Cycling host championship hoping to become nation's best
Ashley Emmons
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Sports
With lukewarm air rushing through their helmets, a group of men ride along Interstate 25.
These blurs of green and gold are members of CSU's club cycling team, one of the largest club sports on campus with an estimated 100 riders, 40 who compete in events.
This year, the team has the honor of hosting the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships May 9-11.
Emily Francis, team member and a senior natural resources recreation and tourism major, bought her first bike in the fall of 2006 and has been riding with the team ever since.
She said the team has been spending hours upon hours of preparation for nationals.
"There are many hours put into training. There are also a lot of races that we have to compete in to have the experience and qualifications to race in nationals," Francis said.
Fourteen riders will be representing CSU at nationals, where champions are awarded the national jersey - a uniform with an American flag design.
Coach Ainslie MacEachran said he believes CSU to be among the top schools in the nation vying for the title.
"We are on a mission, we want to win nationals this year," MacEachran said.
T.G. Taylor, president of the team, said the number of riders allowed to compete depends on how many riders the course can hold.
"We are restricted by the geography of the courses and the maximum capacity they can hold safely," Taylor said.
Taylor and the rest of the team had to prepare for hosting the event by getting permits from the city and businesses.
"We had to go door to door on the course routes and get signatures saying it is okay to have the event take place," Francis, treasurer of the cycling team, said.
By talking to the city, the team was able to coordinate with emergency services and traffic diversions for race days.
There are an estimated 40 schools from across the nation coming to Fort Collins for the event.
The team had to make plans with hotels to make sure they can accommodate these riders and their bikes.
These blurs of green and gold are members of CSU's club cycling team, one of the largest club sports on campus with an estimated 100 riders, 40 who compete in events.
This year, the team has the honor of hosting the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships May 9-11.
Emily Francis, team member and a senior natural resources recreation and tourism major, bought her first bike in the fall of 2006 and has been riding with the team ever since.
She said the team has been spending hours upon hours of preparation for nationals.
"There are many hours put into training. There are also a lot of races that we have to compete in to have the experience and qualifications to race in nationals," Francis said.
Fourteen riders will be representing CSU at nationals, where champions are awarded the national jersey - a uniform with an American flag design.
Coach Ainslie MacEachran said he believes CSU to be among the top schools in the nation vying for the title.
"We are on a mission, we want to win nationals this year," MacEachran said.
T.G. Taylor, president of the team, said the number of riders allowed to compete depends on how many riders the course can hold.
"We are restricted by the geography of the courses and the maximum capacity they can hold safely," Taylor said.
Taylor and the rest of the team had to prepare for hosting the event by getting permits from the city and businesses.
"We had to go door to door on the course routes and get signatures saying it is okay to have the event take place," Francis, treasurer of the cycling team, said.
By talking to the city, the team was able to coordinate with emergency services and traffic diversions for race days.
There are an estimated 40 schools from across the nation coming to Fort Collins for the event.
The team had to make plans with hotels to make sure they can accommodate these riders and their bikes.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jessica
posted 5/01/08 @ 11:38 AM MST
This is good information about the environment that these cyclist are trying to accomplish within CSU. I find that the idea is a positive outlook on this cyclist group going to Fort Collins. (Continued…)
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