Cross is Here!
The cyclocross season is back and the Steve Tilford Foundation Racing team is here to get muddy with some fresh new partners and faces. As the cyclocross family heads off on its annual holiday around the country we want to celebrate the places we race and the people we meet with a postcard from cyclocross.
At a select number of races this season STFR will have free limited edition postcards celebrating that race location and the sport we love, which you can take home or mail to anyone in the US, and we will even mail it for you!
We arrived in Rochester and there was a brisk feel to the air. Nothing too cold but it was certainly a nice feeling after the heat in Roanoke. We forgot to tell you about Roanoke but it actually went well. Hot, dusty, trip to a laundromat and then we left with a bunch of podiums, so that was fun. Anyway, in Rochester and we feel like we have our bearings now. It is definitely feeling more autumnal but the first day was still bright, sunny and warm. The first race of weekend saw Lizzy fly out the gates like she was trying to get her towel down on her favourite spot on the beach before anyone else, unfortunately her commitment to the front was led with some cramping late on, alas these things happen. Raylyn had a solid race and looked as if she would pick up yet another podium but a couple of bobbles on one of the last laps saw her come home in fourth. Curtis was clearly finding his groove in Rochester as he battled hard for first and took home a solid second.
Sunday brought rain, or as one clever clogs put in the STFR team, “it's wet out there” as they stuffed their face with pumpkin pancakes at breakfast. To give you some more insight into cyclocross, when it rains - it gets muddy. This means the mechanics were hustling from the early hours, and with the Bear National Team under the STFR tent this year, it meant they were working over time building and cleaning bikes. Even with the extra work load the mechanics got through the day without stepping a foot out of place and meant all the riders ran around in the mud all day with pristine bikes.
“Days like today also require perfect communication between myself and the mechanics. Tire pressure, equipment choice, pit box selection, gaps, and pit exchanges had to all be on point. That was a true team effort.”
The mud was certainly not a surprise to the team but one slide too many saw Raylyn finish 5th and Lizzy finish 7th. Nevertheless, it was good to get the first mudder in the bank and Curtis backed up his day 1 performance with another second place in the mud. Classy as ever, he left the fans wanting more. Maybe a top step is on the horizon!
“Aside from my results through the weekend, it was fulfilling to witness some of the momentous rides of some of the Bear Cyclocross Development Team athletes in both the men’s and women’s categories. I take great pride in knowing my role is not only to perform, but also to mentor the next generation of racers. ”
Photos and artwork by Kenza Barton Schlee
