Collegiate races are often small, making them appear to some onlookers like inferior offshoots of bigger USAC events. However, the collegiate cyclist knows that small races often consist of a handful of insanely talented racers and nowhere to hide. Last weekend exemplified this kind of competition to a T, with a start list featuring pros, ex-pros, and soon-to-be-pros.
No matter the fields, UCLA’s road race is one of the least forgiving in the conference, with altitude, snow, and fabled stair-step climbs that test riders’ lungs and … More