Summer gives Milligan chance to showcase cycling teams
The Milligan Elite Cycling team has been elite this summer.
July 3, 2019
This story first appeared in the Johnson City Press.
The Milligan Elite Cycling team has been elite this summer.
Whether it's a dominating performance by the women in the Johnson City Omnium, three top-40 finishes in the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic or star rider Madeline Bemis finishing 10th overall in Sunday's U.S. National Championships, the Buffs have made their mark. Bemis was the highest ranked amateur in the U.S. Nationals and finished on the podium in the U-23 classification.
The elite title is used for the summer since the team isn't competing at a collegiate level, often going up against top professionals.
At the collegiate level, the Buffs have won four national championships since the program started in 2012 and Bemis was the individual mountain biking national champion last season.
In addition, the Milligan Elite women recently finished second in the USA Crit Series Speedweek which is a week-long series in Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.
The Milligan team features a mix of American and international riders with Olivia Ray from New Zealand and Larissa Castellari from Brazil joining Bemis on the list of top finishers at the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic.
The Buffs dominated the hometown Johnson City Omnium with five riders in the top 12. Bemis won the Roan Groan and the overall title, while teammate Manuela Escobar won the Fountain Square Criterium and finished second overall. Gracie Pendleton, Castellari and Krystal Burnham also finished in the top 12.
We recently caught up with Milligan cycling coach Zach Nave who gave us an insight into the recent success with the elite program.
WHY ARE THESE SUMMER RACES SO IMPORTANT TO THE MILLIGAN PROGRAM?
Nave: "They aren't collegiate races, but they give us an opportunity to show what kind of talent we have at Milligan. It's more opportunities in bigger races when you're racing with professionals."
MADELINE BEMIS IS A MOUNTAIN BIKER. HOW IMPRESSIVE IS HER ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THE ROAD RACES AND CRITERIUMS?
Nave: "It's super impressive, but it's taken a lot of work. She has the engine for it, but it takes a different skill set with the cornering, working on power. There is a lot more involved in the road that she's had to learn the last few years. Different than mountain biking, it's a total team effort with the drafting and all that. She has caught onto it and taken it to the next level."
HOW DO RACES LIKE THE WINSTON-SALEM CLASSIC AND JOHNSON CITY OMNIUM HELP RECRUITING?
Nave: "Winston-Salem is a huge deal, an international race with the caliber of pro teams that get in there is impressive. We were able to go over there and race with them which is a huge opportunity for the school and the riders. Combined with Johnson City, seeing the success we had in both races, it helps us recruiting-wise and creates a lot of excitement around the program."
AFTER STARTING THE PROGRAM FROM SCRATCH, WHERE IS IT NOW?
Nave: "I was talking to my wife and this December will be my seventh year. It started with three people. We will have 34 this fall. The next fall, we could be up to 40-45. It's cool to come that far. To see where we were, and now we're at the next level. With who we have and who we have coming in, at the Division I level, we will be highly competitive to win nationals for the road."
WE'VE FOCUSED ON THE WOMEN, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MILLIGAN MEN?
Nave: "They're a close-knit group of guys and they've done well. Isaac Bryant, Brian Sciba, Ruben Bacon, Keith Mullaly have done well racing as individuals on the summer circuit. They've impressed me and look to be stronger and more experienced. We've got some strong in-coming riders to add to that. We have a good group of guys who could contend for the national title next year."
For more from the Johnson City Press, please visit the link above.
The Milligan Elite Cycling team has been elite this summer.
Whether it's a dominating performance by the women in the Johnson City Omnium, three top-40 finishes in the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic or star rider Madeline Bemis finishing 10th overall in Sunday's U.S. National Championships, the Buffs have made their mark. Bemis was the highest ranked amateur in the U.S. Nationals and finished on the podium in the U-23 classification.
The elite title is used for the summer since the team isn't competing at a collegiate level, often going up against top professionals.
At the collegiate level, the Buffs have won four national championships since the program started in 2012 and Bemis was the individual mountain biking national champion last season.
In addition, the Milligan Elite women recently finished second in the USA Crit Series Speedweek which is a week-long series in Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.
The Milligan team features a mix of American and international riders with Olivia Ray from New Zealand and Larissa Castellari from Brazil joining Bemis on the list of top finishers at the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic.
The Buffs dominated the hometown Johnson City Omnium with five riders in the top 12. Bemis won the Roan Groan and the overall title, while teammate Manuela Escobar won the Fountain Square Criterium and finished second overall. Gracie Pendleton, Castellari and Krystal Burnham also finished in the top 12.
We recently caught up with Milligan cycling coach Zach Nave who gave us an insight into the recent success with the elite program.
WHY ARE THESE SUMMER RACES SO IMPORTANT TO THE MILLIGAN PROGRAM?
Nave: "They aren't collegiate races, but they give us an opportunity to show what kind of talent we have at Milligan. It's more opportunities in bigger races when you're racing with professionals."
MADELINE BEMIS IS A MOUNTAIN BIKER. HOW IMPRESSIVE IS HER ABILITY TO ADAPT TO THE ROAD RACES AND CRITERIUMS?
Nave: "It's super impressive, but it's taken a lot of work. She has the engine for it, but it takes a different skill set with the cornering, working on power. There is a lot more involved in the road that she's had to learn the last few years. Different than mountain biking, it's a total team effort with the drafting and all that. She has caught onto it and taken it to the next level."
HOW DO RACES LIKE THE WINSTON-SALEM CLASSIC AND JOHNSON CITY OMNIUM HELP RECRUITING?
Nave: "Winston-Salem is a huge deal, an international race with the caliber of pro teams that get in there is impressive. We were able to go over there and race with them which is a huge opportunity for the school and the riders. Combined with Johnson City, seeing the success we had in both races, it helps us recruiting-wise and creates a lot of excitement around the program."
AFTER STARTING THE PROGRAM FROM SCRATCH, WHERE IS IT NOW?
Nave: "I was talking to my wife and this December will be my seventh year. It started with three people. We will have 34 this fall. The next fall, we could be up to 40-45. It's cool to come that far. To see where we were, and now we're at the next level. With who we have and who we have coming in, at the Division I level, we will be highly competitive to win nationals for the road."
WE'VE FOCUSED ON THE WOMEN, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MILLIGAN MEN?
Nave: "They're a close-knit group of guys and they've done well. Isaac Bryant, Brian Sciba, Ruben Bacon, Keith Mullaly have done well racing as individuals on the summer circuit. They've impressed me and look to be stronger and more experienced. We've got some strong in-coming riders to add to that. We have a good group of guys who could contend for the national title next year."
For more from the Johnson City Press, please visit the link above.