Mostov takes second overall, wins best young rider in Germany

The USA Cycling squad takes a group shot after the stage 1 individual time trial.

Lang Bergen, Germany (May 12, 2013) — Riding for USA Cycling’s National Development Program juniors team, Zeke Mostov (San Francisco, Calif./Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development Team) finished second overall in the three-day Internationale 3-Etappen-Rundfahrt der Rad-Junioren in Germany. Mostov also topped the best young rider classification.

"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 of Kazakhstan. 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.

Stage 2 was a 112.5km road race between Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.  Ratzell gave USA Cycling its second podium appearance in two days after finishing third in a group sprint to the line. Mostov placed 10^th to drop him one place in the overall classification.

Today’s final stage was a 130.5km 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 GC 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 16^th overall, 1:28 behind Rive. Ratzell finished at 38^th overall and Jake King (North Garden, Va./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team) came in at 78^th in the general classification. Noah Williams (Wimberley, Texas/Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development Team) also competed for USA Cycling, but an unfortunate crash during stage 2 knocked him out of the race. Owen, who finished second overall a week earlier in the Course de la Paix Juniors in the Czech Republic, could not finish due to illness.

Mostov celebrates winning the Best Young Rider classification.

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.

Internationale 3-Etappen-Rundfahrt der Rad-Junioren
Germany
May 10-12, 2013

Overall Classification
1. Dmitry Rive (KAZ)
2. Zeke Mostov (San Francisco, Calif./Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development Team)
3. Tom Wirtgen (LUX)

16. Wil Barta (Boise, Idaho/B.Y.R.D.S. (Boise Young Rider Dev Squad))
38. Greg Ratzell (Blandon, Pa./Young Medalists)
78. Jake King (North Garden, Va./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team)