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Louisville hosted the first race on the MWCCC and it proved to be the first real test for the Irish as they came off of an unexpectedly warm and pleasant winter for South Bend. The weekend featured two distinctly different and challenging criteriums, Saturday’s at the hilly Long Run Park and Sunday’s at the flat and smooth Shawnee Park. Highlights from the weekend include two top-5 finishes, many successful first-ever races, and numerous points earned for the conference title. In addition the weather was not ideal with temps hovering in the 30’s and 40’s.

Day 1: Long Run Park

Men’s D

Zach Llorens, Ron Mau, and Sam O’Melveny, started their racing careers with the Irish in the 30 min, 6-lap Men’s D race. All three were caught behind a crash early in the race, but managed to stay upright. Their chances to stay with the front group rode off into the distance as they picked their way through the wreckage. Sam O’Melveny (34th) had the best finish for the D squad after chasing back with a smaller group. Ron and Zach also found groups of their own as the field was splintered under pressure from the course. The three finished well and look to continue their development as racers.

Women’s C

 The cold temperatures did not let up for Theresa Smart, who represented Notre Dame in the Women’s Category C Race. With over a dozen competitors, Smart had her hands full  with opponents and managing the rigors of a first bike race. The strong morning winds did not add any warmth to her situation, but Smart fought hard. After the field suffered from a solo attack, the leaders of the peloton made efforts to catch the solo escapist. Theresa finished in 8th place, a fantastic top-10 finish for the first time racer in a completely new environment.

Men’s C

John Caffarelli, Anthony Hall, and Connor Williams raced in the Men’s C race and from the starting whistle animated what would be a slow cat and mouse affair. On the first climb of the day Caffarelli accelerated and found space up the road. Teammate Connor Williams made the bridge and the duo had a small gap over the sleeping field, that roared to life when they saw the men in blue and gold up the road.  The group was together for the rest of the race as the occasional attack flew off the front. Caffarelli covered a Marian 1-2 punch and the race stayed together for the remainder of the race with UW-Madison, Purdue, and Notre Dame controlling the front. Things got dicey in the final as Caffarelli was pushed off the road, avoiding a potential wreck. Williams sat up after he saw his teammate out of contention and both rolled in a few seconds after the uphill field sprint. The C men were pleased with team tactics and strength during the race, but felt they had missed an opportunity in the final.

Men’s B

David McKenna represented the Irish in the Men’s B race, a 45 minute affair around the loop at Long Run Park. A solo move from a Marian rider featured for a majority of the race as the field, including large efforts from McKenna, worked to pull back the lone wolf. The escapee was eventually captured near the final of the race and on the final lap, McKenna attacked on the penultimate uphill punch prompting the moves to the line. The effort proved to be just too far away from the line as the field eventually caught back and McKenna rolled in for a 13th place finish.

Women’s A

Sarah Cullen raced the 45 minute women’s A crit, a 11-woman field consisting of only two non-Marian or Lindenwood riders, Sarah and a Michigan rider. The pace was leisurely for the first half of the race, but attacks soon created gaps, and Cullen lost contact. She managed to chase back on. Two women were up the road on the final lap, and Cullen back in the group, who sprinted to a top-10 result in her first race of the season.

Men’s A

Tony Pratt and James Pratt were looking to showcase their strength in the Men’s A race and Tony Pratt was first to flex his muscles when early attacks began to fly off the front. Both Pratt men spent time near the front of the group throughout the race, an affair with odd team tactics from powerhouses Marian, Lindenwood, and UW-Madison, who all wanted a field sprint, but attacked nevertheless. Tony Pratt was very well positioned in the final and rode to a top-5 finish amongst the heads of state in the conference. James rolled in mid-pack confident with the state of his fitness, despite the finish.

Day 2:

Men’s D

Zach Llorens and Ron Mau raced the Men’s D race on the second day of the Cardinal Criterium in Louisville. Zach Llorens improved upon his finish from the day before as he found more comfort in the pack and held on to the main group before the pace started to ramp up with one lap to go. Ron Mau also had a strong showing, working with other dropped riders throughout the race to chase back on. The group never caught back onto the main field, but Ron enjoyed a small sprint to the line at the close of the race.  The weekend was successful for all three first time D racers (Mau, Llorens, O’Melveny) as they look to continue their development throughout the season.

Men’s C

The Men’s C squad found some redemption after a tough end to a strong opening race the day before with a top-5 finish, and 2 top-10s. The race started slow, with Connor Williams, John Caffarelli, and Anthony Hall content to follow wheels and “stay hidden” in the pack until the final. All stayed well positioned amidst the barrage of attacks and mid-race sprints as Purdue, Marian, and Lindenwood battled for prime points. The final prime came on the bell lap and all three followed the attacks into the finishing circuit. Caffarelli was well positioned at the front behind the UW-Madison leadout train when with 600 meters to go Williams attacked up the road, prompting the dash for the line. Caffarelli powered home to 4th, thanks to a well-timed leadout, with Williams finishing 8th, and Hall 10th. All three riders scored points for the team with their top performances and make-up for Saturday’s disappointment.

Men’s B

David McKenna raced in the Men’s B race and was active in the field in sprinting for primes, chasing down the solo move, and setting up for a fast finish. Due to the fast course and strong field McKenna was unable to finish as he wanted, but certainly didn’t have a race to frown upon. His racing strategies and tactics will continue to develop especially as teammates from the C team upgrade to B riders throughout the course of the season.

Women’s A

Sarah Cullen continued her success for a second day in the row, matching her best women’s A career finish.  The race was fast and strung out as the small field, dominated again by Marian and Lindenwood, worked to secure points from primes. Cullen hung on throughout the proceedings as attacks flew almost every lap, sometimes with prime laps in succession of each other, and sprinted past a few riders in the finish for 8th place. She was content with the result and overall pleased with her first race weekend.

Men’s A

The men of Pratt looked to continue early season success from the day before on a course that suited their flatland prowess.  Attacks started early and Tony Pratt was quick to follow moves, and made the first move of the day, an eight-man group that found some space for just over a lap.  The escapees were pulled back and while Tony recovered in the field for the next few laps, James Pratt spent time on the front pulling back the little moves as the day’s break attempted to be established. Mid-race, a 6-man move featuring the key teams in the race and key riders in the field created a significant gap .  Tony Pratt made a stunning bridge before the group was out of sight, and once involved in the move, the gap grew and held between 20-30 seconds. Lindenwood’s team leader was left out of the move, creating havoc for the break’s chemistry as the Lindenwood rider involved was unwilling to work. The Lindenwood train eventually pulled back the move with 4 laps to go and the Pratt’s, as well as the top riders who had been in the break, took shelter in the back of the pack. With 2 laps to go, James was locked onto Tony’s wheel at the front of the pack, in perfect position to launch into the finish. In the final corner before the bell lap, Tony Pratt was caught up in a crash between a Marian rider and his UW-Madison counterpart. James made it through and came around for the final time for a top 20 finish. Tony Pratt suffered a cut on his leg from a chainring, but otherwise is ready to race in Miami.

 

Overall a successful first week to build upon as the season continues. Race reports for Miami-Ohio RR to follow soon!

 

The 2017 road season starts in less than a week when the Cycling Irish will travel to Louisville, Kentucky for the Cardinal Criterium featuring races both Saturday and Sunday. After two days of racing, the team will continue south to Nashville for a week of hard training. Before returning to life under the Dome, the Irish will stop in Oxford, Ohio for one race day including a morning Team Time Trial and afternoon road race.  Goals for this season include defending the MWCCC title and gaining experience for younger, developing riders. In addition, multiple riders are looking to book a ticket to race at Collegiate Nationals in Grand Junction, Colorado at the end of April.

This year’s team looks promising with several returning riders including three with national championship experience, and several new riders with previous race experience. A few will race for the first time this season, but have put miles of hard work during  training, and are eager to develop into racers.

Here is an overview of our 2017 roster:

Men’s A

 

• James Pratt –James is a senior and fourth-year racer who has served as team president this season. This will be his second season as an A rider, after a standout debut year where he finished second overall in the Division 2 conference omnium. James continues to gain experience and consistently shows great teamwork with fellow Notre Dame racers in his category, traits needed for success at the highest level. Don’t count him out in a final with his quick top-end speed, something he hopes to showcase April 2nd in South Bend.

• Tony Pratt – Tony is currently a sophomore, and entering his second year as an A rider. Tony  won the Men’s A D2 omnium during his freshman season, with multiple podium finishes. This year, Tony will work to continue his previous success in the overall rankings, but watch for him especially in flat criteriums and the Michigan State Road Race where he will be able to utilize his impressive horsepower.

 

Women’s A

 

• Sarah Cullen – Sarah is a  4th year racer and senior who began competing in Women’s A halfway through last year. She placed 3rd in the D2 women’s omnium in 2016 and hope to continue her success this season. Road races suit her riding style, specifically her endurance. Expect top placings and another bid for Nationals.

 

Men’s B

• David McKenna – David, a grad student,  will be racing for Notre Dame for his third season and he certainly hates to lose! David works well with other teams in race until he makes his moves. Look out for David in a multitude of races this season, and with the right cast of characters around him, on the podium as well.

Men’s C

 

• Connor Williams – Even though this senior spends so much time training for triathlons, he still somehow brings in podium finishes. Connor has natural talent and endurance which allow him to follow any attacks made in races. Strength on the hills and a talented C team will allow Connor to succeed this season. Look for him in the B’s come April.

• Anthony Hall – He may be quiet but watch out! This sophomore has incredible strength and makes hills look easy. Look for Anthony to take command and animate races this season. High finishes last season certainly bring the experience needed.

 

• John Caffarelli – John is only a freshman, but rides beyond his years. His confidence, experience and knowledge, and aggressive will to win look to aid him in moving up in categories this season. Look for him in the final when the road turns up and the race gets animated.

Women’s B/C

• Kate Ginsbach – Possibly the most overqualified women’s B racer ever, this graduate student is a Cat 2 mountain biker and has already represented Notre Dame at Cyclocross Nationals. Although she has never competed in a road race, we are confident her biking skills from other disciplines will carry over.
• Theresa Smart – A graduate student and new racer. Theresa has been training hard this winter and we are excited to see her race for the first time!

Men’s D

• Ron Mau – Ron is a graduate student and has been a great addition to the team this year. He will race for the first time this season and is really excited to start competing. Strong team racer who will excel in the D TTT and be a key feature in the lower category leadout train.
• Zach Llorens – Zach is a senior who joined the team this year. He is a strong rider and very knowledgeable about cycling. Zach will be one to look out for in the Men’s D races.
• Sam O’Melveny – Sam, a junior, joined the racing team recently after volunteering to plan the Notre Dame home race. He is a fun teammate to be around! His first race is coming up and he hopes to gain experience and place well in the Men’s D races.
• Declan Kerwin – Declan is a freshman with a lot of riding experience. He has competed in a few races before. but will continue to develop and score points for our team!
• Pete Freeman – Pete competed with the team last year and enjoyed his season. We missed him last semester as he was abroad, but are excited to have him back on the bike now!
• Ryan Green – Ryan in unfortunately out this season healing from shoulder surgery. We wish him the best and can’t wait to have him back on the bike next year!

A group of Notre Dame Men’s Team riders took to a local loop for a short practice criterium to hone in racing skills a mere 19 days before the first race weekend in Louisville. Freshman John Caffarelli had a GoPro setup on his bike to capture the race in its entirety. Here are a few of the highlights…

On paper it was a strong showing by members of the team. The white team (Tony Pratt-A, John Caffarelli-C, Anthony Hall-C) was aggressive throughout the race, each member putting in soft and hard attacks. Hall’s attack with 2 laps to go, which was initially chased down by Sam O’Melveny, would’ve stuck without a ferocious chase by James Pratt of the Blue squad (Pratt-A, O’Melveny-D). O’Melveny had an attack of his own earlier in the race, and the elder Pratt covered his brother’s early jump and Caffarelli’s three attempts to escape throughout.

Hall was caught at the second to last corner with James Pratt on the front leading out two members of the white squad, Pratt and Caffarelli, in that order, but the race was extended due to traffic on the course.  On the added lap, O’Melveny started the dig for his sprinter, the tall, lean, but powerful J Pratt, while Caffarelli soon put in a MONSTER charge with his sprinter, the ever-handsome T Pratt in tow. It was looking to be a Pratt v. Pratt battle in the sprint, however James slipped his chain when the younger of the duo jumped for the line.

Tony Pratt took the overall win, followed by his trusty leadout steed and breakaway attempt expert John Caffarelli in a close second. James Pratt slid across the line moments after followed by the built and chiseled Anthony Hall and craft Sam O’Melveny. The white squad took home the hardware for this first race of the series.

 

 

Junior Sarah Cullen was part of the 2016 Class of Collegiate Academic All-Stars, a group of USA Cycling student-athletes who “go above and beyond by achieving top grades in the classroom while also competing at USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships”. 53 athletes were awarded this honor this year, that requires a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the semester that they competed in a National Championship.

Sarah is a Marketing Major and Theology Minor. She also worked at the Early Childhood Development Center as a teacher assistant and as a research assistant in the Management Department of the Mendoza College of Business. This was her first year competing as a Women’s category A racer and she was third overall in the Midwest Cycling Conference DII Omnium.

 

http://www.usacycling.org/spring-2016-class-of-collegiate-academic-all-stars.htm

James Pratt (Jr), Anthony Pratt (Fr), and Sarah Cullen (Jr) represented the Irish at Collegiate Nationals in Marshall & Burnsville, NC on May 13-15. It was all 3 racer’s first collegiate nationals, and all three had a great experience racing with the top collegiate riders in the country.

The road race was a ~23 mile course in Marshall, NC with four substantial climbs per lap. Sarah raced in the women’s D2 race of two laps. Within the first 5 miles, there were several crashes due to wet roads and sharp turns on descents. Unfortunately, a crash occurred right in front of Sarah, and she rode off the road to avoid running over the fallen rider. Already near the back of the pack, Sarah lost contact with the main group of riders and began chasing. About halfway through lap one, Sarah slid out of a sharp left turn and rode into a rock wall on the side of the highway. Both Sarah and her bike were okay, and Sarah eventually found a group of 5 other riders, most of who were involved in earlier crashes, to finish the race with. Sarah placed 26th/42 riders.

James and Tony rode very strong on the first lap of their 3-lap race. Both tried to start near the front on the climbs and fell back during the climbs. They were able to move up to the front of the pack on the long descents, using their weight to their advantage. Both Tony and James survived the first lap. However, on the second lap, first James and then Tony were dropped on the difficult climbs. Tony finished the race in 30th place. James finished shortly after in 43th place, and nearly collapsed after crossing the finish line, proving that the course was incredibly difficult and he put all he had into the race.

On Saturday, the criterium took place in Burnsville, NC in the foothills. The course featured a very sharp, almost U-turn, at the bottom of a steep downhill. A long climb up to the finish line helped break up the large fields.

Sarah took the course very cautiously, and was dropped within the first lap. She was gaining time back on the peloton on the third lap, but unfortunately was pulled before catching up. Sarah came in 34th place.

James and Tony raced very strongly in the Men’s D2 crit. They both were able to move up in the field and survive the first several laps in the field. There was a minor crash about 7 laps in that Tony was involved in and James was stuck behind. Both were given free laps, but James was reinserted behind the group and was unable to catch back up. Tony survived a few more laps before being pulled from the race. Only about 12 riders finished the entire race, so Tony and James stayed in longer than many riders. James came in 46th and Tony came in 37th.

On Sunday, all 3 raced in individual time trials. The course was 12.4 miles long with about 400 feet of uphill.

Sarah finished in 34:06 and placed 9th in women’s D2.
James finished in 31:11 and placed 22nd in men’s D2.
Tony finished in 29:20 and placed 12th in men’s D2.

Once again thank you to everyone who made this race season so great! We had a great time at Nationals and are looking forward to racing in Colorado next year!