The Oregon club cycling team is going to have to bike harder than ever this weekend in its first race to prove what it’s all about.
Oregon competes in a road race in Cottage Grove Saturday afternoon in the traditional 55-mile race.
On Sunday, the Ducks must recover and race in a Criterium where they will compete on a one-kilometer course for an allotted amount of time.
“Good team tactics are essential,” senior John Mahan said. “Ride hard and ride fast.”
Because it has yet to compete as a team, Oregon is not quite sure where it ranks among other teams in the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference.
“I would like to know where our team stands,” coordinator Zach Winter said. “We have a lot of good riders, and if we’re there and competing we should do well.”
Competition will not be weak this weekend, considering Oregon will race against Montana, Idaho, Washington and its toughest opponent, Oregon State.
The Ducks know they are just going to have to push themselves to their limits to see where they stand. What makes the race even more important is that it will be preparation for the conference championships, which take place the following weekend.
But Oregon seems confident in its abilities and knows it can be a strong competitor.
“It will be a very competitive and good showing,” Winter said.

Women’s lacrosse to host games at turf field
The Oregon women’s club lacrosse team will be defending the home turf Saturday as it gets ready for a big tournament.
The Ducks will play Portland Lutheran and Willamette on the turf field, but they expect no trouble, considering both teams are new. The women are preparing for the Pacific Northwest Lacrosse Association Tournament in Portland the week after.
“This weekend should be a lot of fun and laid back,” senior Katie Breene said. “Both are relatively beginning teams.”
“It will definitely be a good confidence booster,” Oregon head coach Terra Cloyes said.
Oregon is fresh off a solid finish in Lake Ridge last weekend, where the Ducks finished with a win and a loss.
With high hopes and strong hearts, the Ducks know they will have to be ready at the PNLA tournament to face the likes of Linfield and take some revenge against Washington for an early loss this season.
“It will be nice to raise our level to theirs,” Breene said. “We hope to do as well as possible.”

Cricket opens inaugural season
It has now become official: The Oregon club cricket team finally exists after years of playing in the shadows.
The team competes in its first game this weekend in Gresham, with a long season ahead that lasts through August.