March 2 Founders update

Team Specialized Racing Juniors & Masters

As you are all aware, the goal of Team Specialized Juniors Racing is to be the best junior cycling team in America. We are off to an incredible start and have already accumulated a wealth of podium finishes. As manager of the team, I want to personally thank you all for your generous support and provide you with an update of our recent accomplishments.

The 2010 formula for success can be traced back to 1988 when Thomas Weisel and Steve Johnson created a team and a vision to change cycling. We are pleased that Steve and Thom continue to stay involved and support our team. Wyatt Weisel picked up the team vision four years ago and under his guidance and leadership the organization has grown dramatically to include the establishment of the stellar juniors program. Team Specialized’s roots come from a great organization (Subaru-Montgomery, Montgomery-Bell, U.S. Postal, Discovery Channel-AMD) which served as an excellent foundation for the premier team that it has evolved into today. Founders, sponsors, young athletes, experienced masters’ athletes, and advisors contribute to the diverse and accomplished organization which is now Team Specialized.

Here’s a quick story of one of our recent junior road trips: Nine junior teammates traveled to Arizona over Valentine’s Day weekend to compete in the Valley of the Sun stage race. The 15-16 year olds placed 2nd, 4th, 14th, 21st and 23rd. Our 17-18 year olds placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 10th. The 17-18’s won the time trial, the road race, and the criterium. Impressive results, but, the reason I’m sharing this story is to thank you all for the opportunity you provided which facilitated an overall superb growing experience for the junior teammates. The Northern California Cycling Foundation purchased a team van through generous support from our founders. We all drove back together from Phoenix, twelve extremely valuable and educational hours in a confined space during which time coach Billy Innes and I had the opportunity to discuss the weekend of racing in intense detail. It was a great experience for all of us and demonstrated that even when we win races, we still have opportunities to learn! Our junior teammates received powerful and immediate feedback thanks in good part to the support (team van, coach, manager) which would not be possible without the founders support.

Our equipment sponsors have been great too. Some of the Squadra team clothes arrived when we were in Arizona and they look great. Squadra came through with six different designs and quality clothing. The Specialized SL2 frames have gone out to the juniors and their enthusiasm and excitement is beyond what we have seen before. All thirteen juniors are pumped up for the new year. The Zipp and the SRAM gear will arrive soon so we will be well prepared in the coming weeks for some very big events.

Our team is required to maintain the highest level of accountability, both junior and masters. October and November were spent recovering, transitioning into the off-season and some cyclocross racing. December brought us our first training camp (in Napa) and a good amount of miles (monitored through Google Docs). January started off with another training camp and a push to have each of our juniors “mentor” new racers at the Early Bird 5-week Criterium Training Series. Not only did they provide their advice to new racers, but in doing so they reaffirmed their knowledge of the sport. To top it off we raced together, masters and juniors, where we made a big ask and had them ride tempo at the front of a 1/2/3/Pro race. Learning to control a race at that level (averaging 25+ mph), to count on your teammates and to experience reading a race against adults with years of experience was invaluable and a great experience.

Note: Category 5 – beginner,
Category 4 – experienced in at least 10 races,
Category 3 – high placings in multiple races against Category 4 riders prior to their upgrade,
Category 2 - high placings in multiple races against Category 3 riders prior to their upgrade,
Category 1 - high placings in multiple races against Category 2 riders prior to their upgrade,
Professional – licensed and contracted to race for a salary

I would like to introduce you to our junior team.
+ Daniel Tisdell (18, Category 3) has been with us since 2007. You can easily pick him out from his teammates as he wears the USA National Champions stripes on his clothes. Daniel is shooting for a win at Nationals in 2010 and an U23 contract for his bright future.
+ Peter Taylor (18, Category 2) is in his 2nd year with our team. As he was just chosen to race with the USA National Team for the Junior version of Paris-Roubaix, we are completely supportive of his efforts. If Peter has a solid ride in France and a great National Championships he has a great shot at the Junior Worlds team.
+ Eamon Lucas (18, Category 3) started racing in earnest in 2009 and is on fire! He just earned enough upgrade points to be a category 2 and has big goals for the year. Eamon attended the USA national road camp last fall. He is new to the team in 2010.
+ Andrew Bennett (18, Category 2) is our strong man from Eugene, OR. He’s totally focused on national championships in Bend, OR and getting into one of his favorite Ivy League schools. Andrew is new to the team in 2010.
+ James Laberge (17, Category 2) won the most races for us in 2009. He quickly upgraded to a Category 2 and is looking for that extra toughness and speed that will help him win a national championship. James has been with us since 2007.
+ Torey Philipp (17, Category 3) has a bright future because he is capable of winning races and helping his teammates too. He brings a calm and analytical mind to his racing and teammates that is appreciated. Torey joins us in 2010 from the strong Davis team.
+ Andrew Lanier, Jr (17, Category 3) races extremely well on both the track and road. He joined our team in 2008 and has been a consummate teammate and big diesel engine, which is to say that he has one long and powerful sprint. Andrew attended the USA national track camp last fall.
+ David Benkoski (17) also races the track and the road, bringing an attacking style that is both appreciated and unpredictable, and that’s a good thing! David joined our team in 2008 as well and has already chalked up a win in 2010.
+ Alistair Eeckman (16, Category 3) has been with our team since 2009 and is a climbing sensation. Our goal is to strengthen the other aspects of his racing. Alistair stormed the 2009 summer USA Cycling development camp and then attended the USA national camp in October.
+ Marcus Smith (16, Category 3) also has strengths in all disciplines. At the top of his age group he will be pushed this year to attack and win off the front. Marcus has been with our team since 2007.
+ Chris Laberge (16, Category 3) has that genetic Laberge gene that helps him to sprint better than most at the end of the race. Chris is quietly building confidence in himself and should have a great year. He has been with our team since 2007.
+ Matt Valencia (14, Category 4) loves to race, from road to track to cyclo cross. He also plays basketball and enjoys helping his teammates win. Matt joined our team in 2010.
+ Jack Maddox (13, Category 4) placed 2nd at the USA junior nationals time trial last year but he too is an all around athlete. Jack joined our team in 2010.

Larry Nolan, Team Specialized Manager

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2010 podium finishes (through February 28, 2010)
- five Early Bird Criterium Training Races – mentoring new racers and controlling seasoned racers
- Cherry Pie Criterium – 8 pies! 1st, 2nd, 3rd Jr 17-18, 3rd Jr 13-14, 3rd category 3’s, 1st and 3rd M45, 2nd M35
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – time trial - 1st, 2nd 3rd Jr 17-18, 3rd Jr 15-16, 1st, 2nd, 3rd M30
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – road race - 1st, 2nd Jr 17-18, 2nd, 3rd Jr 15-16, 2nd M30
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – criterium – 1st, 3rd Jr 17-18, 1st and 3rd M30
- Valley of the Sun Stage Race – General Classification – 1st, 2nd, 3rd Jr 17-18, 2nd Jr 15-16, 1st and 3rd M30
- Berkeley Team Time Trial – 1st Category 3, 1st and 2nd M35
- Snelling Road Race – 1st Category 3, 1st M35
- Merced Criterium – 1st Jr 17-18