2007 Rutgers ECCC Season Opener

The Colgate University Cycling Club opened the season at Rutgers University this past weekend. The atmosphere was great. One of the race officials said over 400 riders signed up for this race weekend! Many of the teams arrived with their own cycling trailers and team vans. Representing Colgate were Eric Battiglioli, Will Hilsman, Andrew Krulewitz, Ben Roshko, and Jamie Simchik. The first race was a time trial. The course was originally slated to be 4.2 miles, but because half of the course was underwater, the time trial course was shortened to 2.5 miles. In the field of 96 riders in C Grade, Colgate placed two riders in the top 10, and three in the top half. Eric finished in ninth and Will finished in forth. Ben finished strongly in D Grade.

A few hours after the conclusion of the TT, we headed to the criterium on the other side of Rutgers’ campus. Ben participated in the introductory race, which was incredibly informative for a first-time crit rider, and finished strong in his race. The C Grade race with Eric, Will, Andrew, and Jamie, was riddled with crashes. Some Colgate riders got stuck behind these crashes, but still managed to remain with the field. The pace quickened and the peloton splintered quickly. In the lead group, Will pulled out a tenth place finish and Eric finished strongly with the chasing group.

On Sunday was the road race. The weather was extremely cold and windy. Ben participated in the D Grade race. He stayed in the lead group the entire race and had a good finish just off a few seconds off the winner’s pace. In the second race, within the field of 55, Eric and Andrew worked extremely hard to protect Will from the wind until the final sprint. Jamie was somewhere off the back trying to compensate for his lack of preseason fitness! On the final lap the pace quicken, and in the field sprint, Will managed to pull away from the other riders to take the win! A great team strategy for all the riders involved. Overall, a very successful first weekend for the Colgate University Cycling Club.