Clif Representation

Saturday October 4 was the first real display of the CLIF Team’s power. Like any ACA race there was an open field at the Frisco CX. I, as a young rider looking for a great way to develop, signed up for this category to get the experience of racing world class racers. But the best part was that not only did I represent the team but so did many others. First off the CC boys were up-Mitch Hoke and Colin Cares who represented fashionably well. Also Alex Howes made the jump as well as the twins Kevin and Conor Mullervy. The day was a bit cold, actually after having raced in the mid 80’s all summer 50 degrees and rainy felt like Belgium in January. None-the-less it really set off a good cross vibe. I set off on my warm-up as did the rest of the team, where we all got back together to the start. Jon Baker, Matt Potocha, and many other fast guys were in the race. The official sent us off! I started very well and I was surprised that the pace wasn’t too fast. The lap consisted of a long paved hill then this sketchy descent, and then though a grass field to another bumpy section, then on to a “screaming” run-up. Screaming because there were people there screaming and your legs and lungs were screaming. Then my good buddy Mitch got on my wheel then attacked. This guy was freekin’ FLYING!!! Soon after that the big guy Colin Cares came up and blew by me. At this point my race was dead, but Mitch and Colin really lit it up. They ended up in 3rd and 4th respectfully. Right behind two really fast guys Jon and Matt. I wouldn’t want to be U23 this year racing these guys. Danny and Brady, watch your back. I ended mid pack with Kevin right behind. Somewhere along the way Conor had some trouble as well as Alex, whose seat fell off. hmmm. Anyway, this weekend was an awesome representation of our team. Next weekend in Boulder will be even better as our team prepares more and more to represent around the country at the Grand Prix’s.

Frisco 'Cross!

This week I traveled to Frisco, Colorado to race some cyclocross! We left on Saturday and arrived at around 1:00 PM. I was going race juniors 13-14, but I decided to move up to 15-16 for some more competition. I ended up actually arriving at the course at around 1:15 and was riding around in the cold rain for two hours. I was suited up in my "thermal skin-suit" and my brand new "Gavia Gloves". Finally, I lined up at the start and it was David Kessler, me and about four other kids. Of course, David had an easy win since he is really fast but I was holding a tight second place. On the last lap I made a tactical error by trying to sprint up this hill (which was only 1/4 of the way around the course) and was trying to drop the kid behind me. He counter-attacked and gained a small lead on me by about ten seconds. I went all out in the last two minutes and passed the kid right before the run-up to take second to David.
After that, I decided to race juniors 13-14 just for fun. I wasn't registered for the race but I didn't want to win the prize or get the BAR/BAT points. So I just raced it simply for a cool down. I finished up in first with ease, but after the official called me over and asked what my name was. I said, "Zack Gould" and he went over and talked to the head officials and said I wasn't registered for the race. I explained to him how I was in fact 13 years old and was just doing this as a cool down. He said that I need to be registered for the race so that it doesn't mess up the officials. I don't blame him, it was my fault.
After the race I went back to the car to put the bikes away, I took off my new "Gavia Gloves" and put them somewhere where I can no longer find them. I am usually very responsible, but I found myself short of one pair of really awesome gloves.
The next day I woke up and was very tired. I don't think I slept well at all and was very dehydrated but didn't know it. I raced cat. 4 and started off really awesome right behind Zane Godby, then right in front of us was a hill. Suddenly, it felt just like I just slammed into a brick wall and I was having trouble getting up the hill. I felt like my technique was fairly good throughout the race, I just didn't have any energy left in the tank. I don't know exactly how I finished up, but I had an awesome time anyways. So I think that I had a pretty successful weekend and a great time!
By Zack Gould

Manhattan Bike club

So last week Ben Turner, Danny Hiller, Robin Eckmann, and myself helped out with the bike club at Manhattan middle school. This was the first time for me to be back at my old school after a year and for my brother it was 3 years. When we started of there were about 17 kids to rock and roll on the ride. We rode over to a park that was just a view blocks away. We got into 3 groups. Each group work on a station. The first station I was in was cornering. In my group there were    5-6 kids. I set up a little course with a lot of corners in it so we can practice it really good. The adult in my group talk while i demonstrated how it is done, I also showed them the wrong way so they can see which way is faster. After 15 minutes we moved on i took the kids over the next station were another adult was waiting to teach about that. For me it was dismounting and mounting back on. After we showed them again they had to try it and everybody almost did it perfectly from the beginning on. They knew how to dismount and remount pretty well and Ben and myself were really impressed. After we learned the basic we went to the hurdles to practice it over something like in a race. After another 15 minutes we change one more time i took the kids over to the next station and Robin and Danny took their kids also to the last station but not the same as me. My last station was how to ride up a very steep hill and how to ride down the hill. We did that for another 15 minutes and than we all gathered together again to do a race on the end. So the race was all the stuff we did learned that day. It started of with the cornering and the the hurdles and last but not least the down hill and up hill. Robin, Danny, and I showed them how we do it and to show them how important the start is sometime. We took of and rode as fast as we could for a little bit and the kids were right behind us. That was probably the best ride of kids i did with because they really wanted to ride and do that stuff and also have fun with it. So when the race we done we rode back to the school. The teacher thank us for helping out and every thing and we thanked the kids for coming and for having fun with us that afternoon. When I talked to my old Manhattan teacher who is running the bike club said to us that we were the heros for them. The Kids really looked up to us and some kids i bet want to become some racers like Robin, Danny, and myself. 

I would give a big thank you out for the kids for coming. Ben Turner who managed to do a ride with Manhattan Middle school bike club. Tim Downing who helped out with coaching the kids. Andy Feeney who let us do a ride with them and teach the kids.

Thank you so much and we are looking forward for doing it another time.

By Yannick Eckmann

Wells moves up a step, 3rd Sunday

Troy Wells rode in the lead group all day Sunday in Madison's second UCI event, hanging with the big guns - Jonathan Page, Tim Johnson, and big brother Todd. Page and Todd escaped to duke it out for the win, and Troy held strong for third.

Devo Team rocks Interlocken

On Saturday at the first round of the BoulderRacing cross series, the CLIF BAR Development Team rocked the Interlocken business park course.

Robin and Yannick Eckmann bid farewell to the Cat. 3 field with a strong race, taking off from the gun to form the lead group - Yannick won the race in a sprint, and Robin was right behind in 4th. The brothers have now been upgraded to Cat. 2, so will start their education in the Open races now!

In the Cat. 4 race, Juniors Zane Godby and Zack Gould had their best races of the early season. Zack took off from the gun into the lead group and rode his strongest race so far, and Zane rode a steady and tactical race to keep making the selections and ended by locking up an awesome 2nd place!

In the Open race, TEAM CLIF BAR's Brady Kappius posted a solid 6th place, while the Devo Team's Cody Cox had his best Open category result in 10th.

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.