The Whitman cycling team cruised through their conference this year and will compete at nationals this weekend ­: Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10: in Fort Collins, Colo. The team’s road race is on Friday, their criterium on Saturday and the team time trial on Sunday.

This will be the sixth year in a row the team has gone to nationals since their first appearance in 2004. Whitman first sent a full team in 2005, when they won the team championship. The team also won the team championship in 2006, placed third in 2007 and sixth in 2008.

“We are sending a strong team this year and our goal is to win the national championships in the DII team omnium,” said senior Nick Littman.

Littman will be joined at nationals by senior Colin Gibson and juniors Ben Chaddock and Duncan McGovern. The women are sending senior Mia Huth, juniors Kendi Thomas and Emily Rodriguez and sophomore Roxy Pierson.

“As far as individual results go, on the women’s side expect Kendi Thomas to place very high in both the road race and criterium,” said Littman. “On the men’s side, Ben Chaddock looks to place highly in the criterium.”

However, each team has their sights set on a successful team showing overall.

“I’m just excited to be going,” said sophomore Pierson, who is making her first trip to nationals but has been cycling competitively for five years. “I think we have a great chance to do well and I think we’re all excited to work together to achieve our goals for the season.”

The team has had a successful season, recently capping it off by winning the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference by a large margin.

Whitman finished with 5976 points to second place Western Washington’s 4561 points. There are 17 teams in the conference.
“Each weekend the A riders rode stronger and stronger as a group,” said junior Chaddock. “This familiarity is key to making decisions and communicating at the big races.”

At nationals, the team will compete in field sizes of more than 130 other cyclists, which is much different than the 30 to 40 riders in the collegiate races the team competes in for conference.

Chaddock explained that the recent Tour of Walla Walla competition was so important for their nationals preparation because of its similar structure.

Aside from preparation for nationals, the team has had great involvement this year, with 19 male and 17 female participants.

Littman noted that there has been a large influx of new riders this year, who round out the mix of experience and make for a fun dynamic.

“We’ve recruited a whole new crop of cyclists who are really enthusiastic and committed to cycling,” said Littman.

“It [the influx of new cyclists] led to a fun and enthusiastic atmosphere at all the races, even when it was raining and cold,” said Pierson.

Chaddock encourages those who are looking to follow the team’s results to stay updated on the live video feed that can be found at http://www.fccyclingfest.com/303.