Richard Geng, the Mesa State cycling team coach, is more excited than he has been since starting his career as cycling coach. He has several women that have recently joined the team like Esmeralda Martinez, Sarah Madsen, Brooke Bosnan, Maria Peters, and Erica Nagy, which Geng believes are all positive additions to the team.
Three cyclists will start off the 2011 season with the Valley of the Sun race in Arizona. The collegiate cycling road season will start March 19 in Boulder, where they will compete against Colorado University and University of Wyoming.
On April 9 and 10, MSC cycling will host the Mad Cow Race in Whitewater. It will start off with the team time trial on Saturday, then the road race will be on Sunday. Geng encourages anyone to come to the local race, and if there is enough interest, will figure out a way to get transportation for those who don’t have a ride.
Freshman Sam Phillips, a first year team member has a lot of expectations for himself and for the team.
“Personally I would like to have a lot of improvement for myself by receiving coaching from Pat and Richard and for team goal of getting the older guys to win,” Phillips said.
As the team races to Nationals in Madison, Wisconsin May 7 and 8, Geng hopes to win the conference again and to become national champions. Geng is hoping to have at least a man and woman in top three.
“It is more important for young guys to get experience and get them to win which will help them move to the next level wherever they want to take that, whether it be professional or still race for us,” Geng said.
Another positive thing for the team, their sponsorships are strengthening. They just locked in a $10,000 sponsorship from Primal Wear, Inc. Among other sponsors are the Bike Shop, Community Hospital, Western Orthopedic, and the Diagnostic Radiology  Associates. They hope to nab a sponsor for, or a possible donation of, a van to help with travel for their growing group of men and women to help with to get to races.
“If we have fun, we have achieved a lot,” Geng said.
u
blofton@mesastate.edu