower (UC Davis) would claim the last step on the podium after breaking away from a small group in the last mile of the race.

TTT

Men’s A and Women’s A racers were in for a shock when they realized that the TTT would be held on the same course as the road race, and road bikes rather then TT bikes seemed to be the choice of the day.

Reigning national TTT champions UC Davis Men’s A team seemed well on their way to a dominating performance when disaster struck and their third rider went down in a corner at 35 miles per hour with only two miles to go. After regrouping, a battered Jonathan Teeter managed to finish the race with his team, which squeaked out a 5-second victory over a hard-charging Cal Poly, with UCLA rounding out the top three.

In the Women’s A race, a powerful UC Davis team rolled to victory over a strong UCLA and Stanford squads.

UC Davis’ hard work and dedication toward the TTT payed off as they would take the victory in the Men’s B, Men’s C and Women’s B categories as well.

Criterium

Sunday’s criterium proved to be lesson in handling and sprinting as narrow roads and tight corners peppered the course. A headwind down the finish straight would prove the death of many breakaways throughout the day.

UC Davis would once again show their depth as they would go on to finish three riders in the top four. An early break by Jonathan Teeter (UC Davis) and Alexander Yee (UCLA) powered off the front to a healthy 20-second advantage. Despite a concerted chase by Stanford and Cal Poly, Riley O’Neal (UC Davis) and Adam Switters both managed to bridge to the breakaway later in the race. With three laps to go, Switters managed to jump off the front of the group to claim his 2nd victory in as many days, with O’Neal just out-sprinting Yee to claim second and third on the podium.

In the Women’s A race, a three-woman break found itself off the front early on with representation by UC Davis, Stanford, and UCLA. Coming into the last corner, it was Courtney O’Donnel (UCLA) taking the lead with Amy Chandos (UC Davis) just coming around in the closing meters to take a well deserved victory. Katy Keenan would round out the podium in third.

In the Men’s B race, multiple solo riders would gain big advantages only to succumb to the wind on the course and be brought back into the folds of the pack. Finally, with three laps to go, Musa Zaid (UC Davis) attacked and would solo in for his first collegiate victory in his last collegiate race. Alex Walters (UC Davis) and Tony Rodriguez (UC Davis) took the field sprint to complete a clean sweep for the UC Davis team.

In the Women’s B race, a photo finish would separate the first two finishers with Karianne Burns (UC Davis) narrowly taking the victory.

The Western Collegiate Cycling Conference now has a two-week hiatus till racing resumes at a split weekend between UCLA and UNR on April 3.

By Adam Switters is a student at UC-Davis and another really fast dude.

FILED UNDER: Collegiate / Race Report