Fresh off a mountain bike national title in the fall, the Fort Lewis College cycling program is in hot pursuit of yet another title during the winter months.
The Skyhawks are in Reno, Nevada, for the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships. The collegiate varsity men will take the course at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, and the varsity women will race at 2:25 p.m.
The Skyhawks will then compete in Thursday’s team relay with two men and two women pairing together for four laps of team racing.
FLC will seek a 24th national championship in program history and its first in cyclocross since 2009.
“FLC has a few riders that can compete for the win, and that goes a long way for team omnium points,” FLC cycling director Dave Hagen said in an email to The Durango Herald.
FLC’s John Anderson was second last year. The senior is eager for his last cyclocross race with his college squad. He will be joined on the men’s team by riders Harrison Buckley, Stephan Davoust, Thomas Gauthier, Skyler Mackey, Ian McPherson and Henry Nadell.
Nadell won the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference title in cyclocross in December and will start from the front row.
“Freshman Skyler Mackey has been racing the biggest CX races around the country all year,” Hagen said. “Thomas Gauthier and Harrison Buckley round out the men and will surprise many with their strength and skill.”
Durangoans Ellen Campbell and Katja Freeburn headline the five-woman team. They are joined by Kelsay Lundberg, Kira Payer and Anna Schehrer.
Campbell, a sophomore, won the women’s RMCCC title and will start from the front.
“Freshman Kaja Freeburn has been training hard all fall learning a new discipline,” Hagen said. “Lundberg and Schehrer bring nationals experience to the table after strong finishes last year in Hartford, and Kira Payer is looking to finish solid as well.”
The college racers will share the venue with the nation’s top cyclocross racers in the country, as elite, masters and juniors racers also will compete throughout the week. Durango DEVO has a team in attendance for the first time to compete amongst the juniors.
Masters races will be held Thursday for men and Friday for women. Juniors will race Saturday, and elite men and women will round out the action Sunday.
For live updates from cyclocross nationals, follow John Livingston on Twitter @jlivi2.
FLC Cycling
2018 USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals
Jan. 10-14, Reno, Nev.
Men’s Roster
Jon Anderson, senior
Harrison Buckley, sophomore
Thomas Gauthier, junior
Stephan Davoust, senior
Skyler Mackey, freshman
Ian McPherson, senior
Henry Nadell, sophomore
Women’s Roster
Ellen Campbell, sophomore
Katja Freeburn, freshman
Kelsay Lundberg, junior
Kira Payer, freshman
Anna Schehrer, sophomore
