Wells 4th in Madison UCI event

TCB's Troy Wells climbed on his first podium of the season on Saturday, in Madison, WI, with a hard-fought 4th place.

Boulder series #1

Today was one of my hardest races, it was a boulder series out in Interlocken. Interlocken is one of my least favorite races because of the deep grass. I was in the first row next to my brother. We where so ready to rock. When the gun went off Robin and I took of as fast as we could Robin got the whole shot and I was right behind him. We had a gap of 10 seconds about after the first lap we kept that up for another 3 laps but than our energy went went away a little. First Robin dropped back to third place and than I did a lap later. So it was Robin and another guy and me up in the lead. Our gap to fourth place got bigger and bigger. The last 3 laps it was only me and the other guy my brother got dropped but he was only 10 seconds behind us. So the next 5 laps i let the other guy with me lead the whole time i just reserved my energy for the last 100 meters. One lap he said go up and pull because the third place got closer and closer to us it wasn't my brother any more it was somebody else. But i didn't go up i just let him lead the whole time. So it came into the last lap still in second place right behind first places wheel. I just waited until the second of last corner because I knew when i don't do it after the second of last corner i won't win. So i tried i went from the outside and cut the corner perfectly so i ended up right next to him and i sprinted so i got a gap and in the last corner i knew i was going to win so i got my self ready to put my hands up. When i put my hands up i just pointed 3 fingers on each side to show that i won three times already.  I was s tired after the race so i sat on the grass to catch my breath again. It was so fun the race but o hard to. That was maybe my last time racing Cat.3 because they might upgrade me now. But oh well i can still do good in 2 when i have to race it

2nd win in Golden

So the next weekend after Breckenridge I thought about the next race i will do. I raced Green Mountain because it was the only race on the weekend. So before i started i looked at the course carefully. The first section after the start was the hardest and it was pretty narrow. So i thought i need to get the whole shot. So i did and after the first lap i was 15 seconds ahead so i kept on cruising and next lap it was at 25 seconds. Each lap the gap got bigger and bigger. At the last lap it was up to 50 seconds so i took it easy in the last lap. So when i finished the gap was even higher it was up to a minute again. So after the race i watched the pro race so i can see how good i need to be there because i might have to race in there sooner or later this season.

So my goals now get bigger and bigger each race now.

Cross Vegas

Not too bad out at the Cross Vegas road/cross race. TEAM CLIF BAR was representing, with Troy in 18th and Brady in 35th. Check out cyclingnews.com for some photos of Troy in the new TCB team kit.

9/20 Results - Green Mountain Sports Cross #1

The CLIF BAR Development Team and TEAM CLIF BAR posted strong early season results last weekend, at the first race in the Green Mountain Sports series.

In the Cat. 4 race, new CLIF Devo team member Zane Godby rode to a great 3rd place result, and teammate Zack Gould took a break from Middle School football to race as well.

In the Cat. 3 race, 15-yr old Yannick Eckmann won his second race in a row, and rookie Dave Kessler impressed with 13th place.

In the Open race, CLIF Devo team alum and current TEAM CLIF BAR rider Brady Kappius tuned up for Cross Vegas with an awesome 5th place. Devo team U23 rookies Mitch Hoke and Colin Cares traded in the wide knobbies they're used to and punched in for their first 'cross race - and did just fine with a solid 12th and 13th place respectively.

TEAM CLIF BAR season kicks off in Northwest

CLIF BAR Development Team graduate, and current TCB star, Troy Wells, gets the 'cross season started right this weekend, in the home of Dale & Anne Knapp.

Saturday night is the Star Crossed race outside of Seattle, and Sunday is the Rad Racing GP in Tacoma. Let's hope Tdub has been doing his nighttime and hill run training.

Great Job

I'd like to congradulate Yannick in winning in the 3s this past weekend. Keep rippin it!

Brecktobercross

So i raced my first cross race in the season up in Breckenridge in the Cat.3. I started in 4th or 5th row and when we started i moved up right away to 6th place. Than on the first paved part i moved father up to 2nd place. When it went in the dirt part again there was a mud pile, you could go through it or on go around it. The first guy took the right so i decided to go left i passed him there and moved into first place. After a while i looked back and i had a gap of 6 seconds so i decided to just go hard for two laps. After does 2 laps i was still in first but this time with a 40 second gap. Each lap my gap got bigger and in the last lap i had a minute and 20 seconds before the second guy. I didn't go as hard anymore just to keep my gap between him. So i finished the race about a minute before the second guy finished. 

I achieved one of my goals already and that was to win a cross race in Cat.3 so now my goals are to win some more Cat.3 races.

Yannick Eckmann

Cross in Chicago

Further evidence cross is growing like crazy across America: 30 people out in the Portland-esque rain for the Cycle-Smart Chicago cross clinic I taught yesterday. Thankfully it was 70 out, and the mud helped create some better practice scenarios.

The clinic was hosted by the Chicago Cyclo-Cross Cup. Thanks to Imelda March for organizing a great clinic, to Franco for taking care of me while I was in town, and for all the motivated participants for braving the rain to learn new skills!

BIG thanks to Alex Wassman @ SRAM for waking up early on Saturday AM to drop off a SRAM tent - otherwise we would have been hanging out in the rain ALL day for the clinic. Much appreciated!!! The CLIF BAR crew is psyched to be back on SRAM this season. TEAM CLIF BAR elite riders Troy Wells, Brady Kappius and Danny Summerhill will be rocking SRAM RED, and the CLIF BAR Devo team is rolling the updated RIVAL group.

08-09 Season Preview

With September half gone and 'cross races already starting in Colorado, New England, and elsewhere, it's about time to preview the 2008-09 version of the CLIF BAR Development Cyclo-Cross Team.

First, some things remain the same: the team again is focused on Junior/U23 development and Colorado riders. Almost all of our amazing sponsors have returned to help keep a great program running smoothly. The team again will be emphasizing "sustainable cycling" in its operations, bike industry partnerships, and community involvement. Our race schedule will be geared towards the Colorado schedule, Worlds-qualifier races, and Nationals.

Some changes: Our two U23 veterans (Brady Kappius '04, and Danny Summerhill '05) have graduated up to the elite TEAM CLIF BAR squad, joining Troy Wells (Devo team in '05, '06).

Over the summer we were fortunate to add some new up-and-coming 'cross riders: juniors Zane Godby (15-16) and Dave Kessler (15-16), and Under-23 mountain bikers Colin Cares and Mitch Hoke.