Story by Lauren Eggenschwiler
Hotter’n Hell Hundred races kicked off Friday with the criteriums.
The MSU Cycling team races as the Hotter’n Hell Hundred/Midwestern team for non-collegiate events like the Hotter’n Hell Hundred.
MSU had 5 strong females in the women’s category race that started at 5:30pm, perfect time to live up to the race’s name.
Jessica Prinner helped pick up the speed when she attacked off the front of the race.
Prinner was also able to collect a prime, which is a prize given periodical throughout the race to encourage riders to go hard and pick up speed.
Tiffany Stewart & Loren Eggenschwiler finished the race in 9th & 10th.
The men’s pro 1/2 race began shortly after the women finished. The men raced a 75 minute crit.
After a long battle in the heat, MSU’s Tony Baca was able to take 10th, with teammate Alexi Martinez close behind for 13th.
Saturday was the big road race. The Pro 1/2 men started the races for MSU.
Normally, this race is 100 miles, but due to the heat and an overlap on the course with recreational riders, a new 90 mile course was created for rider and racer safety.
Baca was the first MSU rider to cross the line in 36th place. In the category 3 men’s, who also raced 90 miles, MSU’s Sean Brown was able to take 2nd place.
The category 4 men’s also did 90 miles, where Erick Goytia was able to take 5th. For the 4/5B race, Eduardo Juarez took 17th for MSU.
The women 1/2/3 had an exciting race and Prinner was able to get off the front to take 3rd. Teammates Tiffany Stewart, Loren Eggenschwiler, Claire Routledge and Ashley Weaver came in 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th, respectively.
Hotter’n Hell Hundred may be known for it’s road race, but it continues through Sunday where another criterium is held by the MPEC.
MSU’s Erick Goytia went down in a crash, breaking his bike in the Men’s 4 race.
He was unable to finish his race but only suffered from several scraps and bruises.
The women raced together at 12:30 for a 35 minute crit. Prinner was able to get off the front with a few laps left and took 3rd place.
The men’s pro 1/2 raced 75 minutes starting at 1:30, but teammates were able to throw water in a splash zone to help keep them cool. Danny Robertson was able to finish in 17th.
The last race of the weekend was the men’s 3 category, where Sean Brown was able to take 4th place in a group sprint.
MSU had a long and successful weekend at the Hotter’n Hell Hundred.
Team Arrow will continue to train as they prepare to Represent MSU and the South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference at Collegiate Track Nations in mid-September held in Indianapolis, Indiana.