WSU Cycling Club competes in nat’l road championships

Photos by Sammi Nelson, WSU Cycling Club
Article by Evan Schmitt, WSU Cycling Club

OGDEN, Utah – The WSU Cycling Club sent four athletes early this month to compete in the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships in Ogden, Utah.
 
The event is regarded as the pinnacle of collegiate bicycle racing. The event drew about 500 top bicyclists from 100 universities.
 
The team included three males and one female rider, who competed in two events throughout the weekend — a criterium and a road race. The lone female rider was Carla Schubiger, veterinary microbiology and pathology, Ph.D. student. The three male riders were Jake MacArthur, public relations, senior; Andrew Easley, hydraulic engineering, graduate student; and Zach Bowden, civil engineering, junior.
 
The Saturday criterium took place on a high speed, 1-mile circuit around downtown Ogden. The men raced for 75 minutes. Even though he needed to pit with seven laps remaining in the race, Easley was the top team finisher in 67th. MacArthur and Bowden would finish 77th and 95th respectively. Schubiger chose not to race the criterium.
 
Sunday’s road race started at the Pineview Reservoir, east of Ogden. The women raced 101 km and the men raced 125 km. The largest feature on the course was the North Ogden Canyon climb, which rose almost 2,000 feet in 3.5 miles.
 
Schubiger rode steady up the climb and descended well enough to place 28th in the women’s race. Easley and Bowden finished 66th and 67th in the men’s field. MacArthur suffered a flat tire at the base of the climb and ended the day in 102nd.
 
The WSU Cycling Club would like to thank their sponsors for their support throughout the 2012 racing season. Without their support, this season and successful trip to nationals, would not have been possible.