Indiana University Little 500 - IM

Bloomington, Indiana, USA, April 11-12, 2008

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Race 1 - April 11: Women's race,

Delta Gamma's surprise attack nets first ever win

By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Bloomington, Indiana

Coach and rider happy
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski

The 21st running of the women's edition of the Little 500 race at Indiana University saw multiple firsts - the first ever Presidential candidate visit in Barack Obama, and the first ever win by the Delta Gamma sorority, the fourth women's greek team to win the race. The first place came in an unorthodox manner as well, with DG rider Jess Lander attacking with four three laps to go, and successfully holding off the field for the solo win.

"We all said it's been four years, so leave everything on the track," Lander told Cyclingnews about her team's pre-race mood. "The plan was to follow the pack for the final sprint, but there was no pack in front of me! So I just kept going and looking back to see if anyone was there. I didn't even know when I crossed the finish line that the race was over until I looked back and saw it!"

Mid-way through the 100 lap, 25 mile race, four teams had emerged together on the lead lap - Delta Gamma, 2005 champion and top qualifying Teter, perennial favorites Kappa Alpha Theta and Delta Sigma Pi. The rest of the race the four teams traded blows and covered each other, but with no team successfully able to take a clear advantage. But even though Delta Gamma had qualified second, most everyone was looking at Teter and Theta, since both had a history of winning.

Barack Obama shook every rider's hand
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski

It looked like the race would play-out like it usually does, with each team strategizing what lap to put its sprinter on the bike. Picking a lap too close to the finish and the rider exchange will cost you position - a lap too far from the finish and the sprinter could be burned out for the final kick.

"We had been planning for a sprint because nobody had been able to shake the contenders," said Delta Gamma's coach Ryan Knapp. "[Lander's] last instructions were to get in position behind and wait for the sprint."

But Delta Gamma exchanged its sprinter a lap before the others, which turned out to be pivotal. "We put our rider on a little earlier, with like five to go," said Knapp. "But we had gotten a great burn-out from our second-to-last rider, Kristina [Heath.] She had gotten a good gap so that when Jess got on the bike she held it for the next lap just waiting to see what the rest of teams were going to do. And then when they brought their riders in [for the final exchange] it gave us an even bigger gap. It was three-and-a-half to go and when she came by again I realized we had a gap, I changed all the plans as said just time trial it!

"She dug really deep and was able to hold it. I couldn't believe it, that just doesn't happen -- it's picture perfect for a senior going out!"

Traditional exchange
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski

"I have no idea how [Delta Gamma] got all the way up there," said Sarah Rieke, the anchor of the favored Teter team. "I was just worried about me getting on the bike and when I looked up I saw her up there. I guess they were going to keep whoever they had on the bike last to get a leg up on the sprint. When we realized she had a big gap I tried to go and get her, but we went too late. I would have gotten her if there was one more lap!"

Rieke, widely considered one of the strongest riders in the field, made the rest of the field sweat early in the race. On lap 25 she put in an attack that was aided by a crash. If an incident on the track is deemed serious enough the officials raise yellow flags, like in auto racing, neutralizing the race until the incident is cleared. Riders must ride slow while maintaining their position on the track, or face time penalties for advancing. Rieke knew that when the green flag dropped again, she would get it a few hundred metres before the rest of the field.

"There was a yellow flag and right before it I had done a little attack just to warm my legs up," she said. "I realized that when it turned green I would have a gap, so I went ahead and attacked again. But it was too far, too long away from the end. If we could get it we would take it, but the race throws different things in your face."

"We were worried about it because it was so early in the race," said Kristen Metherd (Kappa Alpha Theta) regarding the Teter attack. "So we just worked together and off each other. It took all four of us together quite a bit of time [to catch Teter,] but it shows the strength of our team."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

Barack Obama Presidential candidate Barack Obama paid a visit to the Little 500.
Barack Obama strolling through the infield.
Obama shook every rider's hand before the start.
And he shook some fans' hands as well.
A few supporters were in the crowd and probably a few new ones, because of the visit.
Perennial favorite Kappa Alpha Theta has the final pep talk.
Explanation of the flags is easy, if you are into auto racing; the Little 500 uses color flags, with the checker flag for the winner.
Custom Schwinns Custom Schwinns adroned with IU symbol.
The pre-race favorite Teter team tops off the energy.
Delta Gamma coach Ryan Knapp gives his riders' legs a little extra shine with some baby oil.
Is that performance enhancing baby oil? Every little thing helps.
Race director Matt Ewing gives the race a go in the pace car.
Three parade laps get the race up to speed for the flying start.
Thirty-three teams in ten rows of three at the start.
First turn of the first lap and it's single file.
Riders looked for any shelter against the harsh wind.
Delta Gamma was a dark-horse despite their second-best qualification time.
Of the three styles of exchanges the bike exchange is the slowest.
The cyclocross-style of exchanges is the preferred method.
Everyone was looking at Teter for the moves.
Kappa Alpha Theta's coach has a simple strategy.
Teter and Theta riders look at each other for the next move.
Teter's Sarah Rieke is spent after a tough pull.
The Kappa Alpha Theta coach sees an opportunity.
A tough way to dismount is to jump off the back – successfully performed by Theta.
Jess Lander (Delta Gamma) puts her head down and rides solo to the finish.
Jess Lander (Delta Gamma) wins while Teter and Delta Sigma Pi could only watch.
Delta Gamma coach Ryan Knapp Jess Lander (Delta Gamma) crosses the finish line alone, and too exhausted to celebrate.
Delta Gamma coach Ryan Knapp celebrated by smashing the pit board.
Coach and rider happy as the Delta Gamma fans cheer.
Delta Gamma coach Ryan Knapp embraces his riders.
The loss is hard on the Kappa Alpha Theta team.
Delta Gamma and their fans take the ceremonial victory lap.

Results

1 Delta Gamma       1.12.20
2 Teter                0.02
3 Delta Sigma Pi       0.03
4 Kappa Alpha Theta    0.06
5 Kappa Delta          0.12