Cyclocross Nationals 2016 and 2015-16 Season Reflection

After a week of reflection, snowboarding, fat-biking and power tests, it's time for a post about my 2015 season and my 2016 USA Cyclcross Nationals! 

Carter, Joe and I in Park City Utah

2015 was a breakthrough year for me, from a training and coaching stand point it was a huge step forward. I put in a lot more hours on and off the bike. ( running, cor, PT, etc...) Some of the main training focus points were to manage my fatigue and to maintain a slow build up with out burning me out. For full details on my coaching and how I got me where I am, read this article by my coach Joseph Maloney of JM Coaching. For starters at the beginning of 2015 I set very high goals for myself. I wanted to win big races, I wanted to win local races, and wanted to make a splash in national MTB scene and as a first year 17-18 in Cyclocross. I achieved my goal of getting a top ten in a Pro WORS race, I won the Ore 2 Shore Softrock mtb epic, and placed second in my first Chequamegon Short and Fat. Although my mtb nationals race did not go as planned I still had an unbelievable four week road trip with Joseph and friend Carte. We traveled around the West, racing and riding in nine different states representing Team Wisconsin/KS Energy Services/MOSH! Ever since I received a phone call from Trek CXC manager Scott Daubert in April I couldn't wait for cyclocross season! My goals were also to go Montana Team USA cyclocross camp, Euro Cross Camp, win a Wisconsin series pro race, a ChiCrossCup race and place in the top 5 at Cyclocross Nats. I kicked off the season by ripping around Helena, Montana at Geoff Proctors USA Cycling cyclocross development camp with 14 other top junior men in the country. I had some great results at local races and won a WCA and CCC pro race! On the national circuit I didn't earn the results I wanted in the 17-18 UCI Pro cx series until day two of the Derby City Cup where I placed 7th against a national caliber field. A few weeks later I placed second both days at the 17-18 UCI race in Los Angeles, earning many valuable UCI points and a front row start at Nationals. Two weeks after that I accomplished a personal goal at my favorite race in the country - Jingle Cross in Iowa City. I took home the win all three days in the Cat 2's in some brutal mud and on a ruthless course. After that it was four straight weeks of tough training and some recovery to prepare for Nationals!

Now for the Nationals part! On Tuesday we got things mostly packed up and ready to hit the road on Wednesday. We drove half way to Asheville on Wednesday evening and drove the last six hours Thursday morning. I hopped out of the car after wandering through the Biltmore estate grounds and straight onto the course. At the time it was fast, flowy, and very technicial with lots of challenging sections and climbing. By the time Sunday rolled around, the course was brutal and muddy - taking the many, already difficult sections and making them even harder. Check out the brief course preview video below!

The Biltmore house was amazing!

Friday, I had a blast doing some course recon with Trek CXC crew before going out and exploring the Biltmore estate with my friend Michael Owens. Needless to say, the venue was amazing and it was super fun to explore the gardens and see the mountains. I got back in time to see the collegiate races. Emma raced the Division 1 collegiate women's race and placed 8th after unfortunately needing to fight back from 20th place after being taken out by another rider who crashed. Saturday Emma raced the 4-person collegiate co-ed team relay and secured the win for her team in that race and the overall collegiate team national championship! After cheering her and the team on, I went and did my leg openers on the beautiful roads of the estate. When I got back my Mom, Dad, Grandpa and I made a quick trip to Whole Foods before Emma's awards ceremony. It was very exciting to see my sister get her first cyclocross national championships! A pre-race dinner of pizza in Asheville followed, and then relaxation and recovery before the big day.

Proud family!!!

Strong representation from Trek CXC!

Sunday morning we woke up early and headed to the course, grateful to be in early and avoiding the chaos.
I did a practice lap. The overnight rain made for an incredibly slick course, especially in the numerous off camber sections, and fast technical downhill. The mud took it to a whole new level. While I rode my dad put my cantilever Trek Boone on the trainer and prepared my other disc Boone for the race. As soon as I got back to the Trek tent I stripped off my muddy gear and changed into dry socks, shoes and a clean, skin suit with my number pinned on. Karl Hendrikse washed my filthified bike and helped tune it up again before the start. (Big thanks to Karl for helping my Dad out in the pit all weekend!!!) I did my warm up and headed to the start for my call up.

Seventh call up for front row!

I lined up front row and tried to stay warm (unfortunately there was a delay and I started to cool off) while we waited for the whistle. When the referee blew it, I was quick off the line but a little slow to the first corner coming in about 12th. Luckily I escaped a large crash right behind me.

I started to move up steadily (using the technical descent in the woods to my advantage) and came through at the end of lap one in 8th place. I kept chasing and caught up to Michael Owens after the big Kask flyover. He had dropped his chain and I shouted a word of encouragement as I hammered by in pursuit of sixth place. Towards the end of that second lap I closed the gap on Cameron Beard to about 5 seconds after the switch back climb and gnarly downhill section in the woods. Unfortunately I made a mistake and slid out in a corner right before a long straight away, costing me a few seconds and a chance to get up to his wheel.

Bombing the descent in the woods Photo by Emory Ball

The rest of the race I pushed myself as hard as I could to try and catch up while being pursued by Michael, Cade and Ross. I rode the rest of the race as cleanly as possible avoiding mistakes. Michael and the others would close on me a bit through the long straight away before the start and the multiple straight aways after, but like before I would open the gap right back up in the challenging sections. When I crossed the line I had nothing left to give after such a grueling course that demanded every ounce of a racer's will power and energy.

What was ride-able in later races was treacherous during my race.

navigating tricky off camber

After crossing the line some of my first thoughts were that I had finally had a good race at a national championships! It took me seven cyclocross nationals to finally start to see the results I wanted. Two years ago against this very same field I placed 31st getting absolutely crushed by people that I had just finished ahead of. Although I was hoping for top six, which would make my petition for the USA roster for Worlds stronger (6 US riders qualify or are selected), I am happy with my results. I did not have the best legs or ride a perfectly mistake-free race, but I gave it my all with what I had which is a big part of this sport.

My sister rode her way to a six place in the u23 race battling hard on her third day of racing. The most exciting part is that is her ride and earlier season results got her selected by USA Cycling to represent the U.S. at the inaugural Women's u23 World Championship race in Zolder, Belgium on Jan 30th!!! I narrowly missed being selected but I am ecstatic for my big sister! Traveling to Europe, especially with bikes, extra wheels, etc., isn't cheap so if you could support her in any way please visit her Rally Me account and chip in what ever you can. Every bit helps and is greatly appreciated!

Lastly I want to thank everyone who has supported me this season! Huge thanks to my family and friends for being my biggest supporters, fans, pit crew and more, I couldn't do it without you. Big thanks to my coach Joseph Maloney for getting me to where I am today and being such an amazing coach and mentor, I couldn't do it without you! Next I want to thank the Wisconsin and Chicago area cycling community for cheering me on at all the races, encouraging me to achieve my goals, and helping my development as a rider for the past eight seasons of racing. Next I would like to thank Geoff Snudden, Scott Daubert and my team, Trek Cyclocross Collective for all the support and belief in me as well as my teammates for being so amazing! Congrats to everyone on their amazing seasons and all of the awesome medals and results at nationals. Finally huge huge thanks to Trek Bicycles, Bontrager, SRAM components, Honey-Stinger and Lizard Skins Cycling for the all fantastic support this season and allowing me to ride the best bikes, with the best components and have the best pre-race and ride fuel.

This coming season is going to be even better, I can't wait to see what it has in store! Stay tuned!