Notre Dame cycling team set on winning Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference for fifth consecutive year

The Notre Dame cycling team has been the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Division 2 Conference Champion since 2011, and last year the team sent two men to race at the National Competition. This year the team hopes to send a full team of four men and four women to the competition. Notre Dame races against both Division 2 and Division 1 teams, and has beaten all the teams in Division 1 except Marion (the national champion for several years running).

Cycling is not an NCAA sport; it is regulated by the United States Cycling Association, so the Notre Dame team can race against other schools that have varsity teams with scholarship athletes. The Irish regularly compete against cyclists from Lindsey Wilson, Lindenwood, and Marion, all of which have varsity teams, as well as Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue, which have club teams.

The Notre Dame cycling team is tough competition for the Division 1 schools it races, and it recently beat Lindenwood’s team.

“We drove up in three minivans and they came in a bus and set up tents and stuff,” Club President Kelly Valenzi told the Rover. “It’s definitely cool to compete with teams like that, you just feel like an underdog that is making it despite the odds and it’s kind of fun.”

To move up from Division 2, the team must meet two out of three criteria: offer a certain amount in scholarship to its athletes, be recognized as a varsity sport by their school, or have cyclists that compete in three or more cycling divisions. Currently the team has competitors in the road and cyclocross events, and is trying to encourage members to race in other events such as mountain. Because cycling is not an NCAA sport, it cannot be recognized by the university as a varsity sport and therefore cannot move up to Division 1 status.

While designated as a Division 2 team, the Irish compete at the level of Division 1 teams in the region. Notre Dame even hosts its own cycling race, as one of the most consistent hosting schools, with the competition happening just south of Eddy Street Commons.

“This is something that happens two blocks south of campus that not many people even know exists,” said Valenzi. “We may not be a large club, but we have a consistent membership every year and have hosted our own race for at least five years.”

The team had several riders graduate last year, meaning none of the people who competed in nationals last year are still on the team. A few team members went along to the competition, but this year will be a learning experience for many riders.

The Cycling Club welcomes students of all skill levels who are interested in joining them for rides. During the fall, many riders come out to ride and train with the team, not intending to race, but for the fun social time while the weather is still nice. Larger group rides are organized every afternoon, during which returning club members lead workouts designed for new riders, and anyone who owns a bike or rents one from the club can participate.

Over fall semester, the team eases into race intensity to give people a taste of what the team does in the spring. The average team member has never raced competitively in cycling before joining the team, and many join from a background in cross country, swimming, triathlon competitions, or endurance sports.

“For whatever reason they decide to pick up a bike and most of them just get hooked,” Valenzi added. The winter training then brings the team up to the intensity it needs for spring competition, especially for the athletes who did not participate in intense sports before they joined.

One of the team’s goals is to turn people with no racing experience into riders who can compete at the regional and national level. The team strives to keep the training fun but serious, as they compete at a high level. They train through most of the winter as a group in order to be ready for competition season in the spring. The team culture is very approachable and respectful, but also very serious, with a positive pressure to do well in races.

“The biggest thing is just that people know we’re here,” Valenzi concluded. “Even if you don’t want to race, just come out and show your support.”

Look out for the Cycling team’s home competition in April. If you want to ride with the team, send them an email at bike@nd.edu for more information.

Alicia Czarnecki is a junior Environmental Engineering major with a minor in International Development Studies. Contact her at aczarnec@nd.edu.