2007 Bucknell Cycling Classic

Last weekend, the Colgate Cycling Club went to Bucknell University for the second annual Bucknell Cycling Classic. This race consisted of a Team Time Trial and Road Race on Saturday, and a shorter Criterium Race on Sunday. Representing Colgate were sophomores Andrew Krulewitz and William Hilsman and senior Eric Battaglioli.

These riders, all strong time trialists, were looking to dominate the 7.4 mile Men¹s C Team Time Trial. The team had some difficulty establishing an early rhythm. Despite this challenge, the team quickly recovered to maintain a high pace. The team finished with a time that was good enough for 2nd place in Men’s C category. This time would have also placed the team in 2nd place in Men’s B and was good enough for the 9th best time on the day.

The next event was the Road Race. The course was made up of four 9 mile laps of rolling Pennsylvanian country roads. Colgate’s riders stayed comfortably inside the peloton until the 3rd lap. William Hilsman launched a suicidal all-out attack incorrectly thinking it was the last lap. He was caught after lasting about 5 miles on his own. The final kilometer saw sprint specialist Andrew Krulewitz break away from the group. He was hoping to catch the peloton off guard with a quick attack. He achieved a gap of about 15 bike lengths but was caught by the rest of the field with only 100 meters to go. Despite being caught, this was a clever attack. At the same time as Andrew Krulewitz’s sprint, William Hilsman was caught in a crash in the peloton. He was launched into a drainage ditch, finally coming to a stop in a cornfield on the side of the course. Andrew finished in a respectable 14th place.

The next day, the team raced the Criterium. The course was perfect. The riders raced through the Bucknell campus. This course had many technical corners that would be sure to challenge the cyclists’ bike handling skills. To avoid crashes in this type of race, it is very important to stay at the very front of the peloton. Andrew Krulewitz stayed in the first 5 riders, William Hilsman in the top 10 riders, and Eric Battaglioli in the top 20 riders. Using this strategy, Colgate¹s riders managed to avoid all crashes. Midway through the race, a group of 4 riders managed to escape from the peloton. Colgate did not think this attack would last and decided not to chase it down. Unfortunately, the breakaway was never reeled in. William Hilsman was the best of the rest, out sprinting the main peloton for a 5th place finish while Andrew Krulewitz finished in 8th, and Eric Battaglioli finished with the field in 29th. With its strong results each weekend, the Colgate Cycling Club is becoming a force in collegiate cycling.