The Piedmont cycling team started the road season strong in the Piedmont NorthBeast Challenge.

The home event featured a road race and time trial on Saturday followed by a criterium on Sunday. The Lions had many strong performances.

The women's team started racing early Saturday morning. In the women's 1/2/3 road race, Emma Frost placed second. Grace Wilson finished 7th in the women's 1/2/3 road race. In the women's 4/5 road race, Morgan Stephens earned second place. 

In the men's races, Pearson Bruhns got 3rd in the men's 1/2/3 road race. Shannon Himstedt got 7th with Preston Eye finishing 10th in the men's 1/2/3 as well.

Both the men's and women's team competed in the time trial in which the women's team placed 3rd in the TTT.

On Sunday, the team raced the criterium. Morgan Stephens started the day off strong winning 1st in the women's 4/5 crit. Emma Frost put together a strong performance, getting 4th in the women's 1/2/3 crit.

On the men's side Preston Eye sprinted just shy of a win, earning him second place in the men's 1/2/3. Shannon Himstedt placed 8th and Pearson Bruhns finished 10th in the men's 1/2/3 criterium.

Rain added to the challenge, disrupting most of the men's team. Jarod Gonzalez-Munoz outlasted unti the final lap, where he ran to the finish line to earn 4th in the Cat 3 men's crit.

The Lions started the road season strong and look to build on their strong start.

Next up, cycling is set to compete in the Outdoor Cycling Classic in Jackson, Ga. on March 21 and 22.