The City College cycling team placed first at the Spy Red Trolley Classic Criterium Feb. 5, but one student’s accomplishments stand taller than the podium.

Biology major, Cody O’Reilly, speaks humbly about his success as a professional and colligate cyclist. O’Reilly coaches for several different cycling teams in the Santa Barbara area; including Echelon Santa Barbara, SBCC Cycling, and UCSB Cycling; programs that encompass the best riders in our area.

Cameron Sublett, O’Reilly’s former communications teacher, and current rider for UCSB’s cycling team, witnessed the finish at the Criterium last Sunday.

“Cody might as well have been on the podium for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place,” said Sublett. “He was ahead by more than four bike lengths, it wasn’t even close at the finish line.”

O’Reilly started racing when he was young. By 14 he became serious, and soon after won three separate state championship titles. At 16, O’Reilly won his first national title race in Los Angeles. Soon after that, he began traveling for two years racing on the national team. When he was 18, O’Reilly made it to the world championships, and placed in the top 20 in 2006.

“Instead of going to college, I raced professionally for six years,” said O’Reilly. “Even last year when I was in school, I got to do some of the biggest races in the United States.”

The longest race he’s completed was the Tour of California. It’s an eight-day, 750-mile race, which begins in Novato, CA and finishes in Los Angeles. The point-to-point race included about 5-7 hours of cycling, and anywhere from 90-145 miles in a single day.

“Since then, I’ve started going back to school, but I still race professionally,” said O’Reilly. “I focus on racing in the summer, instead of the entire year.”

O’Reilly took the incentive to start a club at City College for cyclists and students who are interested in learning more about the sport. He has registered the club with the United States Cycling Foundation, which allows the City College club to race as a collegiate team against other schools in the Western Collegiate Cycling Conference.

“The club is open to everyone, boys and girls. Just bring a bike and a helmet,” said O’Reilly. “It’s an easy ride, and will only last about an hour, you may have never ridden a bike before, but [SBCC cycling] is an area to learn and get exposed to racing.

USA Cycling provides different categories for races based on experience and accomplishments; starting with ‘D’ (novice), and ending with ‘A’ (expert). O’Reilly is ranked as a category ‘A’ rider.

“Last weekend he beat the experts, the best collegiate racers from USC, UCSD and Cal Poly. What he did was quite extraordinary,” said Sublett.

The Western Collegiate Cycling Conference kick-started their season with last weekend’s race in San Diego. The next stop on the schedule is Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo on Feb. 9 and 10.  Along with O’Reilly, City College riders Alex Shelton and Tucker Eurman will be competing against the schools of the Western conference, and are expected to come back with another major win.

“By some strange, strange coincidence, you have Cody O’Reilly, a professional cyclist, winning the collegiate races, and also coaching the collegiate racers,” said Sublett.

For more information about the SBCC cycling team, check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/SBCC.Cycling