2010 USAC Junior Nationals at Bend, OR.
Willo and I trekked to Bend, OR. for the 2010 USA Cycling Junior/Elite Championships.
This year’s events proved to be another epic experience to log into the “Rich Valuable Life Experience” category. The courses proved to be demanding for the participating future “Rock Stars” of American cycling. And the riders came ready to conquer the courses and their competition.
The crit course proved all day long, in every category, that the course was going to have to be dealt with. The third and forth corners were the prevailing and deciding factors as all competitors tried to decode the technical section and their competition. All too often, the course would have it’s way, taming the riders. Only the strongest, smartest and courageous riders would spoil the best intensions of the rest.
The road race was no less merciful on the competition. Their were many heroic battles fought, but only a few could win the war. I was fortunate to be in the YAHOO Team car and witness one such fight for the podium unfold in the Elite category. EVAN HUFFMAN had raced the U23 road race the day before, but had a deep seated goal to contest the Elite race and help his Yahoo Team podium.
The Team meeting laid the strategy out, and Evan’s role was to go early with the break, making the other teams work and show their cards. Along with four other guys, Evan stayed away for over 4 laps. The five man break eventually exploded, and Evan was the last man to give the lead back to the angry field with 3/4 of a lap to go. The plan worked, putting two Yahoo riders on the podium.
Willo and I had a wonderful time seeing all our friends and dosing out our special blend of mojo. Some mojo rubbed off on Eric Volotzky as he won the 15-16 Crit. Morgan Ryan fought like a gladiator in the arena, as did his sisters Alexis and Kendal. I enjoyed a nice dinner with Kevin and the family afterwards. Overall, an amazing time, Willo was a trooper traveling… she wants a bike now.
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