If you follow the disipline of Cyclocross in the US, then you just came off an exciting week of racing or race watching as it might be. It really was an amazing week to be a racer or a follower of the beautiful sport of Veldrijden (field riding in Dutch).
BACK STORY
Just three years ago the Alpha Bicycle Company-Vista Subaru Cyclocross Team came to us with the opportunity to sponsor an up and coming rider. He was young, had several junior age championships to his tally and was growing into one of the strongest riders Colorado had seen in years. His name? Gage Hecht. Now, fast foward to this season and we are just closing our second full year of sponsoring the young elite riders on the team. Those accomplished junior riders are now aging through the ranks and delivering some amazing results.
Moots supplies the frames, stems and seat posts for the 5 top tier junior and now U23 (they grow so fast) riders in the program. They are:
KATIE CLOUSE
ASHLEY ZOERNER
BRANNAN FIX
GAGE HECHT
KENNY BOOTS
They had a great season out there bumping elbows with the best riders from across the country and worldwide. This past week the results they pulled down at US CYCLOCROSS NATIONALS were nothing but amazing. Here’s how they went:
Early in the week the temps were warm and the course was a muddy, delightful mess. Brannan Fix lined up with the Colligiate D1 field and put on a total clinic and rode away with the win and his first ever national championships jersey and medal. That’s him above grinning ear to ear and honoring his school Colorado Mesa University out of Grand Junction. He’s coming for the U23 ranks and then onto PRO. Remember that name.
The Alpha Bicycle Company/Vista Auto Group compound at nationals. If you’ve ever been to a Colorado local race, this is what you see every weekend. Full support, dialed bikes and a program that encourages young kids to do their best. Keep an eye out for this team in the coming years. It’s gonna go nuts.
The weekend brough yet another change in the weather, with 8 inches of snow falling on the course on Friday night. Saturday brought the women’s junior fields out in force. First up was Katie Clouse who is no stranger to the podium and the stars and stripes. Back up to about 3 weeks before nationals and our Colorado State Championships where Katie Clouse took second only to another Katie……last name, Compton. Let that sink in…………………………….ok, done sinking? This young lady is the real deal. They won’t let her race in the U23 or elites just yet, so she went out and crushed the 15-16 junior field on a snow packed course. Again, remember that name.
Katie, all smiles and I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen her frown.
Ashley Zoerner on her way to the 17-18 title. They grouped the 17-18 year olds with the U23 women, she was 7th overall! On Monday she was named to the Worlds Team!!
Ashley does live coverage after here race. Always proud of how these kids speak in a public format. Always considerate and composed.
Mid-morning on Sunday brought out the U23 men’s race. Gage Hecht and Brannan Fix both rode an amazing race. They managed to be at the front for the entire race as the lead switched many times. In the end, Gage came away with a silver medal just seconds off the win! With this being just his first year in the U23 field, we’ll see plenty of him in the next years.
Gage and Brannan ride the high line with two to go. Team SHAKE N BAKE.
Brannan Fix followed his colligiate title up with a sprint for the final step on the U23 podium. He came up just inches shy and took home a solid 4th place.
Gage second in the U23. What a race!
Below is a nice interview from CYCLOCROSS MAGAZINE after Gage finished. Always graceful…..
Gage and Ashley are headed to worlds in Luxembourg!
