Trek CX Cup

Trek CX Cup! One of my favorite weekends of the entire year, especially now that I no longer live in Madison. Thursday after class, Emma and I loaded up the van and drove the five hours back home. It was awesome to be back in town with my family and dogs and to get to ride through the UW Arboretum again!

Friday morning we headed out to Waterloo and checked out the course. It was fast dry and tons of fun! Then we headed back home again to stay out of the heat and to rest up for the evening's races.

After a brief warm up on course with Brian Matter and a finalization of tire pressure I rolled up to the start of my first elite UCI race. Although it was only a C2, some of the very best European riders were there including Mathieu van der Poel and most of the Telenet Fidea team. Right from the gun everything was full gas, starting almost last row I needed to move up quickly. I cut the first three corners as sharply as I could making up spots and by the time we came through pit one I was almost in the top 20.

Photo: Jeff Kennel

That first lap was unlike anything I had done since last cross season, I'd almost forgotten what it feels like to turn yourself inside out to the point of nausea in a single lap. On the second lap I put in the exact same time but drifted back a few spots losing the group with Brian Matter in it.

Photo: Jeff Kennel

I drifted back another spot or two as I recovered and then kicked it  into gear again as I settled into the next group. We rode together for the next few laps maintaining our positions and suffering in the heat.

Photo: Jeff Kennel

I was unused to the full out effort and the difference in handling between a cross bike and an mtb but as the race progressed I got more comfortable and felt smoother. A personal achievement for me was hopping the barriers (my first time hopping double barriers in competition!) and riding the log stairs every lap.

Photo: Jeff Kennel

By my seventh lap my legs were screaming and my back was fighting against me, limiting my power. Judging from time I was prepared to give it for one last lap but when the official waved me off the course it was a relief. I finished in 25th place, nothing spectacular but given the competition and the small amount of cross specific training I've done after mtb worlds I'm happy with my result.

Me explaining to teammate Tyler Renolds and company what it was to be in the same race as MVDP

Saturday morning we had a family breakfast and then headed to Camrock for the collegiate mtb race. At 11:00am, less than 18 hours since my last race I lined up again in the 90 degree heat. I was quick off the line and settled in on Ben Schmutte's wheel, ripping up my home trails. Part way through the first lap my legs seemed to suddenly fall off and my back tightened up badly. I finished out the lap and pulled the plug. It was just too much for my body in the brutal heat, so I resorted to playing with my pup, Milo and cheering the rest of the Marian riders on.

Sunday morning was the big day! Emma was racing her first Elite World Cup! Before, I helped pit for her I went out and did my first single speed race.

The make-shift single speed. Photo: Jeff Curtes

I don't own an actual single speed, but a zip tie does the trick! The difficult part was picking a gear without getting a chance to test it out on course, luckily there were plenty of friendly competitors willing to weigh in on it (they recommended I use the hardest gear possible).

Photo: Jeff Curtes

Thanks to my tall gear I wasn't the quickest off the line but by the time we went under the finishing banner I was up to speed and moved into the lead.

Photo: Jeff Curtes

For my first and second lap my gearing felt fine but necessitated some extra running. By the end of the third lap I started to feel the effects of my efforts but kept on spinning it out where I could. It was a different style of racing that made me focus on efficiency, carrying speed and nailing my lines.

Photo: David Schlabowski

 It was fun to take my first win of the cyclocross season and to get the ball rolling!

Grandpa Bill, my number one supporter!

Trek Family

The rest of my day was spent helping Emma and soaking in the awesome atmosphere of the first Waterloo World Cup. Everything about it was just top notch, the competitors, the fans, the course and the people at Trek behind the big show. The highlight of the weekend was certainly watching my sister race the World Cup just six weeks after breaking her elbow. What made that even sweeter was the the payout for the men and women was equal for the first time ever at a World Cup! Hopefully by next year I will have earned a spot in the Elite Men's race and will line up on my home course against the best in the world.

World Cup spectating! Photo: Palamino American Cyclocross

I'm stoked for another season with Trek Cyclocross Collective. Big thanks to Trek, Bontrager, Sram, Honey Stinger, Mike's Mix and new to the team this season: Challenge Tires!

Lastly thank you to the Agnew's at Englewood Grass Fed Beef for sending me home with tons of high quality protein to keep my dorm room stocked up!