It was a very beautiful day in ATX and I was really looking forward to racing. I raced this course last year, and ended up flatting out before I could finish. I really like the climbs, and the course is as smooth as it can get.
The race started off with several attacks to get the early break to roll off the front. I missed the break and sat nicely in the pack. as we progressed around the course the break started to pull away and put some time on the field. about halfway trhought the race the full Squadra team was put to the front for one lap to bring back as much as we could. Alan, Dave, Shane, and I had one hard lap of effort. We brought back the break to about 90 seconds before the team got off the front. We then let other riders pick up some of the chase. however 787, and woolly each had a man in the break and were trying to block. The start of the final lap Dave put Alan and Shane at the front to take up the chase. He told me to wait till after the climb and follow the attacks. We did just that, as we crested over the climb some of the bigger names put in some hard efforts. I got on their wheels and didnt let any gaps open. As the road leveled out we can see the break was on 45 seconds up the road and was closing fairly quick. Dave told me to rotate through to help bring it back. I did just that and sat on the front for some long pulls. Russ Walker helped me out with a few accelerations. We caught the break about 4 k from the line. at this point I sat up and went back into the field. I did what I needed to do.
Dave was able to win the sprint. So all in all it was a great team race. We showed that even with smaller numbers we can tactically still be a threat to larger teams. Things worked out pefectly
Apr 2, 2012
Mar 21, 2012
Fayetteville Race race report
Check out me and teams win for Fayetteville stage race on the squadra blog!
SQUADRA
SQUADRA
Feb 5, 2012
New Braunfels 2012 Roadrace
As I lined up in the parking lot I knew that this was going to be my first official "road race" of the year. I lined up with my team and listened to the official going over the normal rules and reminders they need to tell us race before each race. I talked and joked with some friends I have not seen since summer, and prepared my self for the next few hours of racing.
The race started off awkwardly as we were told to roll through the crowded parking lot. Racers were forced to circumnavigate around shops, pedestrians, and parked cars until we hit the main road. My primary concern was to get to the front early on. I remembered last year at this race the field was torn apart after the first lap because of the wind, I did not want history to repeat itself. After 3/4s of the first lap I made it towards the front when the roads opened up. I sat near the front watching, making sure nothing was going to roll away.
This plan didn't work 3 laps later a decent sized split occur in the tail/cross wind section. I was near the front at the time, and did what ever I could to try to get across. However I did not have the power to bridge such a gap solo. A handful of others tried to get across as well, but it was too late. After a lap of confusion in the pack my team got to the front in a small rotation trying to bring back the leaders. We stayed on the front for almost the remainder of the race until the final 5 kilometers where the other teams with sprinters decided to move up. At this time I had done my fair share of work and did not have the power to catch onto the back of the now splintering pack.
I rolled into the finish line with a small group that had got separated a few minutes before me.
This early season weekend is showing that I am where I need to be for this time of the year. my training has been paying off and I am going to be looking forward for bigger results later down the road.
The race started off awkwardly as we were told to roll through the crowded parking lot. Racers were forced to circumnavigate around shops, pedestrians, and parked cars until we hit the main road. My primary concern was to get to the front early on. I remembered last year at this race the field was torn apart after the first lap because of the wind, I did not want history to repeat itself. After 3/4s of the first lap I made it towards the front when the roads opened up. I sat near the front watching, making sure nothing was going to roll away.
This plan didn't work 3 laps later a decent sized split occur in the tail/cross wind section. I was near the front at the time, and did what ever I could to try to get across. However I did not have the power to bridge such a gap solo. A handful of others tried to get across as well, but it was too late. After a lap of confusion in the pack my team got to the front in a small rotation trying to bring back the leaders. We stayed on the front for almost the remainder of the race until the final 5 kilometers where the other teams with sprinters decided to move up. At this time I had done my fair share of work and did not have the power to catch onto the back of the now splintering pack.
I rolled into the finish line with a small group that had got separated a few minutes before me.
This early season weekend is showing that I am where I need to be for this time of the year. my training has been paying off and I am going to be looking forward for bigger results later down the road.
Feb 2, 2012
Tour of New Braunfels 2012 Omloop
The race started off rather fast. Nothing unexpected, for many people this was the start of the race season. I was no exception. I quickly found a few of my teammates and decided to stay close to them. I needed to stay near the front and make sure no large splits happened, especially if no one from SS was represented. As the first few laps unfolded, I was taking the cobwebs off my mind and legs as I remembered how to ride in a group again. This included basic group riding etiquette from cycling 101 (ride heads up, don't overlap wheels, draft, ect). As the race progressed so did my confidence. I was riding up at the front like I needed to and was able to follow moves.
As the raced progressed to the 20 minute mark a large split formed off the front of the pack. Shane was able to get into this powerful move with about 10 (?) others. Several racers that missed the break tried to get across to it. I even followed a few attacks to get across my self, but the leaders were too far up the road. Any bridge attempts were quickly brought back into the fold. Towards the end of the race I had used a lot of my energy going after chase groups and did not have the ability to contest the group sprint. I rolled in safely at the back of the pack. Shane was able to get a 4th place.
First race of the year as well as my first race with the team. Needless to say I had a successful day, and I will be super happy to see where the rest of the season will be take me.
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| Post Omloop Sightseeing |
First race of the year as well as my first race with the team. Needless to say I had a successful day, and I will be super happy to see where the rest of the season will be take me.
On the way to the start off the seaon
This past weekend was the start of my cycling season. I was super happy to be back on the road after several months of off season training. I quickly found out that it felt like I had taken no time off at all. I was picked up my Louis Tannos and we were off on our way to the races. It was really nice to be back on the road, and just talk about cycling again. Something I can not do at my school.
When we got into town it was really cool to meet the Garmin u23 team as well as a few of their elite racers. It is not everyday I get to meet current and ex pros that have raced in the tour. After eating a nice meal in Wimberly I went back to the Garmin Jr Training home in Wimberly. It was very nice out in that part of town. Lots of quiet open roads to ride on as well a worry free atmosphere.
My first race as a Cat 1 was less than 24 hours away. I was not nervous, just really excited to back in the scene of things
When we got into town it was really cool to meet the Garmin u23 team as well as a few of their elite racers. It is not everyday I get to meet current and ex pros that have raced in the tour. After eating a nice meal in Wimberly I went back to the Garmin Jr Training home in Wimberly. It was very nice out in that part of town. Lots of quiet open roads to ride on as well a worry free atmosphere.
My first race as a Cat 1 was less than 24 hours away. I was not nervous, just really excited to back in the scene of things
Jan 22, 2012
The Start of 2012
Lots of things have been happening since my last post, So i just want to fill my followers in on what has been going on.
In terms of my cycling things have been going great. I have been getting in lots of good training miles in preparation for the race season. Since October I have been a cat 1 racer. A goal that has taken 5 short yet awesome years to achieve. I will also be racing for team Super Squadra 2012 and forward. One of the most successful Texas teams around. Super excited to be around such great mentors who will be able to help me mature farther in the sport of competitive cycling. My first race will be the Tour of New Braunfels (a week from this post).
In terms of my education and schooling, things have been going great as well! I have made it to the second semester of my Sr year in high school. All my grades have been phenomenal, as well as all my friends I have surrounded my self with over the years. All that's left at Dawson will just be Prom, Project Graduation, and AP Tests... I also have been getting my post high school education settled. I have been accepted and plan on going to the Cullin School of Engineering at the University of Houston under an academic scholarship.
SO all in all things have been great. I plan to come back to my blogger with a bit more than just bike racing. Maybe right about my opinions and what else comes to my mind.
In terms of my cycling things have been going great. I have been getting in lots of good training miles in preparation for the race season. Since October I have been a cat 1 racer. A goal that has taken 5 short yet awesome years to achieve. I will also be racing for team Super Squadra 2012 and forward. One of the most successful Texas teams around. Super excited to be around such great mentors who will be able to help me mature farther in the sport of competitive cycling. My first race will be the Tour of New Braunfels (a week from this post).
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| French Alps |
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| Red Black and white with Super Squadra |
Sep 29, 2011
End of 2011
I know I have been bad about my blog lately and I have left quite a few people in the dark on what I have been doing these last few months. So instead of making it up with a mass of mediocre reports since Nationals, I am going to choose to start with a clean slate on how my state championships went last weekend, as well has my plans going into 2012.
For my state Championships I am going to try to get full race reports sent to the racing post magazine with the hope of at least one of them getting published. In the mean time I would like to let everyone know that I think I ended my last year as a Jr cyclist with a bang. Everything the last couple weeks leading up last weekend had been going fanstatic. My racing, training, school, everything. Then everything seemed to climax the monday after States.
It started with winning the STATE wheels series overall in the Pro12 category, I finished in front a lot of big names and despite not finishing the final race of the series and getting dropped.
My next positive result was I ended up getting a 9th in a very hard chapel hill road race (every year its the hardest race to finish) I finished right behind some very strong Cat 1 racers as well as in front of a lot of strong Cat 1s and 2s.
States was the following race were I raced the Cat 2 men. Long story short (i'm going to get a full race report up either in the racing post or online soon) I raced very smart and used every one man team tactic I knew to come to the line with 5 people and just get beat in the sprint by a very strong Bryan Reid. Nothing wrong with silver
The next day I raced the Jr Open, were I was animating the race at any point I saw to make the race safer. (hills, cross winds, redlights, trains). The final 5 k it it was pretty much Me, Kyle Parrot, and John Ryan in a four man group that got away from the 15-16 year olds. coming down to the the sprint John Ryan led it out and I was on his wheel. Kyle came around me as I came around John with 150 meters to go. Getting my self my second silver medal in two days. Nothing wrong with that. Me and Kyle were definably feeling the 99 miles of the day before in our legs.
Then something I have been waiting to see for several years happened Monday. I got my racing upgrade request to cat 1 approved. One of the biggest mile stones for anyone in the sport. Not a bad way to end the year if you ask me. ;)
Again I could not have been able to do this without the support of my family, my friends, my team, my coach, and a drive to better my self every day.
For my state Championships I am going to try to get full race reports sent to the racing post magazine with the hope of at least one of them getting published. In the mean time I would like to let everyone know that I think I ended my last year as a Jr cyclist with a bang. Everything the last couple weeks leading up last weekend had been going fanstatic. My racing, training, school, everything. Then everything seemed to climax the monday after States.
It started with winning the STATE wheels series overall in the Pro12 category, I finished in front a lot of big names and despite not finishing the final race of the series and getting dropped.
My next positive result was I ended up getting a 9th in a very hard chapel hill road race (every year its the hardest race to finish) I finished right behind some very strong Cat 1 racers as well as in front of a lot of strong Cat 1s and 2s.
States was the following race were I raced the Cat 2 men. Long story short (i'm going to get a full race report up either in the racing post or online soon) I raced very smart and used every one man team tactic I knew to come to the line with 5 people and just get beat in the sprint by a very strong Bryan Reid. Nothing wrong with silver
The next day I raced the Jr Open, were I was animating the race at any point I saw to make the race safer. (hills, cross winds, redlights, trains). The final 5 k it it was pretty much Me, Kyle Parrot, and John Ryan in a four man group that got away from the 15-16 year olds. coming down to the the sprint John Ryan led it out and I was on his wheel. Kyle came around me as I came around John with 150 meters to go. Getting my self my second silver medal in two days. Nothing wrong with that. Me and Kyle were definably feeling the 99 miles of the day before in our legs.
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| Jr Open State Road Race |
Again I could not have been able to do this without the support of my family, my friends, my team, my coach, and a drive to better my self every day.
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