Concordia participated in its first-ever collegiate level race, with Marc finishing a strong fourth in an excellent field. The race was a criterium held on a cold morning at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. This photo shows a few of the riders lined up at the start, with Marc in the green and gold CSL kit surrounded by racers from Univ. of Missouri, Univ. of Michigan, Ohio State, and Univ. of Illinois.
Marc had strong fan support, with his wife, two other couples (and one two year old) and even the guy from a local bike shop who custom-built Marc's bike frame. It was a cold morning, the racers stuck together as they warmed up for a couple of laps. Then a Mizzou guy took off, got caught, and another Mizzou guy went. This break stuck, and he built up a lead of about a minute. But then a Saint Louis University and a Purdue guy bridged up, with Marc leading the pack behind. Then Marc convinced a Univ. of Wisconsin racer to work with him. They left the pack and started working up to the front. Eventually Marc dropped the other guy, and made the bridge to the front three. By now there were only three laps to go. The four worked together and built up a two minute lead over the rest of the pack.
This photo above with Marc in the lead is from the second-last lap. All the work Marc put in didn't leave him much for the finish, but he just missed third by a wheel. After the race the four top finishers shared excited conversation about the race, and Marc received several compliments from other racers for his efforts.
We're hoping to get a larger team out for a race at Purdue in April. Stay tuned!
out 6 weeks to turn around. Contact me via e-mail (click on the "Jeff Kloha" link at right) for more info.
