University of Arizona Cycling Earns 2007 SWCCC MTB Title

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The University of Arizona Cycling Team won the SouthWest Collegiate Cycling Conference Championship for mountain biking October 6-7 in Sonoita, Arizona. Not only did the U of A team take the podium in convincing fashion, but the entire event was organized and run under the direction of student team members and recruited support. In a developing collegiate cycling conference such as the SWCCC, it is ever important that such events continue to go off with such great organization. This event was something that other SWCCC team can, and likely will, model in the future for their own events. Evan Hyde did a fantastic job as Race Director in making the weekend a true success. 

The racing action was fast and action packed with a two-mile TT race Saturday morning followed by an afternoon Short Track. The TT featured a rugged 4×4 dirt road climb going out and a fast big-ring descent coming back to the line on the single loop course. Short Track was contested on a technically challenging course that featured several tight corners which demanded both a rider’s concentration and finesse. Fox 11 captured the full effort STXC action for the weekend sports news recap. The cross-country was contested on a long 9.25 mile course that was relentlessly undulating and rough. Racers completed either two or three laps depending upon their race category.

It was Kyle Colavito who swept all three events in the Men’s A category, taking victory in TT and also a hard fought win over Evan Hyde in the STXC. Kyle went on to win the cross country event after catching early race leader and eventual second place finisher Alex Luce.  In the Women’s A category Melanie Meyers took victory in the TT and also the XC event. Teammate Chloe Forsman came around Meyers just before the finish to win the STXC in a close sprint. Brian Meyer collected third place in men’s A TT. Other notable results achieved by University of Arizona racers in the B categories were Rob Cyrek and Jon Burin taking the top two spots in the STXC race. Kelly Clifton earned wins in both the women’s B TT and STXC.

As SouthWest Collegiate Cycling Conference champions several U of A racers will go on to compete at the Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships hosted by Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina October 26-28, 2007. Momentum Endurance will be there to support these races and encourage them along the way.

All the Best to Collegiate Cycling!