Carleton and St. Olaf will be up against cycling teams from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas and Minnesota. At 11 a.m., racing will start across from the Valley Grove Church (9960 155th St. E., Nerstrand, Minn.).
The road race begins at 11 a.m. Cyclists will do multiple laps of an 8.77 mile course.
The team time trial (TTT) will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the road race. In the TTT, teams of three or four riders will work together to set the best time against the clock. The course will use some of the road race course, without the gravel. It will be ridden out and back, rather than a loop, for a total of approximately 10 miles.
These two races will be part of five weekends of racing throughout the NCCCC to prepare and qualify for the national championships, held in Kansas on May 13 and 14. Both teams and individuals earn points to qualify for nationals based on their performance at each race.
The race includes Mark Smelser of Kansas State University, the National Collegiate Criterium Champion, as well as Jake Boyce '08, the conference Cyclocross Champion.
St. Olaf students and faculty are invited to both races.