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Sunday, Nov. 24
The Indiana Daily Student

sports

Club cycling looks to continue successful season

The tradition of great cycling at IU has long been at the center of campus attention. The student body embraced the annual Little 500 and the nation fell in love with the inspirational Bloomington-based film "Breaking Away." So it should come with no great surprise that the IU Cycling Club has attained great success.\nThe club participates in highly competitive cycling events, year round, throughout the Midwest. The fall season consists of mountain bike events, while the spring season is dedicated to road races. Each season consists of nine events over a span of nine consecutive weeks. In each of the seven regions, the five teams with the most points from each event advance to club cycling nationals.\nCycling is recognized as an "A" club sport at Indiana with many schools having a varsity cycling program, but rarely participating in club cycling events. But, at the 1999 Road Regionals, IU's club defeated the Marion College varsity cycling team. \n"It is great feeling when a club defeats a varsity program. They just walked away with their heads facing the ground," said IUCC president Brian Walton, a senior.\nThe IUCC competes in the Midwest region for both the mountain bike and road race seasons. Big Ten conference teams are also strong at the club level, but strong competition also comes from small schools with solid club programs such as University of Wisconsin at Whitewater.\nThe sport of cycling is very expensive. The club, though, has taken measures to negate this factor with creative sponsorship and generous support. The club Web page dedicates its own section to sponsors. Primary sponsorship comes from Outdoor Equipment, who provides special equipment rates to the members of the cycling club. The IU Student Foundation also works closely with the club program. \nThe Little 500 plays an integral part of the club's road race season. Walton said the IUCC and Little 500 has a "love-hate relationship."\nJunior Ellen Hall, a club rider who raced in the Little 500 as a freshman, said she prefers the cycling club.\n"Collegiate races have more year-round racers," Hall said. "Little 500 has a lot more hype." \nGlory and competition of the Little 500 attracts many athletes to cycling. Little 500 riders often train all year round to prepare themselves for the grueling 50 mile race. To the club's benefit, many Little 500 riders race for the club cycling team, adding to the competitiveness of the program, but many of the riders only train and race with the club early into the spring season. \nThe middle of the road race season is peak training period for Little 500 competitors, leading many riders to quit the club team midway through the season in favor of Little 500 commitments. \n"Many riders don't want to risk getting hurt, or they use that time for team training," Walton said. Walton added that some greek houses encourage their riders to concentrate on their house team, as opposed to the club.\nDespite all of the conflict with Little 500, the cycling club has managed to be competitive every year. The cycling club has never failed to qualify for nationals, including their fifth place finish last year at the road race nationals. \nSenior Nick Lasure, the downhill and dual slalom specialist as well as Hall, a cross-country specialist, led the club. \nLasure said he has been racing competitively for six years and has been a member of IUCC since his freshman year.\n"The racing seasons have been some of the best times of my college career," he said.\nAmid all the intensity of Little 500 and the drama of "Breaking Away," the IU Cycling Club has created its own tradition of excellence in cycling. \nThe club is open to women and men, as well as beginners or experienced riders. For more information, e-mail cycling@indiana.edu or visit their Web site at www.indiana.edu/~iucc)

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