Hello everyone,

 

This past week we held a mini training camp in conjunction with the junior national team in Nassau, Bahamas. Three of this years team were able to go. Ben King and two new guys, Alder Martz and Simon Lambert-Lemay. It was my first time meeting Alder and my second time with Simon. Jim Miller, the national team director brought down the new junior national team coach, Ben Sharp and two junior riders; Taylor Phinney and Logan Loader.

 

The camp was thee days of training and a two day, three stage race. Eighty degrees every day and sun was much more pleasant then February weather in New England. The group jelled well and had a lot of fun.

 

I'm very hopeful this year that the US will field one of it's best junior national team efforts I've ever seen. There is a lot of talent at the junior level this year.  

 

The racing was good, but a little long for juniors at this time of year and in junior gears. As a whole, they raced as expected by Ben, Jim and myself. Nobody got hurt, they got a lot of miles in and did better than expected in the time trial and the first road race. Simon finished tenth in the road race and Taylor was fifteenth. Taylor was the best finisher in the time trial at nineteenth. Alder, Ben and Logan were all solid as well for this time of year. There were a lot of pro guys getting ready for the Tour of California and refining their form, so I knew we were going to be outgunned.

 

The biggest gain for me was the increased level of cooperation between the national team and the big trade teams, mainly TIAA Cref and us. I believe everything we need to have an outstanding season as Americans is now in place and I can't wait for the racing to begin.

 

I would like to extend a very big Thank you to Mark and Stephen Holowesko for making the race and training camp happen; cheers.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Toby