Arnesen looking to avenge 2004 penalty

For 20 seconds, senior Alpha Tau Omega rider Hans Arnesen knew what it felt like to be a Little 500 champion.\n"The highest point of racing in the Little 5 has to be the 2004 race where we crossed the finish line first," Arnesen said. "For those 20 seconds that we had actually won the race was the highest point I've ever had in Little 5."\nThen-sophomore Arnesen had a final lap showdown with Cutters rider Chris Vargo to decide the annual intramural cycling race. While Arnesen won the sprint across the finish line, the checkered flag ultimately went to the Cutters after officials penalized Arnesen for a blocking violation.\n"It's one of those that can shift immediately to one of the hardest things to take," he said. "Being at the highest point of thinking we had won the race and then all of a sudden to get it called back was hard. Getting second at that point was no reward to us. We knew the feeling of being at the top for those 20 seconds."\nOther than winning the main race, Arnesen has accomplished as much as any rider in the history of the Little 500. His freshman year he was named Rookie of the Year, his sophomore year he was awarded Most Valuable Rider and his junior year he set the all-time record of 2 minutes, 15.778 seconds in the Individual Time Trials. Any time he steps on the track, fellow riders name him as the favorite to win any spring series event. With two ITT and one Miss-n-Out titles, Arnesen continues to live up to expectations on the bike.\nArnesen wants to add the one trophy that has eluded him the last three years but said the race is more about the experience than just winning.\n"At this point, Little 5 means helping my team be successful and if we do well and can get a win on top of it, that's amazing," he said. "It would be incredible to go out on top, but if not, that's OK. I just want to see my teammates have a smile on their face and enjoy the race. That's what I'm thankful for -- that I have enjoyed the last four years."\nHis leadership and experience has been critical to the growth of the ATO team this season.\n"Hans brings leadership and absolute power," ATO coach Norm Houze said. "He's the fastest guy ever to ride on this track. He knows the race and all the little ins and outs which helps with a young team like ours."\nThe experience and success Arnesen has earned during his four years has not come without sacrifice. He noted the amount of time and effort all Little 500 riders put into the race and said all the riders should be commended for their efforts on the bike.\n"It's a considerable amount of time when you are trying to balance out school, your social life, family life and everything else," Arnesen said. "It's tough trying to be on a schedule, getting appropriate rest and do everything that needs to be done to be a successful rider."\nAs he enters his final 200 laps as a Little 500 rider, Arnesen wants to make his final race a memorable one.\n"I'm going to go out there and make every lap that I'm on the bike count," he said. "I'm not going to sit in the pack and eat laps. I'm going out there to ride aggressive and make my last time on the bike count. This is my last race and I want to leave it all out on the track"