University of Notre Dame Cycling

Brief Report

Men’s A

• Joe Magro 16th

Men’s C

• Michael Tonzi 18th
• Andrew O’Donnell 29th
• Josh Corcoran 35th

Men’s D

• Brian Hurley 14th

Bellefontaine OH – Road races Saturday were held on a rolling 15 mile course. With weather quickly deteriorating and wind gusts near 30mph racers battled the elements as much as one another. Sophomore Brian Hurley, Men’s D, competed first for ND. In his debut weekend Hurley rode well and finished 14th out of 51 finishers. Freshman Josh Corcoran, graduate student Andrew O’Donnell, and sophomore Michael Tonzi represented ND in the Men’s C field. The race was fast from the gun as riders jockeyed for position heading into the first climb. O’Donnell and Tonzi were able to maintain contact with the leaders over the top and into the crosswinds on the plateau above. Still in a driving rain, Tonzi slipped into a pack of 4 as the main field began to fall apart 20 miles into the race. Sprinting for the finish, Tonzi crossed the line first in his group and 18th overall. O’Donnell wasn’t far behind while Corcoran also finished near the top half of the field of 60. Graduate student Douglas Ansel and sophomore Joe Magro rode for the Irish in the Men’s A category. Much like earlier races in the day, an all out sprint to the first steep climb a mile into the course proved the defining moment of the race. Starting towards the rear, Magro passed much of the field on the ascent and crested the hill in the front group. As the temperature dropped into the 30’s and driving rain turned to sleet and hail riders strung out all over the course. Crosswinds shifted to tailwinds 25 miles into the race resulting in sustained speeds of over 40mph. Magro settled into the second group of 8 and scored more nationals qualification points with 16th overall.

Columbia KY – 45 riders were at the start of the 75 mile Men’s A road race in the hills of Columbia, KY. With 5 major climbs per 25 mile lap, Lindsey Wilson College’s course had been described as, “nothing like the rest of the courses in the conference.” by LWC cycling Coach Dave Grisby and set the stage for the beginning of the 2011 road season. Attacks began almost from the gun as both Marian University and Lindsey Wilson attempted to establish early breakaways before the road began to climb. Magro and Ansel both started towards the rear of the peloton as the field stretched into a long line with speeds touching 35mph. Midway through the first circuit a small break was able to distance itself from the field and the pace settled. With most of the major climbs located towards the rear of the loop, Magro and Ansel began to move forward in anticipation of attacks on the climbs.  Maxwell Anderson of Wisconsin-Platteville paced the field up to the start finish line with Magro sitting right on his wheel and Ansel not far behind. Cresting the climb Anderson and Magro were joined by Naveen John of Purdue and Jackie Simes of Marian. The group was able to briefly escape before an effort from Lindsey Wilson college brought the field back together again entering the valley section of the course. Anderson, a DII rival, immediately attacked again and, 20 seconds behind, Magro was forced to lead the main field’s chase.  Unable to bridge, and with little cooperation from Marian, the breakaway slowly pulled out of sight and Magro merged back into the peloton.  Crosswinds on the plateau at the beginning of the second lap saw Ansel unhitched from the field, but he was able to return to the peloton midway through the circuit. Heading into the climb at the conclusion of lap 2, Magro again rode towards the front as the field shattered on the climb. Joseph Kukolla of Marian crested the hill with a 5 second advantage over Magro, Andrew Otte of Purdue, and Jackie Simes of Marian with the field a further 10 seconds back.  Otte and Magro worked to reel in Kukolla and once together the group of 4 would not be seen again by the peloton. Slowly sweeping up the remnants of earlier breakaways, including Anderson, Kukolla, Magro, Otte, and Simes started the final climb of the day racing for 3^rd. Magro paced the group up the kilometer ascent and dropped the DII Platteville rival. Content with finishing first in DII, Magro didn’t contest the sprint and came across the line in a career best 7^th overall.  Ansel finished soon after and also recorded a career best 13^th place.

(further reports coming time permitting. midterms are here)

TTT

Men’s C 1st

RR :

Men’s A

• Joe Magro 7th
• Douglas Ansel 13th

Continue reading “Week 1 2011 Report: Lindsey Wilson”