FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College cycling team delivered a strong weekend of racing at the CSU Collegiate event, highlighted by multiple podium finishes and aggressive riding across both days.
Saturday – Oval Criterium
The CSU Oval Criterium, a longstanding conference favorite, challenged riders with a technical seven-corner course that finishes on the iconic oval in front of the administration building.
The day opened with the women's Category 3/4/5 race, featuring a field of 19 riders. Freshman Izzy Herring launched an early breakaway alongside Durango Devo's Sofia Alexander, while FLC controlled the chase from the peloton. The break held for the duration of the race, and Herring sealed the victory with a decisive late attack, sprinting to first place.
In the men's Category 5 race, freshman Luke Amato animated the closing laps with a solo move, attacking with three laps to go and narrowly missing the win after being reeled in late.
The women's Pro/Category 1/2/3 race also saw a field of 19 riders, quickly splitting into two groups, with FLC just missing the decisive break. Charlotte Lehmann and Caroline Haag rode consistently to have Caroline finish 11th and Charlotte 16th.
The final race of the day, the men's Pro/Category 1/2 event, featured a fast and aggressive field. The Skyhawks rode cohesively, contributing to multiple attacks throughout the race. Ian Williams capped the day with a strong sprint to finish second overall.
Sunday – Cobb Lake Road Race
Sunday's Cobb Lake Road Race, an 8-mile circuit north of Fort Collins, is a modern classic known for its fast pace and selective gravel sector along the northern stretch.
In the men's Category 3/4 race, a large field of 60 riders remained together for much of the race. Late-race crashes disrupted the closing laps, leading to a chaotic sprint finish. FLC's top finisher was Grayson Shurr, placing 14th.
The early wave of races, which included men's Category 5, men's Category 3/4, and women's Category 4/5, saw steady pressure throughout the day. While breakaways were limited early, several late-race incidents impacted the fields. Freshman Luke Amato emerged as the standout, claiming victory in the men's Category 5 race with a well-timed attack on the finishing climb.
In the final wave, the men's Category 1/2 and women's Category 1/2/4 fields took on the course. With a smaller roster due to several riders competing at the Sea Otter Classic in California, FLC faced a competitive field. The men's race quickly became aggressive, forcing FLC to chase after missing an early move. Hart again represented the team in a breakaway group of eight that included multiple Colorado Mesa riders. Despite being outnumbered, Har delivered a strong performance, Sam Hart finishing 6th. Additional solid efforts came from Adrian Magun and 11th in the field.
In the women's race, Lehmann and Haag remained active through a series of early attacks as the field steadily thinned. A solo rider eventually broke clear over the final climb, with two others bridging shortly after. Riding together in the chase group, Lehmann and Haag powered through the final ascent and secured first and second in the field sprint, finishing fourth and fifth overall.
