VeloHeitz

2009 USA Cycling Junior Nationals, Bend, OR.

I had been looking forward to Bend, OR. all year long. This was a great opportunity to assist my riders and visit with families and friends. I believe that I knew at least half of the 15/16 – 17/18, and a quarter of the U23 fields. To make the complete experience a total vacation, was having my wife jet out and hang with us for several days of bicycle racing and a motorcycle tour through the hills neighboring Bend.

Sometimes, I just have to pinch myself. I don’t see how it continually gets better every year… I say to myself ” this was the best”. And what happens, uuhhh, it gets better. 2009 has been an amazing year, that has been built from skill, courage, speed, strength, wisdom and perseverance.  

I had a front row seat to some solid fields contending for the Stars and Bars. The Road races offered plenty of opportunities for the select, but the chosen ones would strike and leave all dazed. MAX DURTCHI thunders to a spectacular 1st place finish in the 17/18 Mens event.

Now, it’s not too often that I get excited about a criterium. But, it was meant to be that I would have a chance to watch a bit of modern day cycling history being written. The 17/18 Category was of my most interest. My wife and I walked the course as I explained what was unfolding and visited with friends. The last ten laps are when I positioned myself for the race to unfold. The last five laps proved to be an epic battle of gladiators in the arena. MAX, MORGAN and ALEX touching wheels as they hammer out of the corners wider and wider each time. No one backs down or slows. In the last lap, with two corners to go before the final drag strip, I see MAX look over his inside shoulder to check the gap. This is when I see the LIGHTENING strike twice. MAX holds off  a charging MORGAN and fading ALEX for another National Championship win. It has to be said that I also watched AUSTIN and ANDREW control, command and disrupt the chasing field, aiding in the win. The best was the group hug I was apart of at the end of the race with MAX, AUSTIN, ANDREW and Hammer guys… the girls got a kick out of that too. Sometimes, I just have to pinch myself.