Valkenburg WC, My Race Report

     I loved the course at Valkenburg. It was technical and had a lot of climbing, suiting me very well. My USA teammates and I raced the junior men Sunday morning at 10 am. It was still slick from the morning fog, and a perfect tempertature for racing. 

                   (Warming up with last minute advise from head coach Geoff Proctor)

     

     I started 3rd row, but managed to squeeze my way into second row ;) gotta be sneaky with these euros haha. I picked a dumb place to start but.. you know how it is. You see the best position on the starting grid and automatically take that instead of the smart one that doesn't get you pinched in the first corner. Bad decision. 

     The light turned green and things were already off to a bad start. The German in front of me missed his pedal and caused the two riders behind him to crash. I went to an almost dead stop to ride around them. 

     In the first corner there was already crashes happening and I just got off my bike and started running. On the bright side, I saw my buddy Lance Haidet had a killer start and was riding top 5. I was envious but stoked at the same time :) being at the front of these races is something most Americans don't experiance. Even if it's for a brief moment, you know you're riding with the best in the world. Something special. 

                (Trying to make my way through the  rider congestion on the first lap)

    

     The first lap I just tried to stay calm. I knew the gaps to the leaders had already opened to almost 40 seconds because when you're behind crashes the first lap and not at the front, well..that's just how it goes. You have to mentally know that you won't be winning but can still get a decent result. Just suck it up and go.

     Second lap in I started moving up quite a bit, pulling my way to around 17th. I tried making my time up on the long climbing sections. At this level everybody is good, so I had to find places to use my energy where it counted and places to rest behind guys where I wasn't moving up. Coming into the third lap, I saw top 15, as well as Lance about 10 seconds up the road.

                         (On long road climb)

     I caught the group at the beginning of the lap and tried communicating with Lance but it was too hectic as we were in a group of 5 guys all trying to lead. So I attacked out of that group the first chance I got and kept pressing forward. Unfortunately Lance went down pretty hard and had to pit, suffering from a timely mechanical. 

 

         (Tire of choice was the challenge Limus at 22 psi in the front and 23 in the rear)

     

     4th lap things stayed roughly the same and I started to feel the effects of such a tough course. I decided to rest that lap and let a couple Netherlands and French guys catch me to pull me around for a little, as we were coming into 2 laps remaining. Starting the 5th lap I attacked hard and went all in. I saw the group ahead of me racing for 7th that a Belgian with us had just bridged across to. So I knew if he could do it, so could I. I made contact with them near the end of the 5th lap. Then it went down hill fast. 

         (Bontrager shoes were super stiff and my Time pedals cleaned the mud out perfectly)

     

     I crashed hard. I was caught and gapped by the group of 5 and had 2 guys behind me chasing hard with only half a lap left. I gave it everything I had and finished just out of reach to the group. 12 seconds to top 10. 

                                 (Last lap at top of rode climb) (HED Wheels rode amazing)

     

     It's hard for me to show extreme happiness with this result. Don't get me wrong 12th isn't anything to complain about, but I was there. I was racing for UCI points in a World Cup. To have a mistake that I made take that away isn't diassapointimg as much as it is motivating to just do better next time. Please don't confuse my words for disappointment. It's passion, and I can't wait to get the chance to line up against the best in the world, yet another time.

     Can't forget to mention my other USA teammates! Lance pulled a solid top 20 after a rough mechanical, and Jordan Lewis completed his first European race finishing In the top 40, I believe. Way to go man! 

     I hope Jordan doesn't mind me sharing one of my favorite moments of the trip. 

     We were hanging out after our race, sharing stories and just having a good time. Jordan at some point In our conversation goes "guys.. I was just going so hard.. I didn't even know if I was doing good or bad man" Lance and I couldn't stop laughing because it sums up the racing over here perfectly. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. 

               (Jordan Lewis, Lance Haidet, and myself after our race)

     

     A huge thanks to USA cycling and Geoff proctor for making this trip happen! Had lots of fun and it was a super smooth process. 

     Next race report coming soon.

 Thanks for reading,

Gavin T.

A huge thanks to Red Zone Cycling, Focus Bikes, Coure of Switzerland, Hed wheels, Infinite Nutrition, Bontrager shoes, Challenge Tires, Bell Helemts, and Time Pedals for making this possible 

Some things I needed to say.

     I wrote this on the plane to Brussels. There isn't much to do when you fly. You have movies, sleep, and music. I found it a great time to reflect on my past. This has been on my mind for a while and I wanted to make a quick post about it.

     I miss my friends back in the Midwest, and am blessed I was able to grow up there.

     I've been a lot of places for racing and there isn't anything like home. Everyone claims that their development program is this or that but after being able to actually see how others are developing kids to be the "future" of the sport; i have come to an easy conclusion. The Midwest is doing it right. No doubt in my mind.

     I was taught how to win, lose, be a good teammate, treat your competitors with respect, never quit, and most importantly - I learned to love riding my bike.

     I'm thankful that I was taught to enjoy riding my bike, and not just worry about racing. I loved cycling before I even thought about racing. 

      It sickens me when I see kids riding their hearts out only because they want to make their parents, friends, or somebody proud. I see it all the time. When you're 10, worrying about your parents being angry if you don't podium. There is no way you will enjoy any part of what you're doing. I'm not saying go out to a race and have a "leisurely ride through the park". I'm saying the coaches/mentors of these junior teams should be teaching kids to love riding their bikes.  Not just focusing on being the "top junior team" or winning every race they enter. Clubs need to understand nobody remembers who the "junior team of the year" was in 2002, or anytime for that matter. Yes it's cool to win when you're 9 or 12, but it's even cooler to win the elite race when you're 25. You want your kids to ride 10 years from now. Teams need to stop pressuring young junior riders, show them why riding is fun, and let them develope their competitive edge themselves. 

     When the time comes to step it up and they still have the love. Well then making the jump to the next level doesn't feel like it's being forced but rather a decision for he/she to make. 

      As a young junior I never felt pressured to race my bike. The Midwest cycling community and mainly Louisville did that for me.

     There are so many people to thank for helping me develope my passion for cycling. The Midwest is inspiring because they want to see you succeed. My Dad, the McShanes, Bob Bobrow, Curtis Tolson, Joe Collins, Mike Hewitt, Corey Green, Doug Dobrozsi, Mitch Gram, Chris Halioris, the entire OVCX staff.. the list goes on and on. It's something I haven't seen anywhere else. The passion and patience to grow the sport the right way. 

     I want to thank the Midwest cycling community, for everything. While I'm still an amature in the sport, I'm blessed I was taught the right way to do things. I can't explain how excited I am to come back in just a few weeks to race in both Cinci and my hometown, Louisville. It will be something special. So if you see me out at the course please stop me and say hello, I miss all of you and can't wait to come home. You're doing it right, Midwest. Don't stop.

     Never forget where you come from.

Until next time.

-Gavin T

List of pictures in order from when I started racing until now.

                (My first year of cyclocross at Friday practice)

                                    (My best friend Ian and I racing MTB)

                               (I used to be nice and fluffy guys, don't hate.) 

     

                           (2009, Bend Nationals)

               (2010 at Nationals with Pencer Petrov, Me, Ben Golver, and ian McShane)

        (A couple years ago at Derby City Cup) 

                               (Beginning of 2013 cyclocross season)

                   (First 1/2 win in OVCX series)

                       (After race "John Bryan" last season)

                                                 (Ian and I)

                                      (Last season, in Europe)

                     (Legendary after race stories with Josey Weik)

                       (All in for 2014-2015 cross season)

          (My friend, Lance and I today in Sittard, Netherlands)

My life the past 8 months.

So let me start off by saying I know I've been inactive for a while. While i can't change the past I can still control the present and am planning to blog constantly throughout the cross season. It's going to be a little bit different though. Instead of long stories, I will bring quick race updates with a few of my favorite moments. Or something along that line.

     Alright... 

While some of you may know my 2013-2014 cross season was a breakout year for me. I achieved many of my goals and the largest of those being a selection to the world championships as a first year junior. The race was held in the Netherlands last Feburary. The dream ended rough unfortunately, with a training crash only a week before the big day. I broke 3 ribs, collapsed my lung, and messed myself up pretty bad. Because of the lung injury I wasn't able to fly home for close to 2 months. The doctors said the pressure from the plane would cause the lung to collapse again. I was blessed enough to have the Segers let me live with them for that time. While it was hard being away from family and friends for that long I made the best of what it was. When the time came to come home I was happy but also sad. I have a new family in Belgium and they made me feel at home and loved. I have memories for a lifetime and can't wait to make many more. Couldn't have been in a better place at the time.

Long story short I got home and immediately started the preparation for my road season. Within a week of being home I was already in California at team training camp with Hincapie Sportwear Development. I had an awesome time on the road and had the opportunity to travel all around the country doing what I love thanks to the teams amazing support. Can't thank the people involved enough for such a dream season.  

While I didn't accomplish the results I planned on having I was able to support my teammate David Lambardo whenever I could. He had an amazing year and everyone should remember that name. If you haven't already just look the guy up. His results speak for him, and he won't being leaving anytime soon.  Loved being teammates with guys like that. Who are just as focused and determined to accomplish the same thing as yourself. 

Moving on to things other then racing, ( literally moving ;) ) my Dad was offered a job out in Northern California at the beginning of the summer and our family decided to go for it. It's been quite an adventure so far. While I still feel pretty weird saying "hello, my names Gavin, I'm from California" I'm starting to learn a lot about where I now live. Let me say, the training here is unreal! It's crazy the motivation you get from having new places to ride. On another note, meeting new friends and people hasn't been that difficult. I guess cyclists are doing that everyday anyway. So far everything is going great and I'm in intense preparation for the biggest cyclocross season of my life. 

I actually just got back home to CA a few days ago after spending the past 2 weeks training at cyclocross camp in Minnesota at my coaches house. I ran, rode, tested, ran some more, and was even able to do a little work on his farm; which was an eye opening experiance. Farming is hard work guys. I have crazy respect for anyone in this industry.

As far as my plans for this cross season, it will be exciting! This coming Wednesday I'll be flying to the Netherlands to participate in the first round of the World Cup series, in Valkenburg with USA cycling. Super excited for this opportunity and it will be good to see how I'm riding at this time of the year. I come home soon after and then it's right back to traveling and racing with UCI junior races in both Cincinnati, and Louisville (where I grew up). From Lousiville I fly to Belgium and begin my European campaign.  I'll stay in Europe from the beginning of November racing all the major UCI events which include the World Cup series, Superprestige series, and B-post series. Ill fly back for US Nationals in early January held in Texas. Hoping everything goes to plan I will then fly back to Europe for the World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic. I may stay a couple more weeks after depending on my result at worlds. I would then race the rest of the Superprestige and B-post series. 

And that's that. 

I will be giving race updates for all the major UCI stuff and some quick reads on the life in Europe. 

Until next time. 

Gavin T.

Thanks to all my sponsors, Focus Bikes, Coure of Switzerland, Hed wheels, Infinite Nutrition, Chalenge Tires, Bell Helmets, Bontrager Shoes, and Time Pedals.