Devo Wrap: Barta reaches podium at Course de la Paix

 

 

Six juniors riders contested the Nations Cup race, Course de la Paix, May 8-11, in the Czech Republic. The race consisted of four stages plus an individual time trial.

 

A hard first stage of 98.7 kilometers saw multiple splits and caused the U.S. team to become separated in the chaos. But the team bounced back the following day, starting with the 11.6-kilometer individual time trial in the morning. That is where Barta began to assert himself, posting the second-fastest time and moving into second place in the general classification.

 

That afternoon, the U.S. team rallied around Barta and shepherded him throughout the 63-kilometer stage to finish in the lead group and hold on to second place in the standings.
 

The 101.8-kilometer stage 3 the following day proved to be the decisive stage of the race, with French rider Rayane Bouhani and Magnus Klaris of Denmark slipping off the front in a small group after the final climb. Barta found himself in a chase group of six riders who held the gap at 31 seconds. However, after time bonuses were figured in, Barta had dropped one place in the general classification.

 

A very difficult final stage on May 11, a 99.8-kilometer trek, saw multiple attacks upon the leader and eventual winner Klaris. With the assistance of a strong team effort, Barta was able to secure his overall podium spot and secure precious Nations Cup points for the U.S.

 

Barta's teammates who contributed to his podium finish included Diego Binatena (Playa del Rey, Calif./SKLZ - Swami's Development Elite Team), Eric Oien (Escondido, Calif./Monster Media Junior Development), Austin Vincent (Simsbury, Conn.), Ethan Reynolds (Boise, Idaho/Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team, Inc.) and Tommy Lucas (Santa Rosa, Calif./Bear Development Team).

Full results of Course de la Paix.

 

Team USA now sits in eighth place in the Nations Cup rankings. The juniors will be competing at two races in the Netherlands in the upcoming week: the KogaRonde Oost Friesland on May 17, and the Grote Bavaria-Ronde Lieshout on May 18.

 

 

Top: Will Barta (r) placed third in the general classification at the Course de la Paix Nations Cup race in the Czech Republic on May 11.

 

Bottom: Will Barta (l) had the second-fastest time in the individual time trial on May 9 at the Course de la Paix Nations Cup race in the Czech Republic.

 

 

Want to be part of USA Cycling’s Development Program? The first step is getting on USA Cycling’s radar. One of the best ways to do this is by attending a USA Cycling Regional Talent Identification Camp. The primary goal of the Talent ID Camps is to recognize athletes who, at an early age, show signs of potential future success in cycling. Receiving instruction from some of USA Cycling’s finest coaches, the camps also provide the necessary framework to improve the athletes' skill set thus helping them progress in their talent development. In some cases, the Regional Talent ID Camps assist in selecting riders for international competition and/or a national development camp.

 

For more information and the full 2014 schedule of USA Cycling’s Regional Talent ID Camps, please click here.

 

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