ATO returns to Little 500 glory after failing to qualify in 2007

Alpha Tau Omega just wanted to gain back the respect it once had as a top cycling team. After a fourth-place finish Saturday in the 58th annual Little 500, they might have gotten it.\n“Everyone really just counted us out and didn’t think that we were any kind of force to be reckoned with,” junior Steve Ziemba said. “We just wanted to surprise people when we came out.”\nIn 2006, behind the legs of IU racing legend Hans Arnesen, ATO took home the Little 500 crown.The riders had everything going for them at the time and wanted to continue their success the following season. But during last year’s qualifications, ATO was unable to correctly complete the necessary bike exchanges, and as a result, were not allowed to participate in the race.\n“We use it as motivation,” junior Robert Perez said. “It was rough last year when we were a really good team in contention but just had a bad day at qualifications. We just trained our ass off this year to come back.”\nATO coach Norm Houze said the disappointment from the previous year helped give the team something to work for. \n“Last year was totally frustrating, so there was a lot of pent-up emotion in these guys,” Houze said. “It’s been two years since these guys were last on the track for a race, so they were ready to go.”\nDespite starting in 26th position, ATO was able to get to the front of the pack early and was able to stay there for a majority of the race. At various times, they were leading all competitors. Until about lap 180, when the Cutters began to break free from the pack, ATO looked as if they were going to be there on the final stretch for a chance to win.\n“The last few laps were hell,” Perez said. “Team Major Taylor burned out and we tried to stay on their tail as much as we could, and I did. After that I just pulled as hard as I could, and as soon as I saw a half lap left, I just gave it everything I had.” \nSenior Alex Malone said he liked the fact that few people gave his team a chance to win before the race. \n“We were definitely like an underdog,” Malone said. “I don’t think people mentioned us anywhere in the top 15, but we knew we were one of the top teams. We knew we had what it takes to win as long as we could stay out of wrecks, which we were able to do.” \nThe team’s success Saturday was also surprising because of the amount of riders competing. While most other teams had four riders, ATO was limited to three because sophomore Derek Bailey had dislocated his shoulder two nights prior and was unable to race.\n“We had only three riders so we knew that we needed to have one of our guys ride practically half the race,” Houze said. “Alex Malone did about 90-100 laps. I think we only had 11 exchanges so it was just trying to do lots of laps in a set and see what we could do at the end.” \nHouze said the top finish Saturday will help the team in future years. \n“Of course we would have loved to win, but you have to give the Cutters credit,” he said. “We are perfectly happy with where we are at, and we will be back next year.”