Devo Wrap: U23 training camp preps riders for season

With the first race of the under-23 riders' calendar over a month away, some of the riders of the USA Cycling National Development Program (NDP) attended a training camp in southern California. The camp, which spanned Jan. 26-Feb. 3, taught valuable lessons to the riders on and off the bike.

U23

The riders and staff pose for a photo during the training camp. (Photo by Billy Innes)

The under-23 riders in USA Cycling's National Development Program (NDP) started their training regimen for the 2013 season. Mike Sayers, who will manage USA Cycling's U-23 program, invited a select group of athletes for a training camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., last week.

The hilly area around the OTC is prime terrain for a week of hard training and the athletes took advantage of the warm weather to get in some quality climbing and tempo work, often climbing up to the snow line in the local mountains. The riders learned under the tutelage of Sayers, Jochem Dornbush, the second director sportif for road programs, Billy Innes, juniors program director, Andrew Hawkes, program and operations manager, Reed McCalvin, Bontrager Cycling Team's head soigneur and Richard van Buskirk, a recent graduate of the Bill Woodul Mechanic's Clinic.

The camp had a strong focus on team bonding, as well as evening talks regarding race preparation, teamwork, establishing careers in cycling and the future in the sport.

After a week of hard training, the riders competed at the 13th Annual Boulevard Road Race, a competition in southern California. A rough, hilly, windswept 23-mile circuit provided a true test of strength and endurance this early in the road season.

The participants in the camp rode together as a team and vaulted Ryan Eastman (Petaluma, Calif./Bontrager Livestrong Developmental Team) into second while Stephen Leece (San Louis Obispo, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) fell just short of the podium, finishing fourth in the final results.

The riders who participated in the camp were:

Nate Brown (Covington, Tenn./Bontrager Cycling Team)
Lawson Craddock (Austin, Texas/Bontrager Cycling Team)
Greg Daniel (Englewood, Colo./Bontrager Livestrong Developmental Team)
Alex Darville (Santa Barbara, Calif./Bontrager Livestrong Developmental Team)
Ryan Eastman (Petaluma, Calif./Bontrager Livestrong Developmental Team)
Jesse Goodrich (Louisville, Colo./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Stephen Leece (San Louis Obispo, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Eamon Lucas (Pebble Beach, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Ty Magner (Athens, Ga./Hincapie Sportswear Development Team)
Gavin Mannion (Dedham, Mass./Bontrager Cycling Team)
Connor O’Leary (Salt Lake City, Utah/Bontrager Cycling Team)
Jeffrey Parrin (Lakewood, Colo./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Torey Philipp (El Dorado, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Tanner Putt (Park City, Utah/Bontrager Livestrong Developmental Team)
Benjamin Swedberg (Campbell, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Nate Wilson (Elk Grove, Calif./Bontrager Cycling Team)

Check out a photo gallery from the camp.

COMING UP

The U23 riders return to the road in mid-March for the Le Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux in Belgium from March 29-31.

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.


Facebook	Twitter	YouTube	RSS
United Healthcare		Volkswagen		Grapenuts	Holiday Inn	Exergy

About USA Cycling’s National Development Programs
One of USA Cycling’s dual missions is to achieve sustained success in international cycling competition. To that end, USA Cycling maintains development programs for all disciplines of competitive cycling, including men’s and women’s U25 and junior road; mountain bike; track (endurance and sprint) and BMX development programs. These programs provide a structured pathway to the top tier of the sport through athlete development that begins with Junior racing series, Regional Development Camps and racing and moves through to international competition. For more about USA Cycling’s Athlete Development Programs, click here.

This Article Updated February 6, 2013 @ 09:48 AM For more information contact: