Team win at Tour of Berlin tops another strong week for National Development Program

USA Cycling had one U23 men's contingent ride to top the team general classification at the Tour of Berlin while another took fifth in the team general classification at the Canada Nations Cup. In Switzerland, first-year junior rider Keegan Swenson embodied much of what USA Cycling is about, emerging from a USA Cycling Regional Development Camp to place second in the Gränichen Swiss Racer Bikes Cup.

ROAD

Lawson Craddock on the podium at the Tour of Berlin. (Photo by Marcello Albasini)

A group of six USA Cycling U23 riders won the team general classification at the Tour of Berlin from June 1-4, in Germany by 41 seconds. In the final results, USA Cycling had the yellow jersey for one stage and placed three riders in the top seven overall as Lawson Craddock (Austin, Texas/Trek Livestrong U23) finished fourth, Larry Warbasse (Traverse City, Mich./BMC Racing) placed fifth and Jacob Rathe (Portland, Ore./Chipotle Development) crossed seventh. Anders Newbury (Fairfield, Conn./Chipotle Development) was 33rd while Max Durtschi (Boulder, Colo./Chipotle Development) finished in 37th. Charlie Avis (Palo Alto, Calif./Trek Livestrong U23) completed the race in 61st place.

The USA Cycling riders opened the five-stage race by occupying the 15-19 positions in the opening stage, a team time trial. In the second stage, Rathe followed the plan and made a nice move toward the front with 30 kilometers remaining to finish second and help the contingent place three in the top 14 finishers, putting him in the yellow jersey after two stages.

Jacob Rathe wearing the yellow jersey at the Tour of Berlin. (Photo by Marcello Albasini)

The riders struggled with the third stage as Warbasse and Craddock posted the best results, finishing 10th and 12th, respectively, while Rathe lost the yellow jersey.

Rathe and Craddock made late moves to win the fourth stage. The field caught Rathe with two kilometers remaining, but Craddock's move on a slight uphill sprint stuck to earn him third place and the Best Young Rider jersey.

Elsewhere, a group of six U23 riders competed in the Canada Nations Cup in Saguenay, Quebec, Canada, from June 2-5.

The USA Cycling contingent of six riders parlayed two top-10 stage finishes into a fifth-overall in the team general classification at the Canada Nations Cup. Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Trek-Livestrong) posted the team's best result, placing seventh overall in the four-stage race.

In all, USA Cycling's riders posted six top-20 stage finishes. Gavin Mannion (Dedham, Mass./Trek Livestrong U23), who placed 27th overall, had the team's best single-stage result, completing the final stage in eighth position.

Below are the other four riders who also contested the Canada Nations Cup.

Ryan Eastman (Petaluma, Calif./Trek Livestrong U23)
Eamon Franck (Pacific Grove, Calif./California Giant)
Evan Huffman (El Grove, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Tanner Putt (Roswell, Ga./Team Type 1)

MOUNTAIN BIKE

Keegan Swenson en route to a second-place finish at the the Gränichen Swiss Racer Bikes Cup. (Photo by Marc Gullickson)

USA Cycling sent a large contingent of riders to the Gränichen Swiss Racer Bikes Cup in Gränichen, Switzerland on June 5.

The five junior men, who each made his European racing debut last week in Offenburg, Germany, expected improved performance. First-year junior rider Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Whole Athlete-Specialized) immediately found his way to the front of the 60-rider field. Swenson dropped as far back as sixth before increasing his speed to move into second place at the finish line. Among the riders Swenson passed were Andri Frischknecht, who had a first and second in the first two World Cup races, and Dominic Zumstein, who placed third in Offenburg.

Swenson's success as a first-year junior rider represents a significant high point for USA Cycling's European junior rider mountain bike program. Swenson came through two USA Cycling Regional Development Camp and then was invited to two USA Cycling National Talent Identification Camps.

The remaining four riders posted solid results as Cypress Gorry (Payson, Ariz./AZ Devo) placed 19th, Ryan Geiger (Flagstaff, Ariz./AZ Devo) finished 27th and Casey Williams (Big Bear City, Calif.) was 32nd. Max Houtzager (Ross, Calif./Whole Athlete Specialized) also competed.

The junior women were next and AliciaRose Pastore (Durango, Colo./Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory DEVO Sweet Elite) posted the best finish, placing sixth. Shayna Powless (Roseville, Calif.) was ninth and Alexis Ryan (Ventura, Calif./The TEAM) finished in 12th.

Finally the U23 women raced with the elite women in Gränichen and Erica Zaveta (Erwinna, Pa./BMC MTB Development) registered the best finish, crossing in 17th place. Wesley Geer (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe's) also contested.

For complete results of the races, click here.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS UNDERWAY

A USA Cycling Regional Development Camp wrapped up over the weekend at Marian University in Indianapolis, Ind., while three other camps got started. Four more are slated to take place before the end of the month. Want to find out how to get your young rider involved with a USA Cycling Regional Development Camp? Registration is still open for three camps this summer. Click here for more details or to check out the camp schedule.

BOYS 15/16 EUROPEAN RACE CAMP APPLICATIONS

USA Cycling is currently taking applications for the two Boys 15/16 European Race Camps it will hold this summer. The first camp is scheduled for July 13-Aug. 1, and the second for Aug. 3-23. These camps offer learning opportunities for highly motivated young riders by exposing them to the subtleties and specific nuances of international competition and life in a foreign country. The camp schedules will include several one-day races in Belgium, as well as activities like bike handling drills, strategy sessions, general training rides, and exposure to cultural activities. The cost to attend a camp is $4200 and includes travel, housing, food, and incidental expenses. Only 12 riders will be selected for each camp, and competition is expected to be tough. Those interested in attending a camp have until midnight PST on June 25 to apply. For more information, or to apply, click here.

COMING UP

The following six riders will contest the Fleche du Sud in Luxembourg:

John Bennett (El Cerrito, Calif./California Giant)
Marcel DeLisser (Portland, Ore./Leucemie Espoir Quimper)
Carson Miller (Bend, Ore./Jelly Belly p/b Kenda)
Anders Newbury (Fairfield, Conn./Chipotle Development)
Jacob Rathe (Portland, Ore./Chipotle Development)
Larry Warbasse (Traverse City, Mich./BMC Racing)

JUNIORS

The group of juniors posing in front of the UCI offices in Switzerland. From left to right, Gregory Daniel, Paul Lynch, Thomas Wrona, Matthew Lipscomb, and Collin Berry. (Photo by Carine Siegenthaler, UCI)

The following group of five junior riders have been participating in a Junior Team Pursuit Camp at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland:

Collin Berry (Huntington Beach, Calif./NOW-MS Society)
Gregory Daniel (Englewood, Colo./Chipotle Junior Development)
Matthew Lipscomb (Decatur, Ga./Hincapie Development Team)
Paul Lynch (Colchester, Conn./Hot Tubes Development)
Thomas Wrona (Pinehurst, N.C./Hot Tubes Development)

A U23 BMX Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., started on Monday, June 6, and will run until Sunday, June 12.

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.