USA cyclist Trevor Kosa (lower left) tackles the mountains in the cycling road race. (Photo by Jason Chiou)
Cycling finishes 100km Road Race out of medalsby Colin Whited on September 10, 2009 On a rainy afternoon in the mountains, the U.S. Cycling Team's third event of the Deaflympics ended in disappointment. After cyclist Paul Wood won a gold medal on the first day of the 2009 Taipei Deaflympics, the team came up empty-handed in the 100km Road Race, despite high expectations to medal. Nicholaus Schrieber, the defending world champion in the 100km Road Race, finished 11th with a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 46 seconds. His time was 12 seconds off first place and five seconds out of a spot on the podium. During the last several kilometers, Schrieber was at the head of the main pack of cyclists, causing cycling coach Ralph Fernandez some concern. "I hope Nick is smart enough to conserve his energy before the final climb," right before the finish line, Fernandez said. When the pack hit the final kilometer of the race, Schrieber had pulled away to gain a solid lead, but as he hit the final climb, he said his legs cramped up. The top three cyclists to finish — France, Canada and South Africa — all had teammates in the main pack for support. Schreiber did not. "I have no negative feelings about today," he said. "I felt good, and, out of all honesty, rode as well as I could. Having no teammates at the front hurt though. That's something you can't control." Schrieber's best hope for support was Trevor Kosa, who stayed in the main pack for most of the race before wrecking with 15 kilometers to go. Instead of continuing to race, Kosa decided to pull out and conserve his energy for the 50km Point Race this Saturday. The other three American cyclists who competed — Nick Bannon, David Snow and Wood — fell back as the pack hit the mountains and had to pull out. Fernandez said he has no ill feelings about how his cyclists performed. "I am satisfied about how today went. We gave it our all and that's about as much as I can ask for," he said. After the race was over, Schrieber sat in his chair in the Team USA tent and said, "I tried," while shaking his head and chuckling slightly. "Almost." The U.S. Cycling squad will compete in the 50km Point Race, the final cycling event of the Deaflympics, Saturday at City Hall. |
 Nicholas Schrieber falls short of the podium in the men's cycling road race. (Photo by Jason Chiou)
 USA cyclist Trevor Kosa (lower left) tackles the mountains in the cycling road race. (Photo by Jason Chiou)
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