Team Traveller

Ben Frederick’s Granogue UCI CX Race Report Saturday: This was the first ‘cross race of the year where I was able to travel with Dave Cobb, the director of Team Traveller. After working with him on the road with such flawless assistance, I was looking forward to having support at a cross race. With twice the bikes and wheels as I would bring to a road race, his help with logistics was great.   Granogue Cross is an historic cross race and was one of two UCI races in America this weekend. With Troy Wells, Justin Lindean, Adam Myerson, and the Keough brothers in attendance, this was an all star field. My goal for the weekend was to get in the top 10 and grab some UCI points to build up for next year. I had my work cut out for me as I started on the last row, looking up at 9 rows of the best ‘crossers in the country. From the gun, I passed 4 rows by jumping on the grass and found it easy to get near the front. I settled in around 17th place and was always looking to pass whenever I could. I was able to pass people and  gain time both run ups, which I could ride, and towards the end of the race I really started feeling good. All of a sudden I was with-in striking distance of the top ten. Riders were going backwards and I kept moving forward. I came with in 1 second of 10th place, finishing 11th in my first UCI race. Close, but no cigar.   Sunday: USAC randomly gives out starting positions to any riders who dont have UCI points and it worked in my favor Sunday. I was only 44th position back. Now that I knew what to expect, I was motivated to get a good start and be fighting in the UCI points instead of fighting to get up to them. When the whistle blew, I had a great start. Flying up the right side of the field I was in the top ten from the start! I worked on settling in and was in the second group on the road, places 5-10. Perfect. Then disaster struck. On a sharp, downhill, off camber left hand turn my front wheel washed out and I hit the deck really hard. While I was pulling my bike out of the tape, I dropped 7 positions. I tried my best to rally and move back up, but I had burped air out of my tires, and my cornering suffered. Despite my best efforts, I managed a 20th place, still in the money, at a C2 cyclocross race. All in all it was a great experience, and gives me confidence for the next UCI races n NJ in two weeks.   Click the photo on this post to see photos of the race on the team’s Flickr page.

Ben Frederick’s Granogue UCI CX Race Report

Saturday:

This was the first ‘cross race of the year where I was able to travel with Dave Cobb, the director of Team Traveller. After working with him on the road with such flawless assistance, I was looking forward to having support at a cross race. With twice the bikes and wheels as I would bring to a road race, his help with logistics was great.

 

Granogue Cross is an historic cross race and was one of two UCI races in America this weekend. With Troy Wells, Justin Lindean, Adam Myerson, and the Keough brothers in attendance, this was an all star field. My goal for the weekend was to get in the top 10 and grab some UCI points to build up for next year. I had my work cut out for me as I started on the last row, looking up at 9 rows of the best ‘crossers in the country. From the gun, I passed 4 rows by jumping on the grass and found it easy to get near the front. I settled in around 17th place and was always looking to pass whenever I could. I was able to pass people and  gain time both run ups, which I could ride, and towards the end of the race I really started feeling good. All of a sudden I was with-in striking distance of the top ten. Riders were going backwards and I kept moving forward. I came with in 1 second of 10th place, finishing 11th in my first UCI race. Close, but no cigar.

 

Sunday:

USAC randomly gives out starting positions to any riders who dont have UCI points and it worked in my favor Sunday. I was only 44th position back. Now that I knew what to expect, I was motivated to get a good start and be fighting in the UCI points instead of fighting to get up to them. When the whistle blew, I had a great start. Flying up the right side of the field I was in the top ten from the start! I worked on settling in and was in the second group on the road, places 5-10. Perfect. Then disaster struck. On a sharp, downhill, off camber left hand turn my front wheel washed out and I hit the deck really hard. While I was pulling my bike out of the tape, I dropped 7 positions. I tried my best to rally and move back up, but I had burped air out of my tires, and my cornering suffered. Despite my best efforts, I managed a 20th place, still in the money, at a C2 cyclocross race. All in all it was a great experience, and gives me confidence for the next UCI races n NJ in two weeks.

 

Click the photo on this post to see photos of the race on the team’s Flickr page.

4 months agoNotes