The UCSD cycling team hosted a race on the par course behind RIMAC on Nov. 19, and won by scoring 298 points.
The weather held true for the race while UCSD faced San Diego State University, Chico State, Cal Poly San Louis Obispo, Stanford, and Cuesta Community College.
The race featured two events. The first was a one-lap time trial and the second a short-track cross country competition. Each event was then divided into five races: men’s A, B and C, and women’s A and B. Race director Pete Knudsen was in charge of controlling and setting up this grandiose race.
“”It was a lot of work setting up the race, but I had some help, and it was worth it,”” Knudsen said. “”When you get six teams together and have a good turnout like we did here, and when the team performs well, it makes the race fun.””
Knudsen also participated in the men’s A division race and helped lead UCSD to wins in both the time trial and the cross country race.
He placed first in the time trial and was one of four riders to break the course record, which he previously held. Knudsen finished with a time of 6:28 and was closely followed by Jesse Beck, also of UCSD, who finished in 6:29. The last two riders to break the old course record were Anthony Medaglia of SLO at 6:35 and Eric Wicker of SDSU at 6:43.
The men’s team continued its cycling dominance in the B and C divisions of the time trial event. Eric Mellers won the men’s B in a time of 7:13, just edging Gerry Elbert of SDSU in what was a mad-dash finish.
In the C division, UCSD captured three of the top four spots and was led by Brian Flock, who finished first in a time of 7:27. Flock destroyed the rest of the field as the second place finisher, Eric Hermawan from SDSU, clocked in at a distant 8:00.
The women’s team was not able to field a time trial in the A or B squad.
However, Triton Sara Peetz did take the women’s B cross country race over Kim Klemintowski from Chico.
The Tritons outclassed the opposition in the cross country race as well as the time trial.
“”As a team, we performed incredibly well,”” Knudsen said. “”Even though the event used an outdated scoring system, which favored participation over place, we still won six of the 10 races.””
UCSD won every event it entered except the men’s C team short-track.
Mark Lunden of SDSU won that, but the Tritons captured the next three spots in the race to assure them of an overwhelming victory.
“”Everyone was excited to have a race at home and I think we came out and showed that by performing the way we did,”” Knudsen said.
In the short-track, the same two A-team riders captured the top two spots.
The only difference was that Knudsen and Beck switched places as Beck captured first and Knudsen second. Dirk Van Ulden also had a strong performance for the Tritons, placing sixth.
In the B and C divisions, UCSD again showed its strength, winning the B division and capturing places 2 through 4 in the C division.
Mellers won the B division and Flock, after tiring himself out by winning the men’s C time trial by a mile, finished second in the men’s C cross country to an energized Mark Ludin of SDSU.
Team president Jason Goldberg placed a solid fourth in both the time trial and short track B division.
The winner of each race, instead of being presented with medals, was given tropical plants and propeller guns.
“”We just tried to make things a little bit more relaxed out there, and besides, wouldn’t you rather have a propeller gun or cool plant than a dinky medal?”” Knudsen said.
As it goes, the team performed well and the event as a whole was a success.
“”Everything worked out,”” Knudsen said. “”We had generally fast times and overall the event was satisfactory. I think most people enjoyed themselves out there.””
