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The months of intense training are now over. All of the series events have been completed. For riders, today is finally the day. The 21st Women’s Little 500 is here.\nThe much-anticipated event will begin at 4 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium with 32 teams competing for the crown. \nLast year, Kappa Delta won the race handily and became just the third sorority to take the title. Sophomore Jenna Cerone said riding as the defending champions will not add any extra pressure on this year’s team going into the race.\n“Since we are going to be wearing the yellow jersey, I feel like people will recognize us, but each year is different,” Cerone said. “Every team gets new riders and loses riders so I don’t really think that much extra pressure is on us. We put it on ourselves because we want to repeat.”\nBut while Kappa Delta is a strong contender again this year, the clear pre-race favorite to win is Teter. The veteran team was victorious at Team Pursuit and every member of Teter placed in the top 11 riders at Individual Time Trials. They hope to avenge last year’s second place finish. \n“We are four whole different riders from last year,” junior Jackie Moeller said. “We are going to be smarter, watch a lot of other teams and have fun. We want to be confident going into Friday knowing that we can do our best.”\nOther top teams to watch, based on Team Pursuit finishes, include Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta.\nDelta Gamma senior Julianne Ellis said to be successful, working well as a team is vital.\n“You need clean exchanges, avoid wrecks and a little bit of luck,” Ellis said. “A safe race is very important.”\nOne factor that could affect riders is the weather. Unlike last year, when race day was sunny and warm, reports call for strong wind and rain throughout Friday and Saturday. Poor weather conditions could increase the possibility of wrecks on the track.\n“The last two years, I have been in wreck situations, so you just have to go with what you got,” Kappa Alpha Theta senior Liz Pallotta said. “If you are chasing for a few laps, just do that and get back on. You kind of plan for the worst to happen and hope for the best.”\nDelta Zeta senior Amanda Marquet said the weather will not have a very significant impact on how teams ride in the race.\n“If it is pouring, it will be a little bit harder because the rain may make the track a bit faster,” Marquet said. “But we will not really be focused on the rain, we will be focused on the race and what is going on around us.”\nPallotta said the rain will not affect her team, and in the end, will help make the race more balanced.\n“I am going to love it ... it’s going to be great,” Pallotta said. “I think it will be a completely different race and even out the field a lot. It will be anyone’s game.” \nThousands of screaming fans will pack the bleachers to cheer their favorite teams and riders on to victory.\nCerone said she expects the environment of Little 500 race day to be like nothing she has ever participated in before. \n“All of my family is coming in and they haven’t experienced Little 500 at all,” she said. “It is nice to have people come out and support you. I’m very excited to show people what we have done.”