DEVO: Juniors Tackle Difficult Aubel-Thimister-Stavelot Race in Belgium

  
  


(l to r) Nick McKey, Gabriel Mendez, Lane Maher, Alex McCormack and Will McBryde before the final stage in Stavelot (photo by Billy Innes)
(l to r) Nick McKey, Gabriel Mendez, Lane Maher, Alex McCormack and Will McBryde before the final stage in Stavelot (photo by Billy Innes)
(August 8, 2017) – The USA Cycling National Development Program’s junior team got a taste of history while pushing their limits at last week’s four-stage Aubel-Thimister-Stavelot, a UCI MJ 2.1 race in Belgium.
 
At the historic race that was once won by a young Eddy Merckx, the squad of Alex McCormack (Leicester, Mass./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team, Inc.), Nick McKey (Grandville, Mich./Arizona Select), Gabriel Mendez (Columbus, Ga./Masters Cycling Systems LLC/Holowesko/Citadel p/b Hincapie Racing), Will McBryde (Denver, Colo./Prestige Imports/Porsche/Audi Race Team) and Lane Maher (Harwinton, Conn./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team, Inc.) fought hard over the course of three days and 204.2 kilometers, including a team time trial.
 
Mendez was Team USA’s top finisher in 15th place after all the racing was completed. Maher finished in 29th and McBryde was 35th. McKey and McCormack, after sacrificing themselves for the team, were forced to stop on the last day, but did their jobs to ensure Mendez’s place in the chase group on the final day.
 
“This race is one of the most challenging races we opt to do on our calendar, and each day is an opportunity to learn and grow as a rider,” said Junior National Program Director Billy Innes. “The (final) Stavelot stage in particular has its own perilous aspects and I was very happy to see all the athletes ride above what they think they can do. This race experience will serve them well in the future. Not many events are this difficult.”
 
Complete results from Aubel-Thimister-Stavelot can be found here.

Coming Up
 
The U23 is currently participating in a training camp in the Alps in preparation for the Tour de l’Avenir in France, Aug. 17-27.
 
The women’s team will next be in action at the Boels Rental Ladies Tour in Holland, Aug. 29-Sept. 3.
 
The Juniors will race in the GP Ruebliland in Switzerland, Sept. 1-3.
 
About USA Cycling’s National Development Programs 
USA Cycling’s National Development Programs aim to achieve sustained success in international cycling competition for the United States by providing promising young athletes with a pathway to the top tier of the sport. Our athlete development programs begin with Talent ID Camps and move athletes all the way through to top international competition. Thanks to support from the United States Olympic Committee and to the generous support of our Foundation donors, we’re able to facilitate programs for junior and U23 cyclists in all five discipline of competitive cycling.  If you want to help support the future of American cycling, click here to make a donation now.
 

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This Article Updated August 8, 2017 @ 03:49 PM For more information contact: