Croxx

Cross Worlds- It's the only game in town right now. 6pm at the tailgate fields. If anyone puts together a regular wednesday road ride then let me know and I'll throw the details up here.

Speaking of cross- it was the first of the NAtional USGP races in Madison last weekend and some of the locals rocked up to take on the big boys. One of the those big boys is becoming Ryan Knapp (bikereg.com) who placed 11th on saturday and 18th sunday. Solid work! Apparently he's now 'ranked' 15th in the Nation! As ever great photos from USGP at Caitlin's blog.

Bloomingcross is a little over 2 weeks away (oct 17th) and will be featuring one of the Kona 'twin-towers', Barry Wicks doing a clinic on saturday morning. Will be a lot of fun, especially watching Knapp defending the home turf against Wicks and Sherer!

Pics from Track champs

Some IU-centric pics by Julianna Rice. Look for the cohesion of the team sprint squad!

IUDM Torch Ride

From Amy Dickman-
60 Miles to Save a Child~
October 23rd Riley Hospital for Children à Bloomington
Dear Riders,
On Saturday, October 23rd, IUDM will be hosting its 5th annual Torch Ride, a cycling event, from Riley Hospital for Children to Bloomington. Each year this event is a centerpiece of the IUDM experience, serving as a ride in honor of Ashley Crouse, an IUDM Vice President who passed away in a car accident on campus in 2005. Her brother, Charlie Crouse, will lead the pack of cyclists from Riley Hospital to Bloomington, while carrying a torch that will ultimately be placed at the marathon as a reminder of Ashley's legacy and dedication to IU Dance Marathon and the children at Riley.
IUDM works year-round to raise funds and awareness for Riley Hospital for Children. Since it began, the IU Dance Marathon has raised more than $8.5 million for Riley Hospital for Children, which built and continues to support the Ryan White Infectious Disease Center. If you click here, you can learn more about IUDM and the Center it has built. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReLrlwR5WH4
We will be leaving Bloomington at 7:00am and will be providing transportation for riders and their bikes up to Indianapolis for the start of the ride at 9:00am. We will be using this route to make our way back down to Bloomington:http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=550125242069063427. The cost for participation will be $30, which includes lunch.

Riders can register by filling out the attached form and turning it into the IUDM office Suite 572 in the Union or by signing up online at www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/torchride

Help make a difference today and gather your friends and teammates to join in on this amazing event! For more information please visit www.iudm.org or email lebrentl@indiana.edu for questions!
For the Kids and ALC,
Jason Ferree Leslie Brentlinger
Director of Special Events Torch Ride Chair

Chapeau Eric, Chapeau IU

A fantastic Collegiate Track Champs finished in the best possible style as Eric Young claimed both Points race and Overall Individual Omnium whilst IU got onto the podium in 5th place in the Team Omnium. It was better than anyone could of imagined and was a testament to both individual and collective hardwork.
Of course the plaudits must go to Eric Young who has yet to find a cycling mountain he cannot climb. A rider alone against 29 others in the Points race, he utterly dominated by getting in the big move then marking the aggression of Rob Bush, David Williams (Marian) and Oscar Clark (Georgia State) to pick up the points he needed for a comfortable win. Winning the final sprint was the cherry on top and the sign of a true showman! The quality of Collegiate cycling was highlighted by the fact Clark (Mountain Khakis), Bush (Garmin), Williams (Bissell), JAckie Simes (Jamis) and Young (??) are all Pros or should-be-pros.

Gametime (photo- Chris West)

Elsewhere on the final day Hannah Calvert qualified 8th in the Women's Sprint and after a loss in the first round was looking good to progress through the repecharge. However a rider from Colorado State moved off her line during the sprint to bring Hannah down at 35mph- resulting in a broken collar bone. The CSU rider was DQed which was of little consolation to Hannah! For all of Eric's great work the difference between IU on and off the podium actually came during the Calvert crash as the points gap between the two teams was greatest in IU's favor in the Women's Sprint.
Success in the Team competition comes from having individual excellence and quality in both Mens and Womens squads. The Womens TP and the Co-ed team sprint were equally valuable contributors to the solid 5th overall.
Otherwise Marian University dominated all the team events with their amazingly talented squad. Adam Leibovitz (1st kilo, 1st pursuit, 4th sprint) and Kaitlin Antonneau (1st points, 2nd pursuit ,5th 500m) on any other year would have won individual titles.
5th overall- solid

Marian will be bidding to host the championships again next year and hopefully there will be larger stronger IU group ready to challenge Marian, MSU and Fort Lewis for the top placing.

Champ!

You may not have heard if you don't read the twitter feed but Eric Young is the champ. Check out Jim Kirkham's video of the race. Sorry about the announcer!

Elsewhere Eric was 3rd in the Kilo and the Womens Team Pursuit finished 4th and the Team Sprint came 6th. Plenty of photos will soon appear on FB and elsewhere but check this link for my favorite so far. One more day of competition to come and IU are 6th overall with hopes of moving up to the podium place on the last day featuring Womens Sprint, Mens Team Pursuit and Mens Points race.

It's GO TIME!!

Tracks champs start tomorrow AM with Scott Catanzaro riding the 4k pursuit at around 11.30am and Kristen Metherd in the 3K in the 4th heat of the day at 9.15am. We might not have the resources of Marian but thanks to Chris Beck, Guy East, Jason Fowler and others we're pretty well set for carbon. Everyone on the team will be rolling smooth- Ashley Pilipisyn's bike may be the first Little 500 frame to roll with deep section front and rear disc!!

Cutters...yawn

A few people have sent me this link so I'll throw it up. Some top tri-dude has a 'Cutters' T-shirt on likely not knowing anything about the race. The Cutters are SOOOO commercial these days I'll be expecting to see even the rookies rolling up the track in Escalades next february.

Moonlight MTB race

Over at Southwestway park in Indianapolis this Saturday evening. Register on Truesport here. Starts at 11pm!

Even more IU..

After the final pre-race meeting for the track team there is now even more IU to come and cheer over the next few days! Hannah Calvert will be joining Kristen and Ashley in the 500m TT on thursday evening and the guys have stepped up to enter Team Pursuit (Harbison, West, Young, Catanzaro) on Saturday morning. It might be the most technically challenging event but IU will rock up to the start line with exactly zero prep....and smash it!

Wednesday worlds

Final 'official' WW of the year rolls on out to 446 circuit. Meet 6pm Sample Gates, out at the course at 6.30pm. It's close to home so shouldn't be any issues with darkness...perhaps we'll cut the laps as well for a rapid fire workout.

CX worlds- 6pm at the tailgate fields.