New ITT champs will be crowned on track today

With the Little 500 season getting into full swing, tonight will mark the recognition of this year’s elite riders.

Starting at 4 p.m., 329 riders will take to Bill Armstrong Stadium in 83 heats for the 2012 Individual Time Trials to determine the fastest riders for this year’s races.

“ITTs are a big indicator of how strong each rider is during the season,” Army Women rider Aileen Ottenweller said. “No one is tapering or slowing down their efforts during practice yet, so it is a more realistic look at the overall strength of the rider.”  

This year’s ITTs field will feature two new champions and a new look at the top. Last year’s men’s champion, Cutters’ Eric Young, is gone — as is last year’s runner-up, Fiji’s David Ellis. In addition, the women lose their top-three finishers from last year: Teter’s Caitlin van Kooten, Alpha Gamma Delta’s Melinda Balchan and Pi Beta Phi’s Caroline Brown.

"While Eric Young and Caitlin Van Kooten have both graduated, I would say that the competition has tightened up," Little 500 Races Assistant Director Jordan Bailey said. "The Qualifications results from Saturday revealed that the 1st and 33rd team were separated by a margin of only 11 seconds, the lowest in over 12 years. The track has been in considerably better condition than it was last year, which should lead to faster times for all riders tomorrow night."

Hoping to fill the void in the men’s field is this past year’s fourth-place finisher, Kevin Depasse from Cutters. After Saturday’s eighth-place finish in men’s qualifications and the loss of Young, a win Wednesday night could prove the Cutters are still a force to be reckoned with in their quest for a sixth consecutive Little 500 title.

“The two top finishers may have graduated, yes. However, the field is packed with strong guys and, of course, the unknowns who have yet to stretch their legs in such a unique venue,” Depasse said. “The nice thing about our team is that we take everything in stride, and while a win tomorrow night by one of us would be great, it’s not the race.”

Also looking to make an statement is senior RJ Stuart of Delta Tau Delta, who last year finished third in ITTs, only .39 seconds faster than Depasse. With last year’s top two finishers gone, Stuart says he is ready to be Delts first ITT champion in more than 12 years.
 
“I'm only going for the win. I respect all the riders in my heat, but at the end of the day I'm not worried at all,” Stuart said. “This is my last year in the Little 500, and I've taken my training to another level by training consistently with professional riders throughout the fall. Although I am confident, I won't ever let it get to my head because I'd be foolish to take my competition lightly.”

Another rider worth watching out for is Ottenweller, who is competing for Army Women, Saturday’s third-place finisher in the women’s qualifications. Ottenweller finished fifth in this past year’s ITTs, and with only one faster rider in this past year’s event returning for this year’s race, she said that while she has a chance at winning the event, this year’s field is wide open.

“The girls’ competition this year will be really exciting for fans to watch,” she said. “All of us competing, in my eyes, have a fair shot at placing first in ITTs. Of course, I’d like to say my chances are strong for pulling off a win. However, I’m more excited to be able to race against the girls I’ve grown up on the track with. We’ve all improved a lot
this year.”

ITTs give teams a chance to let all of their riders play a part in the Little 500 festivities. While riders from some teams will not have the opportunity to compete in Little 500, the ITTs give riders a chance to take their turn on the famed track.

With so many riders competing, to win this year’s ITTs on either side, riders will have to put in their best effort to take a victory.

All in all, Ottenweller sums up the keys to the race quite simply.

“Warm up well,” Ottenweller said. “Go fast, and turn left.”