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.

Last 2 races summarized.

My last two races in Belgium were GP Hassalt and Superpresige Asper Gaverè. Here are my thoughts and reports on both.

Saturday - GP Hassalt.

     I had watched this course before and new it would be very fast because it was so flat. The course had several 180 degree corners, 2 logs, sand pits, a ditch almost a bike length long that people ran/hopped, and a set of logs with a muddy section after, making the logs near impossible to hop. Near impossible ;) I pre-rode the course and felt very confident with what I could do. The first lap I was back in the high 20s because the race didn't use UCI points so I was at the back of the staging grid. I picked my way through riders and made it to a group of 3 battling for 13th. I stayed there, kept attacking and attacking. Top 10 was just 15 seconds up the road. Going into the last lap I felt fresh and knew I could get the group sprint if that was what it came down to. 

     I have never been more in shock like I was moments later. While riding up a slight climb my left pedal ripped off. I looked down and couldnt believe it happened. I was thinking "please be an allusion... A dream... COME ON!" I ran to the pits because the threads on the pedal were stripped, I couldn't screw it back into the crank arm. Just like that I found myself in 30th. A very emotional day for me because I was having my best race all trip and to have such a freak mechanical like that... was crushing. I finished the last lap and decided I would be a crowd pleaser. Remember when I said the logs were "near" impossibleto hop haha. Well the last lap I hopped them, I just had to live up to my twitter name "@Hoppin_Haley" 

                                          That ditch I was talking about...

Last race in Belgium - Asper Gaverè 

     I had the chance to pre-ride this course a couple days before with a local friend. He showed me helpful lines, where I should be at the start and such. He knew what he was talking about because I used everything in the race. The funny thing about the these courses is how hard they are. All trip I kept telling myself... "Ok, that was the hardest" one race later... "Ok, now that has to be the hardest it gets". I can now say, this was the most brutal course I have ever ridden. Mud that would rip your shoes off, make your bike 30 pounds, and flip you over the bars if you got out of line by an inch. The course had a lot of running, climbing, and descending. There was one decent that was famous on the course. It was off camber, steep, and turns all the way down. In fact, years back at this race Niels Albert put himself in the hospital for 2 weeks from a crash here. My good friend Tom gave me some advise for the  decent. He said "just close your eyes.. It will be over soon" haha that's about what I did. This was yet another feature that has made me scared. 

     I was 2nd row at the start. I found myself in the mix right off the bat. In top 20. Belgian and European champion Yanick Peters didn't have the best start so I sat on his wheel. He deserves the jersey he has. The man child ripped my legs off. I went into the long climb in 20th and got to the top in 12th. After the first lap I was 10 seconds back from the lead group with 7 guys. Yanick had slipped away from me and I was alone with 4 guys right in front of me. I have never been this close to the lead of a big European race. Down the pavement stretch I latched onto the battle for 8th but wasn't going to let the lead group get away that quick. I passed the 4 man group on the first mud section. I told you about how think this mud was, that was no lie. I took the wrong line for a second and found myself face first in mud. I got up quick but the 4 guys were already around 10 seconds up. A big difference about racing here is you can't make mistakes. I feel like in America you have time to recover, but here in an instant you can lose 10 spots. I was back in 16th on the second lap and stayed there for another lap. After my first wreck I couldn't seem to have a clean race, I kept making stupid choices and it bit me in the butt. I finished 21st. Although the placing wasn't what I wanted this race was mentally, very strong for me. I saw the lead of a Belgian race and I know what I need to do to make it there. 

     I have training on and off the bike to do if I want my goals to be a reality. Honored to go back In a month for EuroCrossCamp XI. Excited to do more European racing soon, and see that top 10!

Stay classy

-Gavin

My Trip to Belgium

    The past three weeks spent in Belgium have been incredible. Being able to have this opportunity to come here and live, breathe, and sleep cyclocross has been crazy. Coming into this trip, I was focused just on the racing, spending all my time and energy thinking about how I could go faster and finish better. The more I stressed about it, the worse I would race. After my finish at Zonhoven (27th), I told myself I needed to stop worrying about racing so much and just have fun. I spent more time at races finding new people to meet, and having a good time. After my first three races here, I really started to enjoy my trip.

People believe the most difficult part of coming to Belgium is the racing. I now know this isn’t true. Although the racing is top notch, the best in the world, it’s the everyday part that is hard. Finding roads to train on, trying to get the right food, being homesick, and other details most people would overlook. Some guys can handle it, others can’t. For me, it’s been an adventure. I’ve loved exploring how to talk in Dutch, and living the life of a typical Belgian teen. I walk into the town of Oudenaarde, Belgium, at least once a day, usually at the time all the kids get out of school. I try to eat at the places they eat, shop at the same places, and meet new people at the same time. It’s been enlightening to meet so many people who all know about cyclocross. I haven’t had to explain the usual, “Well, it’s mostly a race in the grass, and sometimes there’s sand and mud… Oh yeah, and you run over these planks called barriers…” Every kid already knows the sport and even have favorite riders and courses. Crazy, right? Above all, the training in Belgium is one of the best things. Bike paths are on every road with cars passing safely, and the drivers even give you thumbs up occasionally. It’s just awesome to live in a place where cyclists are respected.

Just out for a ride. © Gavin Haley

With my trip coming to a close, I’ve been racing better and enjoying it more and more with every race. American Juniors and others are having trouble because they expect coming to Belgium to be an easy transition. The truth is, it’s not. If you can handle being away from family and friends, you’ll excel here. Personally, it’s been fairly painless for me. I love the culture, rain, food and of course, the racing. I could live here one day for sure, and this is where I need to be if I want to be great. My time in Belgium has been stellar, and I hope I can come back in the near future. So when you hear people say “Belgium is an experience,” well, yes…yes, it is, but it’s up to you to make it amazing or terrible. My trip has been amazing.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

First 3 races in Belgium

Superprestige Ruddevoorde-

     This was my first ever race in Belgium and I couldn't wait to get to it. The course was awesome! It had several turns, flyovers, whoops, and staircases. The day of the race it was wet and windy. The tempature around 45-50 degrees. The race was  at 1:15 so at 1:00 sharp the call ups started. I was 4th called up in a field of 60 juniors.. Great! Nobody was expecting an American to be at the race. The race was started by a "green light" the officials said within 30 seconds it can turn green whenever. It began. I was having an amazing start, 3rd position when all the sudden I missed a shift, although It was a quick fix, there were still around 15 guys that passed me. The thing I love most about racing over here is how much contact you make. I bumped a kid off the course and after he was like "that's just racing man!" It's sweet. The first lap you couldn't pass to much, it was really just stay with the group because it was so fast. The 2nd lap I past a couple people moving up to around 18th. I ended up catching a group with 7 guys all fighting for the top 10 I was with them until 2 to go when the group just split apart. I stayed in 14th and finished the race strong. Was happy with my first result in Belgium. Josey ended up 19th.

B post KoppenbergCross-

     Koppenberg was probably the hardest course I have ever raced on. When talking to Niels about it he said sarcastically "ohh it's not hard, half up and half down". Which is true. You start at the bottom of the cobble climb (koppenberg), go 1/3 of the way up on cobbles, go back down, then go all the way back up in a grass field. After the grass climb I'm pretty sure you have 0 oxygen in you're brain, then you go onto a crazy decent with several 180 degree corners that are off camber. You're supposed to "recover" on this decent... Whatever. Then you are at the bottom again, ready to start another lap! 

     I had a bad hole shot considering the  front row call up. After the first corner I was maybe 20th, but after the first mud section I was top 8. Right were I wanted to be. We got onto the koppenberg. I passed maybe 2 people going up the climb sticking right on Yanick Peters wheel. When we made the corner off the climb some guy flew by me. Seconds later he slid out, I hit him and flipped. When I got back up my bike was attached to his and he was dragging it away.. I chased my bike down and got back on. The leaders were gone. I just fought the rest of the race finishing 19th and out of breath. Josey had some problems too and ended up 27th,

Superprestige Zonhoven-

 

     To describe this course all I'm going to do is give you a picture. I have never been scared to ride anything in my life until this day. Truth be told.

     

     I pulled up to that sand downhill and stopped. Just stared and took a deep breathe. I've learned with things like this you can't think to much, if you do you're probably in trouble. I turned around and just went into it as fast as I could. It was awesome. 

     I had an amazing start today, was 5th in the hole shot then passed two guys in the first corner. 

     After the 2nd corner... I looked up and I was in the pits. The rule is if you're in the pits you have to get off and take 2 steps. After that, once again I was 25 spots back. So instead of going into the sand downhill top 5 i was now 25 spots back. I found out half a lap later that my legs sucked as well. Josey flew by me the second lap and just destroyed me. I went back to 34th and stayed there until 2 to go when my legs actually started to feel normal. I made my way to 27th the last lap and finished there. I will be honest and say that i was disappointed with my race. I learned a lot though and that is important. I'm ready to go out and kill it Sunday at Hamme Zogge.

Trek CXC Cup 2013

     Before I start this blog. I want to personally thank Thomas (mechanic) Joe Collins (mechanic) and Jeff Miller (Owner of Vo2 Multi-Sport) for getting my Focus bikes to feel identical. They are awesome guys and everyone who comes down for (Derby City Cup) if you are having bike issues  DROP BY. They will fix you up. Even if you are not, you should still stop in.

Day 1 Trek Cup:

    

      We arrived Friday afternoon before the Trek Cup; the weather was amazing. We got the chance to pre-ride the course, which is always an advantage. We rode a few laps then went to some sections that were difficult. The coolest feature on the course had to be the "Trek run up" which most people ran. We finished up at the course and headed to the hotel for some rest before all the fun started.

     The cat 2 race started in the afternoon but I was up and at it by 7 a.m. because my little brother was racing  the juniors 10-14 at 9 a.m. Watching my brother Paul shred the juniors up, brought back awesome memories from when I was 9. It was just amazing to watch him and almost see myself at that age. It really reminded me of how much I love the sport and what it's all about. After watching his race I was fired up!

     My new teammate (Josey Weik) and I got to the line and everything in my mind just seemed to quiet down. Then the whistle blew. The feeling of adrenaline is something special. I shot down the hole shot like there was a rocket attached to my Focus bike; and  never looked back. Half way through the 2nd lap Josey had almost bridged the gap. We we connected and we worked together taking pulls on different sections of the course.                           

 

     We rode very well together and in the end we came across the line hands in the air.

Day two, Trek Cup:

     Today would be slightly different. The course was changed a little, but the bigger change was our competition. We had to race with David Lambardo, who is a very successful junior cross and road racer. Josey and I would have to use very good team tactics to make this work out for us.

     I had a good start, getting the hole shot. It wasn't surprising to look back and see David locked onto my wheel. Josey was about 7 seconds off due to a bad start. After 2 laps a gap had been made and it was just Josey, David, and I. Josey and I worked as a team attacking David right and left making him work to catch back up. He kept on pulling us back. Man, that kid is strong. 

     We came through the start/finish with 3 laps to go. Several chasers within 30 seconds of us. As the race had progressed I found some sections I felt very strong in. One of those happened to be an off camber set of turns after the barriers on a HARD downhill. My Challenge tires, hooked up amazing. I attcked hard into the barriers jumping them as fast as I could. Halfway down the decent David wrecked taking out Josey with him. It was time to go. 

     Coming through the line with 2 laps remaining, 2nd was only 15 seconds behind. I didn't look back and just told myself "screw it or do it" I put my head down and turned it on. That lap my lead extended about 7 seconds. With half a lap to go I new I was going to make it to the line first. I stopped taking chances and just tried to stay smooth.

          Riding onto that finishing stretch was amazing. I don't think I've been that happy before. All this hard work has finally started paying off. I saluted God and put my hands in the air. I was stoked! Despite Josey's wreck, he still fought for a strong 6th place. It was an awesome weekend for Red Zone Elite taking the win on both days.

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