LSU football wasn’t the only team to win in Texas on Aug. 30. While everyone’s attention was focused on the Tigers’ comeback win against Wisconsin at NRG Stadium, LSU’s cycling team was making its own run at glory.
The cycling team competed at the South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference’s Camp Eagle Classic in Rocksprings, Texas.
The LSU team, consisting of three brothers — senior Sullivan, junior Logan, and freshman Braeden Van Way — competed in the first event of a five-part series against other schools, including Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor.
The Van Way clan, comprising six boys in all, started out racing motorcycles.
“We were home schooled, so we are the closest friends that we have,” Sullivan said. “We are always racing.”
After years of racing motorcycles and riding bikes to scope out the track before races, they decided to gravitate toward racing bicycles as well.
“It is just something different than motorcycle racing,” Logan said. “We did that for 15 years. Bicycling is similar but different enough to keep us interested in both.”
The two-day event consisted of three different mountain bike races: team relay, Super D and cross country. The scores from the three races were combined to determine the winner.
The three-part race concluded with Braeden taking the title in his inaugural race as a Tiger.
“It was surprising, actually, considering it was the biggest race I’ve ever been in,” Braeden said. “Also, it was pretty cool beating my two older brothers.”
The eldest brother, Sullivan, finished the race as the runner-up.
“It was great, especially considering it was LSU’s first time at a mountain bike race,” Sullivan said. “Not to mention coming in first and second place at a mountain bike race.”
Logan said he experienced two flat tires and a broken bike chain, which all but eliminated him from contention.
The Van Ways will compete in the remaining four rounds of the five-part series in the coming weeks.