An Ohio State Buckeye finished No. 1 last weekend, and it wasn`t in a coaches poll.Russ Folger, a junior from Mystic, Conn., took first place at the Wendy`s International Cycle Classic on Sunday after besting a field of 70 riders from across the country in the Class III-IV criterium event.Folger, president of the OSU Cycling Club, and teammates Mike Schaffer, Ben Anderson, John Mast-Finn and Dave Paul began the twisting 1.1 mile loop in about 20th place. The weather conditions, the tight curves and the large field dictated the race strategy early on, Folger said. But the looming presence of a very steep climb just below the start/finish line on Broadview Avenue, the defining feature of the Wendy`s course, was perhaps the biggest factor in the 22 mile race.”With a large field on a technical course (6 turns), it`s important to get near the front right away,” Folger said.By the fourth lap, Folger and teammates Schaffer and Mast-Finn were well established within striking distance of the leaders.As the race wore on, the threesome decided they didn`t have the strength to attack the leaders, so they agreed to maintain position and key off the other teams. With only two laps remaining, OSU Bicycle Club coach Scott Dickson, who was positioned at the bottom of the hill, shouted “GO NOW!” as the lead group whizzed by. Folger responded by surging up the hill and continued to sprint past the top while the other leaders slowed slightly to recover, opening a slight gap. Another rider, eventual second place finisher Kenneth Schlachter, appeared on Folger`s shoulder and asked if he was ready to go for it. “All I could do was gasp and nod at that point,” Folger recalled, already feeling the effects of his gambit.The two racers worked together to maintain the gap over the final laps by trading off the lead, allowing the other to ride in his draft and conserve energy. On the bell lap, Folger found himself in front approaching the final hill and sensed Schlachter`s move to pass on the left. “I cut right to deny him my draft. I put it in a big gear and stood up on it and hoped I had enough for the end,” he said. “I didn`t look back.””It was totally mad once I crossed the finish line.” Folger said of the jubilant crowd reaction. “All through the race I heard people shouting “Go Bucks,” Folger said, smiling as he relived the moment. “It was just great.”After the race, wearing street clothes, Folger appears to be an unlikely champion. He looks like somebody`s little brother on a campus visit. Soft-spoken and articulate, he comes across as the economics and French major he is. It`s only the intensity in his eyes and his thick quadriceps that betray the enduring athlete within. Folger said he hoped this victory and a strong showing at the Killington Mountain Stage Race in Vermont in Sept. will attract the attention of the national teams and eventually, an invitation to race professionally. Until then, Folger will continue to ride for the Buckeye OSU Cycling Club and their main sponsor, Westerville Bike Shop.