PSU’s Bedford 3rd at crit Natz
Stephen Bedford, pictured here leading the pack at Tuesday PIR, sprinted onto the podium at the USAC Collegiate Nationals Criterium Sunday. ©Pat Malach / FILE PHOTO
MADISON, Wisc. — Portland State University’s Stephen Bedford sprinted to third place Sunday at cycling’s Collegiate Nationals Div. 1 Criterium in the Wisconsin state capitol.
Bedford, a Cat 2 who rides for Team Oregon/Laurelwood Brewing at OBRA races, finished behind winner Adam Liebovitz of the powerful Marian University Cycling Team.
The PSU rider made a three-man breakaway group late in the race that included Greg Christian from Michigan State and Nicholas Inabinet of Apalachian State. Leibowitz bridged to the breakaway and caught the three leaders when they had about 12 seconds on the field.
A chase group of 10 riders soon formed but was never able to bridge to the lead group, which built an ultimate advantage of 26 seconds before a concerted chase in the regrouped field started whittling away at their advantage. But it was too little too late for the chase, which left the leaders with a 16-second gap going into the final lap and Liebovitz’s Marian team gathered at the front.
From there it was a four-up fly into the finish, with Leibovitz taking the win. Inabinet grabbed second and Bedford fought for the final podium spot ahead of Christian.
RESULTS
USA Cycling Collegiate Nationals
Men’s Div. I Criterium
1. Adam Liebovitz (Marian University)
2. Nicholas Inabinet (Apalachian State University)
3. Stephen Bedford (Portland State University)
4. Greg Christian (Michigan State University)
