Team Pure energy Cycling – ProAir HFA Intro Video

Awesome video that introduces all of the riders on the team including myself and shows the world what we are all about at Team Pure Energy Cycling- ProAir HFA. Big thanks to all of our sponsors for their support and to Justin of Pace Line Visual for shooting and editing the video, it was a ton of fun!

Ethic Inc. Presents: ‘The Keirin’

This past weekend was “The Keirin” at the Dick Lane Velodrome in East Point, GA. It is one of my favorite events and it was my first big pro track race three years ago, it holds a special place in my heart. I won the event last year with the support of my teammate Andy Lakatosh but this year I was on my own. The weekend of racing started off with the Need for Speed Sprints on Friday night. I was a little disappointed with my 200m time but it was better than my time last year by 3 tenths of a second so I cannot complain. The sprint rounds were some good racing but i was able to move through to the final. Just before the final I decided to race the 20 lap motorpaced scratch race. It was an awesome race similar to a big keirin with a lot of riders. When the motor pulled off with two to go I was stuck near the back so I had to make a big move early to get near the front for the start of the final sprint. I was able to come over the field before the other racers really started to wind it up. I ended up making it a two lap sprint and took the win passing the lead rider in turn four. Just after the scratch race was the sprint final and I was a little beat from the 2 lap sprint in the scratch race but I managed to pull off a win to take the sprint tournament.

Saturday night was the keirin and the weather looked terrible all day but the rain held out just long enough to get the racing in. It litteraly started to rain as we finished the keirin final. The four keirin rounds went really well and I was able to try some different tactics in each round and get comfortable riding keirins from each position. I went into the final as the leader and was a heavy favorite but that really guarantees you nothing in the world of keirin racing. I took the motor in the final after drawing first position in the line up. As the motor pulled off with a lap and a half to go the other riders attacked hard so I matched it and led into a long sprint. I was able to hold the front and pull away a little on the back-straight to take the win in front of a big crowd of fans. The whole weekend of racing was great and I will definitely be back down next year to go for the three-peat! A big thank you to Jeff Hopkins and all the volunteers at the Dick Lane Velodrome for putting on another great event. Also a thank you to Ethic Inc. and Maxxis for sponsoring the events.

After packing the bikes up in the rain we made the 12 hour ride home in time for brunch with my mom on mothers day. She was happy to have me back home and loved the podium flowers I brought back for her. It was a great way to start off the summer track season. A big shout-out to Felt bicycles for make a great bike that consistently holds up to rigors of sprinting even on the bumps of the Dick Lane Velodrome. Can’t thank you guys and Oakley sportswear, Powerbar, K’NEX and Team Pure Energy ProAir HFA enough.

What Off Season?

It has been a while since I have updated the blog and I apologize for that. This winter has been pretty crazy on and off the bike. I trained hard all winter and even went out to California to compete in World Cup trials. I was not selected however so I ended up spending most of my time going to school and doing homework like a normal college student. Penn State is going really well so far and I am on track to graduate with my degree in Electrical Engineering in seven semesters not the typical eight. It is amazing how much you can learn from showing up to class everyday! Aside from school training is going really well. I took a few weeks off over the holidays to recover and get ready to start again. I revamped my training regiment and it is really paying off! With class only three days a week I have plenty of time to train as hard as I need to. I’m starting a little pro and collegiate crit season to build the endurance before the track starts up again. It has been over a year almost two since I consistently raced crits and the transition back into it is proving to be difficult but I get better with every race I contest. It is going to be a great season of racing at The Valley Preferred Cycling Center and even better The Keirin Cup falls on my birthday this year! I’m looking forward to a great season ahead with Pure Energy/ ProAir-HFA. We had road team camp this past weekend in Lambertville, NJ. It was a ton of fun to train with my teammates, definitely a lot of positive energy going into this season. Be sure to look for the Pure Energy/ ProAir-HFA crew at races all over the East Coast and stay tuned for our new promotional video coming in mid-April, its gonna be awesome! I could not do any of this without my great sponsors: K’nex, Felt bicycles, Pure Energy Cycling/ ProAir-HFA, Powerbar, Oakley and D2 Shoes, Thank you guys!

Elite National Championships

Awesome Photo of Jimmy and I Credit: Wayne Nevrilk

This past weekend was the USA Cycling elite National Championships in Carson, CA. I raced Elite Nationals last year and won the keirin so I was very excited to defend my title this year. This year I also raced alot more events than last year, I only raced sprints and keirin last year. This year I raced Team Sprint, Keirin, Sprint, and Kilo. I knew the bigger race schedule would be way more difficult for me but I was ready for the challenge.

My Nationals kicked off on Thursday with the Team Sprint. In qualifying I had a terrible start but being man 3 I was able to make up the lost ground and pull off a decent lap time to qualify our team in third. In the bronze medal final we all had a great ride and I felt we really improved. Our time reflected this and we got Bronze. I would really like to see how much I could improve my lap time if I did some team sprint specific training, Maybe next year.

Friday morning at Nationals meant a 200m time trial early in the morning to seed racers in the sprint tournament. I turned an 11.0 and was seeded 9th. In the first round I raced Giddeon and we had a photo finish at the line but he narrowly got the win. I was able to win my rep and move into the night session where I faced Jimmy Watkins. Jimmy got the best of me in both rides, I made small mistakes that cost me the race but I learned alot from it. In the 5-8 final my teammate Andy got rlegated for passing on the apron. This left TJ and myself to battle it out for the last podium spot. I was able to just get around TJ on the homestretch to take fifth.

Keirin Photofinish Credit: Wayne Nevrilk

The evening session on Saturday brought my favorite event, the Keirin. Adam and the Home Depot Center staff did a great job of promoting the event and they got a big crowd there to see the racing. In the first round I got out front when the motor pulled off to stay safe and get out of traffic. With a lap to go Kevin came around me and I basically just followed him through to the line because two riders advanced from each heat. In the second round I got to the front and controlled the race. I was able to take the win here which really didn’t matter since three riders moved into the final. In the final I got the front and my teammate Andy made a really early move by me. I was able to retake the front with a lap and a half to go. From this point on I really laid on the gas and tried to make the last lap really fast and hold off the rest of the guys. The move was a huge success last year and they were letting me do it again. Going down the backstraight I really gunned to try to hold off G. It worked but he had just that little more on the homestraight and I got second to Giddeon in another photo finish.

Keirin Podium Credit: Wayne Nevrilk

The final day of Nationals was the kilo for me. Let me first say that a kilo hurts like hell even when you are rested up for it, so going into this one with tired and shot legs from three days of racing and huge effort in a big gear the night before in the keirin, I knew this was going to be bad. I had a terrible start but I was able to race through that and turn a perfect second lap time the problem came a half lap later… My legs had enough and really started screaming which is normal in a kilo but it was a lap too early. With that said I pretty much suffered through the end of the kilo. I did take thrird though which was great. I also beat my kilo time from Jr. Nationals so I was pretty happy with it all things considered.

Elite Nationals was a great week of racing to finish off a great season and a great end to my junior career. Although I didn’t win a jersey or championship I believe I raced a lot better than last year and I feel I proved to everyone that I have successfully transitioned from the junior ranks to the elite ranks. A medal in all four sprint events is never bad plus I learned to successfully race a keirin with everyone watching me which is where I lacked at Worlds this year.

Catching up with friends from Worlds Credit: Wayne Nevrilk

This season has been a huge success for me and I have had a ton of fun racing, I do know that I could not do any of this without all of the great people who stand behind me and support me through the good and bad. This season has been filled with both good and bad; from having mono in February to winning Jr. Nationals and going on to medal at Jr Worlds and Elite Nationals. I wouldn’t be where I am without the love and support of my my wonderful parents and family. I also owe a huge thank you to Pure Energy Cycling and ProAir HFA for making this season not only possible but a lot of fun too. Thanks to Doug Martin and all the great people at Felt Bicycles for getting me the best track bike in the world, my TK1. A shoutout to Oakley is an order for keeping my eyes protected and looking good while racing. This season would not have been possible without the generous support of K’nex. Also big props to Powerbar for providing me with the right nutrition products to perform at my peak, the cola Gel Blasts are the best keirin food! The Valley Preferred Cycling center made this season a ton of fun with great racing every week with some of the best in the world, I also got my start in cycling at the VPCC. Someone once told me when you see a turtle on a fence post you know he had help, so a big thank you to all these people and everyone else who helped me climb my fence post.

Collegiate Nationals

The one and only Jim Young (PSU Cycling Coach) Credit: Morgan Farnsworth

This past weekend was collegiate National Championships in Indianapolis. The event was hosted by Marian University and they did a wonderful job with it. The track looked nice and everything was run smoothly. The weather in Indy however was not as nice. When we landed it was 80 degrees and the next three days it was in the 40′s in the morning. Not very fun to race when it is that cold.

Part of the Penn State team in our sweet rental mini van! Credit: Morgan Farnsworth

The Price of Winning... It Hurt! Credit: Rodney Santiago

My first event of the trip was the 1 kilometer time trial on Thursday night. I was in the last heat, there were roughly 85 riders in the kilo which was awesome to see that many college students getting into the sport. By the time I went off it had gotten cold but the wind died down a little. I rode a decent kilo with a time of 1:08 considering the conditions. I know I could have done a much faster time on a different track and different conditions. When I settled into the aerobars on the first lap my chest and lungs began to lock up in the cold air so I knew it wouldn’t be a great ride. I was able to just get the win by a few tenths but sadly I came in after the kilo and puked up everything I had in me. It was a rough night and Rodney put a nice picture of it on Facebook.

My second and last event at Collegiate Nats was the Sprint tournament. A 200m time trial early on a cold morning is definately not my thing. I qualified into second spot. I knew I could race my way to first because I always race better than I tt. The morning rounds went well and I moved into the afternoon session. The Marian fans really came out to the race that night and the entire time we were racing they were yelling. Racing Colton in the final made me feel like I had no fans because he was a Marian rider. No matter I was still able to beat him after two great sprint rides. The best part of Collegiate Nats had to be the whole PSU team and a few T-Town riders doing the “We Are” chant during the podium presentation for the sprints.

I had an day off of racing on Saturday and instead of doing my homework I went to the track to help out the other PSU riders in sprints and the points race. It was really weird being in the “coach” position and seeing a different side of the sport. I really enjoyed it though and I think once my career is over I may give coaching a try.

Collegiate Nationals was a totally new experience for me and I really enjoyed it. I would just like to thank Penn State University for allowing me the opportunity to go. Also a big shout out to the Marian staff and volunteers as well as USA Cycling for putting on another great event. I will be heading off to California next week to compete at Elite National Championships and see if I can defend my keirin title.

Sprint Podium Credit: Morgan Farnsworth

Junior World Championships: Recap

Junior Worlds in moscow was a great experience for me this year. I learned a ton and raced really well. The racing started off decent with the team sprint. Our team got eleventh but for a bunch of guys who never train together and have only done one other team sprint together it was not bad. Our time and placing was by far better than last year.

Day two of racing started out with a fun kilo session on the track in the morning to get ready for the 1 kilometer time trial that evening. I was seventh off in the kilo and there were roughly 35 riders. I put in the best kilo of my career so far but that is not saying much since it was only my second kilo ever. I posted a time of 1:04.8 which put me as the top result. I remained in the top spot for about 45 mins which was pure torture! I was bumped down to second by an Aussie kid and then to third by the last rider to go off. I was a bit heartbreaking but I was completely surprised by how well I did and that I got podium. My time was just a few tenths off the national junior record which was set at altitude (Moscow is not at altitude).

Day three was the sprint tournament. I qualified into 21st after the 200m tt with a time of 10.54. This was a PR for me and I was pretty proud of it. I knew I could race better in the sprints than my 200 time said. The first round I was up against an Aussie kid who was seeded fourth. Jamie and I came up with a great plan to beat him from behind and it played out perfect. I took over the fourth seed and kept rolling from there. Next round I was against yet another Aussie kid and he took the front which let me jump him from behind like I did in the round before. At this point the Aussie coaches really didn’t talk to us anymore. In the quarterfinals I was up against Jon Paul, who went on to win the tournament. In the first ride he just barely got me at the line. In ride two Jamie and I came up with a crazy plan to beat him from the front. I wound it up at the rail and then jumped on him and was able to hold him off at the line. In ride three Jon went early and I stayed high for a little too long and was not able to come around him. The 5-8 final was right after that so I was pretty shot, I just barely got around one rider for seventh but I know my placing should have been better with slightly more rest and a smaller gear. 

The day of Jr. Worlds was keirin day. I was really excited for keirin day because it is my favorite event and I got bronze in it before. The first round went off without a hitch and I was able to win it and qualify to the semi finals. In the semis things fell apart though. A British rider attacked and lead it out with a French racer behind him. On the last lap in turn 4 I was sitting third and the French rider took me way up track so I had to take the long way around. This slowed me up and left the door open on the bottom for a Mexican kid to sneak through. I was devestated when I didn’t make it to the final. I was able to put it behind me and pull through. In the minor final I was able to control it and win to take seventh overall.

It was a great trip in general and although my results were not great I raced really well and much better than last year. I was thrilled with my performance and definitely proved that I was one of the best junior sprinters in the world. The entire USA team was great and I can’t thank the support staff and USA Cycling enough for allowing me the opportunity to go to Jr. Worlds a second time. I will never forget my time in Russia and all the great friends I made. I am really missing my Team USA family now that I’m back home and in school.

Junior Worlds

Well we made it to Moscow two days ago. It was really long trip and this country is crazy! We passed cars on the shoulder in a bus and people drive like mad men. Parking on the sidewalk is legal, it is definitely not America. The food is not great but the past few meals have actually been decent. The Moscow track is a beast of a track but it is a ton of fun to ride. It is very unique and I wish we had some more time on it but competition starts tomorrow. I race every day and I start with team sprint tomorrow followed by kilo on Thursday and sprints Friday and Saturday and keirin on Sunday. I am feeling really good this year and my legs are coming around after the jet lag.  Our team sprint team looked pretty good doing some starts today so we will see how it goes tomorrow. I am just trying for a good clean start and a good lap time for my lap. I am really excited for competition to start and to get rolling with worlds.

Keirin Cup

Copyright: Anthony Skorochod cyclingcaptured .com

July always brings around the best month of racing at the Valley Preferred Cycling center, well for sprinters at least. This year there were two sprint tournaments and a keirin. The Keirin cup was the first Keirin I have ever done and that was two years ago! I was really excited for this years Keirin cup because I felt I could do really well in it. I went in with the goal of making the final which I just missed last year. This year it started out with a bang and I took the win in my heat by leading out basically the whole race. In the semi final only four riders advanced and surprisingly there were three Pure Energy Pro AirHFA riders in the heat. I took the lead and lead out the race and held on with my two teamates finishing next to me and all making it through. Sadly there was a crash just after the finish line which cause a few riders to go down and one to hit my back wheel. The wheel was fine and I was able to gear up for the final. The final started off odd with me taking the motor and my teammates Laky and J sitting behind me. When the motor pulled off Laky made a big move and took the front with a lap and a half to go. It worked great for me because I could use him for a short leadout. I regained the front with one to go and kept J on my hip down the backstraigth and kicked it out of turn four to take the win. I became the youngest rider to ever win Keirin cup and also the only junior to win the title. It was a great night for the Pure Energy Cycling- Pro AirHFA team and I think I proved I am ready to go back to worlds.

Junior Worlds Team

USA Cycling has announced the sixteen rider team that will represent the United States at UCI Junior World Championships in Moscow, Russia next month. I was selected as a member of the team through an automatic qualification by my medal at last years Junior World Championships as well as making the time standard in the kilo (105.6) and in the 200 meter (10.960) while earning 5 national championships at Junior Nationals last week. I am thrilled to be returning to Worlds this year especially after the rough winter I had. As of February 14th I thought my junior career was over and I wouldn’t have the chance to top my performance from last year. It is amazing to me that I was able to recover this quickly and reach my goal and dream of going to Worlds this season. This entire season has basically been a bonus for me because I knew it was all but over in February, but racing with that attitude of “playing with house money” I think Junior Worlds could be an awesome trip. I’d just like to thank all the people and sponsors who have stood by me and helped me through the good and bad times. A special thank you to my team Pure Energy Cycling Pro AirHFA. I owe everything I have and have done to my amazing parents, I couldn’t have had so much success this season without you guys. They will be in Russia to witness whatever challenges Worlds brings for me. Together we have done it again, and I can’t thank the team of sponsors, companies and people around me enough.

Check out this press release from USA Cycling about the world team:

http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=6804

Jr Track National Championships

This past weekend was USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships Presented by Richardson’s Bike Mart. It was the last Jr Nationals of my career so I really wanted my junior career to end with a bang and I think we were successful at that. I entered five events at nationals and was able to win every one. The competition for me started on Thursday with the kilometer time trial. I had never done a kilo before in competition and only had three sessions of kilo work behind me but all my numbers in the days before were good so I was excited. I got a terrible start as the gate released a half second late but I was able to overcome that and roll a time of 1:05.6 which beat the silver medal time by three seconds and went two seconds under the time standard to qualify for jr. Worlds. I was thrilled with this but had to forget about it and focus on the next event which was sprints. The 200m qualifier was at 8am on an overcast and windy day so my time was less than desirable but I still was in first. I had two good sprint rounds that night against Ryan and Kaleb and was able to take the win. Saturday night was keirin night and I was excited! But after five false starts and a rider getting disqualified I just wanted to race. Once the keirin got off to a clean start I was able to take a run at Kaleb and put a few lengths between us to take the win.

Me and my two biggest fans (mom and dad) Couldn't have done it without you guys!

The scratch race followed that night and started around 11pm. In the beginning another rider was able to take a lap which made me a little worried because everyone was marking me so it looked impossible for me to get on a break. Eventually a break of four guys formed including me, we worked together and almost lapped but when we were about 60m from the back of the field I attacked and bridged. I was able to move up quick and found myself at the front with six laps to go. I knew I could outsprint the other 4 guys who took a lap so with two to go I moved to the front and chased down one little break and was able to hold everyone off to take the win. The only thing left after that was team sprint, I teamed up with Ryan and Kaleb for team sprint. We wanted to make the time standard in that too but missed by a half second. Our time was a little slow and our technique a bit sloppy but we got through and still won by a comfortable margin. Overall it was a great week of racing and a great way to end my junior career in the US now onto Moscow and Junior Worlds in August. What made it such a great event was by far the people. All of the volunteers at the Superdrome did an amazing job of getting everyone everything they needed and helping us through the heat. From the kid selling Popsicles and ice to Lura Popovich driving around the gator cart asking if I needed anything every time by and the poor volunteer who became my USADA chaperone and didn’t take his eyes off me for three hours the night of the keirin and scratch race. Even the USADA people in the building were great and ended up cheering for me in the scratch race. I was just amazed at how many people were there to help with everything and that made the event great and very special to me as it was my last Jr. Nationals.