UCSD has a new national champion in its ranks: Peter Knudsen, who proved that dedication and hard work pay off by becoming the U.S. collegiate road cycling champion this weekend at the Collegiate Nationals Road Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The three-day event, held May 19 through May 21, consists of a criterium, a road race and a team time trial, held on consecutive days. Only the first two events count toward the individual overall championship.

In the criterium, an event run with multiple laps of a 0.9-mile circuit that typically favors sprinters, Knudsen made a decisive move with more than 30 minutes remaining in the approximately 80-minute event. Only one other rider, Mark Ernsting from Midwestern State University, was able to move with him.

In the finish, Knudsen, not known for his sprinting, wisely tried to escape the MSU rider with two laps to go, but could not break free and got silver.

“”If I had more oxygen, it would have been better, but it was a tough day,”” Knudsen said. “”I tried to attack at the end but it was a little early, and I have no sprint. The sprint is not for me, so I knew if I could get a good gap and peel off I had a chance, but [Ernsting is] a good rider. This is an individual event and even the best teams only have one strong rider, so riding alone wasn’t a challenge for me.””

The Sunday road race was on a hilly course that was further toughened by its high elevation on the Air Force Academy campus.

With his tremendous placing in the previous day’s criterium and the excellent finish in the road race, Knudsen garnered enough points to win the Stars and Stripes Jersey, signifying the overall national championship title winner.

Knudsen, a junior, has ridden on the cycling team since he came to UCSD. This year he turned his full attention to road cycling.

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