WORS Cup XC - Portage, Wisconsin

I was really anxious to see how the Cross Country race would go, since I had felt really good in the Short Track race a couple days earlier. I thought the juniors were going to start separately, because I thought they had done that last year. But they called 60 Cat 1 men to the start line, and then let the 17 juniors come to the back of the group. Off the line I was struggling to make very many passes, but did the best I could. We funneled into the singletrack where passing became a lot harder. I could see my teammate Silas, 5-10 riders ahead in the train and a fast kid I recognized named Pete right up there. I didn't know for sure how many juniors were ahead of me but I knew there were at least two. A few riders in front of me weren't taking the turns fast enough and I grew anxious as I saw gaps opening. I continued to pass riders, but eventually lost frequent sight of Silas and Pete as they were making their way past riders also. After another lap of chasing I was able to see Silas and a Midwest Devo rider a few switchbacks ahead of me. I realized that there was for sure at least three guys in front of me, bumping me off the podium. As I started my final lap, my dad told me I was in 4th, 3rd about 30 seconds in front of me. I hammered as hard as I could and caught him right before the last descent. He said he was having a little problem with his tire. I kept my gap and finished in 3rd.

I was pretty stoked on the result even though my start wasn't perfect. I think I did a good job of pacing and thanks to OSMO nutrition and Pro Bar I was able to stay hydrated and nutritioned well for the entire race. Also, the Kewl Fit cooling vests were a great help in keeping me nice and cool before the race. My bike rode smooth and fast thanks to Josh Snead. Congrats to the whole athlete team with another day of stellar results for everyone. Excited for Nationals this weekend in Pennsylvania

WORS Cup Short Track - Portage, Wisconsin

My original plan for this weekend was to use the Short Track race as a test event to see how my sports induced asthma and chest would feel under a very hard effort. I wanted to make sure I figured out exactly what I could and couldn't do before the Cross Country event, and more importantly, Nationals next weekend. During my warm up I was a little worried about my breathing, because it didn't seem at it's best. But I made sure to use my inhaler when my doctor told me to, I later learned that I should have used it before I did any efforts in my warm up. That was a great thing to have learned before Nationals. I was on the second row of the start line, right next to my teammate Silas Blunk along with  40 other Cat 1 men. All of our teammates had finished in podium positions in their categories, so Silas and I were determined to do the same. The gun went off and the race was on! I made sure to get near the front quick, but without going too hard, knowing that I was still unsure on how my body would react to this intensity. I felt really good. After a lap or two I was sitting about 5th wheel, and looked back to see Silas right on my wheel. We both stayed in the pack switching around a little. We rode in the lead pack of 9 riders, and I knew that the pace was fast, but not fast enough to fatigue the riders enough so I'd be able to break them in a 'one to go' attack. And I knew that I couldn't let this race come down to a sprint. So even though it was early, I decided to do my best to cut the pack down. I attacked, confident that I had enough in me to make this work. But as I continued to look back, I saw that all the riders were right with me. They stayed with me and I became slighly less confident of my decision to attack. As I was really getting to my breaking point, Silas came up to take the pull. He completely saved me and the plan was going just as I hoped. I looked back to notice that we had dropped many riders. Silas hammered the pace as we were on 2 laps to go. There was only one guy right behind us now. I could tell he was powerful and I knew I had to get rid of him. As we came into 1 lap to go, I attacked again with everything I had. I was burning to get that gap. I looked back to see that I had opened a gap on both Silas and the other rider. I second guessed myself and wondered if I should have attacked with just a little less effort, so Silas could have stayed with me. But I figured that the other rider would have had the power to sprint past both of us. And there was still a chance that Silas could hold on for 2nd. I put everything I had into the last lap, and took my first win of the season! I looked back to see that the other rider had finished just a couple seconds behind me, Silas right behind him. I was so stoked. The whole team made the podium!

The beginning of this season was really hard, not being able to capture many of the results I had hoped for. Last night, thanks to many doctors, coaches, teammates, family and friends, I was able to regain that feeling of why I love racing so much. And hopefully I get to feel that more often on this trip. Thanks so much to Matt McCourtney, Dario Fredrick, Whole Atlete, Specialized, Oakley, SRAM, OSMO, Pro Bar, Kewl Fit, Elemental Herbs, Pro Gold, DZ nuts, Genuine Innovations, ESI grips, Bungalow Munch, DNA Cycling, Rock Tape, and Tam Bikes. And all family, friends, and supporters.

Albstadt UCI Junior Series - Albstadt, Germany

I was super pumped for the World Cup, since I had missed out on the race in Czech Republic the weekend before. I don't have UCI points so I expected a call up pretty far back, but lucky enough I got called to the line in 55th of 125 Junior riders. A Swiss rider pulled up beside me and began to mark his position by elbowing me in the stomach. I held my position and got ready for the fast start. With 15 seconds to go I was startled by many riders growling, spitting, yelling, and breathing out loudly. The gun went off, and the chaos began. It was a constant all out sprint trying not to crash in the massive group of aggressive racers. It wasn't long before we we're off the bike running the first climb. Riders were jamming they're bars into each other and elbowing people down. I had never been so mean to other riders in a bike race, it was absolutely crucial for holding position. I ran the majority of the first climb then was able to get on before the first descent. I decided to ride the first B line because the A line was super jammed with riders running it. I would have passed some riders there but the rider in front of me crashed taking me down with him. Riders yelled as we took up the trail. I rode the rest of that descent behind a rider from Latvia who was slower, opening a gap on the group in front of me. I attacked past him and surged up the next climb. From there I began to feel very sick. My heart and chest hurt badly. I was hurting badly but made sure to give my all to the end. My body was definitely not healthy. I did not feel normal. I pushed to the end finishing in 122nd. I was super disappointed, but I knew that there wasn't much I could do since I was not feeling very healthy.

I'm psyched I was able to experience my first World Cup here in amazing Germany. I learn more and more every race I do here in Europe. I've had an incredible time racing with the best in the World. I'm excited to head back home next week after one last week of epic riding in Switzerland, living in an 'Alp Traum'. Thanks so much to all help and support from: USA Cycling, Pat and Cathy Batten, Dario Fredrick, Matt McCourtney, and my family and friends. Also to Specialized, Whole Athlete, SRAM, OSMO nutrition, Pro Bar, DNA Cycling, Oakley, ESI grips, Kewl fit, Pro Gold lubricants, Elemental Herbs, Bungalow Munch, and DZ nuts. 

Graz UCI Junior Series - Graz, Austria

May 11, 2014

I woke up in dark, rainy Austria for my early start and prepared for the muddy race. My warm up took place on the road in front of the venue where I saw many teams lined up on their trainers. After a solid warm up, I headed to the call-up zone. 130 junior riders lined up along a path. The announcer called everyone's number one by one. I got called to the line around 90th. I knew I had to be aggressive to make up those spots. The gun went off and we immediately sprinted into the mud straightaway. We looped around on a small start loop then surged up the first climb. My heart rate was spiked, but I pushed through the pack passing as many riders as I could. I think I had passed about 30 riders before the first descent. I hoped to recover on the descent, but it was not much of a recovery trying to stay upright on slippery muddy rocks. The course was extremely slippery and dangerous. Going into the first drop and rock garden, I was forced to walk because of injured riders lying at the bottom. The mud was slick and people were crashing left and right. After that I remounted, but couldn't get clipped in fast enough because they were clogged with mud. I rolled into the drop slowly as riders behind me yelled. Still unclipped, I edged over the drop nearly crashing, but some how managing to stay up. A Norwegian rider immediately passed me and angrily yelled at me. I followed him into the next descent riding as fast as I could. I was doing alright until I rode into one off camber root section a little off balance. I completely slid off the trail, but somehow ended up on my feet. I ran back up to my bike and remounted, but my chain was off. I was unable to get it back on because of the mud. I ran the uphills and coasted the downhills to see if it'd clear up after I spun the wheel good. I got to one section with a very steep dangerous section. A German official yelled his advice to me to walk the section. I planned to still ride it, but I changed my mind as I saw two riders in front of me crash and slide to the bottom of the hill. I dismounted as the official clapped and yelled his encouragement in German. I fell many times, but after that there was a steady descent where lots of mud flipped off my bike. At the bottom I was able to get the chain back on after about a minute of working it. I continued to go as hard as I could. I came into the finish in 84th. It was definitely not the result I was looking for. But getting to race with the fastest juniors in the world on one of the most challenging courses I've ever ridden was quite an amazing experience. I am glad I am here as young rider, so I have time to turn my weaknesses into strengths.

Thanks so much Specialized, Whole Athlete, Osmo Nutrition, Pro Bar, DNA Cycling, Oakley, Pro Gold Lubricants and to Pat and Cathy Batten. Looking forward to more racing on this amazing trip in Europe!

Vayamundo MTB Cup - Houffalize, Belgium

May 3

In the middle of the small town of Houffalize, I warmed up for the fast start of the Junior category. I was feeling pretty stoked but also pretty nervous. I got a great warm up but got back a little late to find myself on the back row. But to my surprise they called me up to the 2nd line. They counted down, "trente seconds", "quinze seconds". I anxiously waited for the start. Cinq, quatre, trois... Bang! The gun went off two seconds early. It was race on. The rider in front of me slipped a pedal and went over the bars. I was able to get around him, but I had to slow down a lot. The group swarmed me as I tried to get back up to speed. I knew I had some spots to make up. The start lap quickly went into the most technical descent of the course. I had to run most all of it because of the bunch up. Once we got to an open section I was able to make many passes. I was moving in the right direction. But then on a technical descent I followed a rider on a line that was much faster, but new to me. I wasn't ready for it. I slid on some roots and lost control as it threw my bike into some rocks on the side of the trail. I went over the bars onto my side and slid down the steep technical trail. I felt my hip burning. I ran back up to get my bike. My seat was sideways, and I was unable to push it back straight, so I did what I could to get to the tech zone and get it straightened. It got straightened, but it didn't get tightened all the way. I rode hard to make back the spots I had lost. But my seat slowly lowered until it was extremely uncomfortable to ride. My knees hurt and my legs cramped a ton. I planned to stop at the tech zone, but due to some lap count confusion, I kept riding. I felt like I was pedaling a downhill bike. I continued to pedal the steep technical. I was really struggling and feeling the pain, as I had ridden most of the race out of the saddle. I came into the finish in 35th of 60. I really had hoped for better, but I was psyched because I had given it everything I had and learned a lot from my mistakes.

I was super happy to be wearing my DNA Cycling skinsuit and riding my favorite bike, The Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper. I was happy to be able to push past the bonk wall because of my Pro bar bolts and OSMO nutrition. My chain ran smoothly all weekend through all the mud and rain thanks to Pro Gold lubricants. Also big thanks to Pat and Cathy Batten for supporting me in the Tech/Feed zone. Had a blast in Houfflaize!

Sea Otter Classic

April 13, 2014

I was very stoked to race Sea Otter since it was my first race of season. I felt good preriding the course so I prepared for the race with confidence to race my best. The morning of the race was early to make sure we got to the venue in time to get a good warm up before the race. I race Cat 1 17-18, and we started with the Cat 1 15-16's which made for an 80 guy start. I got a spot on the second or third line and was ready for an aggressive start. The course started on the Mazda track then twisted on the road until getting onto the dirt. I got to the first dirt road descent in the top 15. After that we descended on the road before a turn onto the singletrack. I went into the singletrack a little further back then I had hoped for, but I kept patient and saved energy. Towards the end of the course I was riding in a group of 20 chasing the leaders. We were pushing the pace hard and snatching up the riders dropping from the main group. Then a rider attacked on the climb and pushed even harder. I rode and worked with him on the roads. We got a gap, but he was riding a little slower on the descents. One rider caught me and was able to get around both of us, so I made a pass and followed him. I could see two riders further up the singletrack so I was putting massive efforts in to catch them. I passed the rider I was riding with and attacked to catch the two riders ahead. I was not able to catch them, so I just made sure to hold my position. I came into the finish and was told I had finished 4th, just 29 seconds off the podium. I was hoping for podium but I was still happy with 4th for my first race of the season. I was stoked for my teammates Sean Bennett and Chris Blevins who won in the 17-18 and 15-16 categories. Big thanks to Dario Fredrick and Whole Athlete for supporting me this weekend. Excited for an amazing season to come.