Michael Gallik won the Road Race and Ruby Telepak won the Criterium this past weekend at Wake Forest University. These results combined with consistent and dominant performances in the first half of the season have catapulted the two riders into the highest category of racing for the remainder of the season. Both riders will now be competing at the professional level, an exceptional achievement considering how new they both are to the sport and discipline of road cycling. 

Gallik joined up with teammates Aidan Goldberg, Alastair Amos, and Gus Lynott in the road race Saturday. With the confidence that he was one of the strongest riders in the field, the team rallied behind Mike to help set him up for breakaway opportunities or keep it together for a bunch sprint if the breakaway didn't stick. After an aggressive race with lots of attacks initiated by Gallik himself, the field came to the finish all together. Gallik took the race into his own hands in the closing meters, taking the front through the last corner and holding everyone off as he made his way to victory with a decisive sprint that no one could contest.

In the women's race, Ragan Weigel and Lauren Weigel held their own in a field made up of nationally ranked riders and a well-organized team with a ton of horsepower. They finished second and third respectively in the collegiate field and gained some valuable training and experience leading into the second half of the season. 
 
Sunday morning started off with a bang, with Ruby Telepak dominating the Novice Women's race, winning every available points prime and taking the outright win over her competition in a blazing fast field sprint. The win has earned her the upgrade we were anticipating, and she will now be riding alongside her teammates in the professional women's field.

Aidan Snow also earned his upgrade out of the Novice field over the weekend and will now be joining his teammates in the Category 3/4 races at our next race,

A highlight of the weekend came in the men's professional criterium, where Jensen Cervati, Nathaniel Gervez and William Dodds joined forces with Gallik and Amos to compete in a stacked field of men.  One of the best teams in the country showed up with their entire roster and were looking to make it a hard race to stamp their mark on the competition. It can be said with complete confidence and pride that Roanoke College Cycling also showed up and left their mark on the race. This race was a culmination of a lot of hard work and team training, focused on communication, timing and tactics in all the early season races.
 
We had riders represented in any and all attacks that were made, we organized seamlessly for a mid-race points prime and won it easily, and in the closing laps of the race when chaos can get the best of riders, we handled it with poise and precision worthy of even the best teams and riders admiration. 

One of the strongest riders in the bunch delivered a dangerous late attack and Gallik didn't hesitate to go with it. With representation off the front, our sprinters were able to simply sit and wait in position while other teams needed to use all their energy to bring the two riders back. With one lap to go, the field was all together again and Cervati was able to find Dodd's wheel just before the last corner. The two connected through instinct alone and Dodds launched straight to the front, giving his teammate a clear line to the finish. Cervati jumped and sprinted to the line for a third place photo finish, matching the speed of one of the best riders in the country and missing second place by just a bike throw.

Every race is an opportunity for us to learn and grow as a team and a unit. We continue to improve and climb the ladder of the results. That coveted and prestigious victory is just around the corner for this squad, and I can't wait for them to do it. 

Could it be as soon as our next race, the Tour of Newport News? Stay tuned… and thanks for reading.