Sophomore J. Taylor Jones has
never been to Portland, Ore.
He will get his chance this December as he travels to represent
the Appalachian State University cycling team in the 2003
Cyclo-Cross National Championship.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to represent
our school in the national championship,” Jones said.
Jones is no amateur when it comes to competing at such a
high level.
In 2001, Jones competed for the junior national championship
in Baltimore. He finished seventh in the nation.
“It was a good learning experience as being my first
time competing at the national level,” Jones said.
“It prepared me for racing on the larger national level
and since that time, I’ve raced all along the East
Coast.
“All in all, it prepared me for competing at a somewhat
higher level than what races in North Carolina have to offer,”
Jones said. “I’ve had the opportunity to gain
more experience racing in larger fields.”
Jones said he expects anywhere from 30 to 40 cyclists for
the men’s collegiate national race.
Typically, a cyclo-cross race is scheduled to last an hour.
In that 60-minute time span, the number of laps will be set
by the average lap time of the leader.
Generally, after a few laps the field will separate into
a few groups on the race course and certain packs of riders
within the field will race together to move up in the field.
“In general, a faster pace at the beginning of the
race is better because it splits the field up and allows
riders with the same ability to ride and work together throughout
the race,” Jones said.
“Basically it’s like a waiting game and you have
to use your energy reserves wisely,” Jones said. “If
you go to hard at the beginning, you’ll have nothing
left at the end.”
Cyclo-cross is a winter sport that involves single-track
trails, open fields, short and steep climbs, as well as man-made
barriers that force a rider to dismount off his bike and
run.
Riders race through all conditions, which include rain, sleet,
snow and mudded trails.
The typical cyclo-cross course is one to two-and-a-half miles
in length and the average field size of a race ranges from
30 to upwards of 60 riders, Jones said.
The North Carolina Cyclo-Cross Series began in October and
featured seven different races.
Not only did Jones compete in all seven series races, but
he also competed in races in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New
Jersey.
So far, Jones has raced in 12 different cyclo-cross races
and will wrap up the regular season this weekend in Hendersonville.
He hopes to put in a good finish before heading to Portland
on Dec. 11 to compete for the national title on Dec. 13.
“I hope to race well this weekend so that I can carry
the good form into next Saturday’s national championship,”
Jones said. “I’m shooting for a top 10 finish,
but my ultimate goal is to bring Appalachian its first national
championship in cycling.”
Jones will be one of three riders from North Carolina competing
for the men’s national title.
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