Nebraska Cycling News

University of Colorado Looks to Defend Division I Crown, Division II Title Wide Open

Angel Fire, N.M. (October 19, 2006) -- High in the Sangre de Cristo mountains, coeds from around the country will compete this weekend for collegiate off-road bragging rights as Northern New Mexico's Angel Fire Resort is set to host the 2006 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships.

The University of Colorado and Lees-McRae College will look to defend their coveted overall team omnium titles from a year ago, while four individual omniums and 16 national titles are also up for grabs in cross country, short track cross country, downhill, and mountain cross.

Short track cross country racing will get the weekend off to an exciting start Friday. The three-minute course is sure to be a crowd pleaser with unlimited passing opportunities, short steep climbs, and several technical elements - all within viewing range from the base of the ski area.

The opening day will also feature mountain cross on a course that was designed for the 2005 UCI World Cup. Long and flowing, the course is considered by many to be one of the best in the world.

Saturday will see riders climb to 11,000 feet on each nine-mile lap of a cross-country course that features 70% technical single track and 30% fire roads.

Sunday is reserved for the downhill contests. With everything from fast open ski runs to jumps and from technical wooded sections to fast single track, the race against the clock will bring an exciting end to this year's national championships.

The University of Colorado, the defending Division I champion, will be up against some tough competition from rival Fort Lewis College. The Durango-based school won the Division I title in 2003 and 2004, a winning streak that was upset by CU just last year. With a three-year streak as the Division II winner, Lees-McRae College will also be a threat to Colorado as they compete in Division I for the first time this weekend.

In Division II, North Carolina's Warren Wilson College is a favorite, having finished second to Lees-McRae for the past three years. They'll be up for some strong challenges however from schools like Union College and Murray State University.

Collegiate cycling features a unique combination which calculates men's and women's results together to crown an overall team champion.  Collectively, all disciplines and genders factor into a run at a national title.