Devo Wrap: Making the Mostov his opportunity

The juniors riders in the USA Cycling National Development Program (NDP) continue to represent the United States very well with another podium appearance last week. Meanwhile, the U23 riders were riding in Luxembourg and the mountain bike development season started in the Netherlands.

Juniors Road

Zeke Mostov placed second overall in the 3-Etappen-Rundfahrt der Rad-Junioren in Germany. (Photo by Barney King)

"It was a great experience that I didn't expect," said Mostov. "My teammates and staff made it all possible. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!"

Mostov began the event with a second-place finish in the opening stage — an eight-kilometer individual time trial in Frankfurt am Main on Friday. He was just .09 seconds off of the winning time set by Dmitriy Rive (KAZ). The U.S. squad had two other riders in the top 10 with Logan Owen (Bremerton, Wash./California Giant Cycling) finishing fourth at six seconds back and Greg Ratzell (Blandon, Pa./Young Medalists) crossing the line 13 seconds back in ninth.

The juniors road riders placed third in the team classification of 3-Etappen-Rundfahrt der Rad-Junioren in Germany. (Photo by Barney King)

Sunday’s final stage was a 130.5-kilometer road race from Frankfurt to Lang Bergen. Mostov crossed the line in fourth, a mere second behind Rive, who placed third on the day and wrapped up the overall general classification win by that single tick of the clock.

Wil Barta (Boise, Idaho/B.Y.R.D.S. (Boise Young Rider Dev Squad)) was the next highest-placed American at 16th overall, 1:28 behind Rive. Ratzell finished at 38th overall and Jake King (North Garden, Va./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team) came in at 78th in the general classification. Owen and Noah Williams (Wimberley, Texas/Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development Team) also contested the race.

The USA Cycling team finished third overall in the team classification, 28 seconds behind the leader Kazakhstan. In addition to Mostov’s win in the best young rider classification, Barta finished sixth in that category.

U23
A group of six U23 riders contested Fleche du Sud, a five-stage road race in Luxembourg from May 8-12.

Nate Wilson (Elk Grove, Calif./Bontrager Cycling Team) produced the contingent's best result, placing 20th, 1:18 behind the winner Michael Andersen (DEN) in the general classification. Joey Rosskopf (Athens, Ga./Hincapie Sports Development Team), who was riding with his trade team, finished third overall, only four seconds behind Andersen. Stephen Leece (San Luis Obispo, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) was only 20 seconds behind Wilson in 25th place. Connor O'Leary (Salt Lake City, Utah/Bontrager Cycling Team), Alex Darville (Santa Barbara, Calif./Bontrager Cycling Team) and Eamon Lucas (Pebble Beach, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) finished 70th, 71st and 72nd, respectively, in the race.

Among the highlights for the USA Cycling contingent was Darville, who finished second in the first stage, with the same time as the stage winner, Kristian Jensen (DEN).

Greg Daniel (Englewood, Colo./Bontrager Cycling Team) also contested the race.

MTB
A pair of mountain bikers competed in the Stappenbelt Rabobank MTB Trophy in the Netherlands on May 12.

In a race won by the 2013 UCI Cyclo-cross world champion, Sven Nys (BEL), Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./BMC U23 Development Team) completed the nine-lap race in 15th place, which was fourth among U23 riders in the results. Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Trek Factory Racing) was battling illness and did not finish the race in an effort to maximize his energy for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup race this weekend in Germany.

COMING UP
From May 16-19, the following group of U23 riders will contest Ronde l'Isard in France:

Greg Daniel (Englewood, Colo./Bontrager Cycling Team)
Alex Darville (Santa Barbara, Calif./Bontrager Cycling Team)
Max Durtschi (Sun Valley, Idaho/Leopard-Trek)
Stephen Leece (San Luis Obispo, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Connor O'Leary (Salt Lake City, Utah/Bontrager Cycling Team)
Jeffrey Perrin (Lakewood, Colo./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Torey Philipp (El Dorado, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Nate Wilson (Elk Grove, Calif./Bontrager Cycling Team)

The following group of juniors riders are scheduled to compete in the Netherlands from May 17-19 in Internationale Junioren Driedaagse van Axel:

Wil Barta (Boise, Idaho/B.Y.R.D.S. (Boise Young Rider Dev Squad))
Miquel Bryon (Miami, Fla./DCM Cycling Team)
Zeke Mostov (San Francisco, Calif./Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development Team)
Logan Owen (Bremerton, Wash./California Giant Cycling)
Greg Ratzell (Blandon, Pa./Young Medalists)
Noah Williams (Wimberley, Texas/Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development Team)

Several riders are scheduled to contest the first UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup of the season in Albstadt, Germany, on May 18-19. The riders below will contest their respective races as members of USA Cycling's contingent:

Elite Women
Chloe Woodruff (Tucson, Ariz./CPT)

U23 Men
Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Trek Factory Racing)
Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./BMC U23 Development Team)
Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing)

U23 Women
Shayna Powless (Roseville, Calif./BMC Mountainbike Development Team USA)

Juniors Men
Lucas Newcomb (Nicasio, Calif./Whole Athlete-Specialized)
Neilson Powless (Roseville, Calif./Folsom Bike-Giant)
Skyler Taylor (Mill Valley, Calif./Bear Development Team)

Juniors Women
Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif./Whole Athlete)

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 progressing 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 2013 schedule of USA Cycling’s Regional Talent ID Camps, please click here.

USA Cycling's National Development Programs are supported by the USA Cycling Development Foundation. Support the future of American cycling with an online donation now.

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