Epic Racing around the World

I’m not sure which is going to wear off first….the hacking cough, the dust in my ears, or the permanent grins on our faces.

This week has been one of pure abundance from each and every perspective that you choose to look at it. Here in Monterey, the team has been as busy racing our bikes as we have visiting and meeting with industry folks, the press, and citizen fans alike. If you want a glimpse into the unhearalded heroes of the racing scene - the folks running the race pits and sponsor booths put in the long hours and by their smiles, you’d never know it.

We were on our feet from dusk until dawn and barely taking a moment to rest our voices, but I think we’ve caught up with just about everyone…and it was a special treat to have Jamie Whitmore out visiting again today, lending her support and inspiration to us.

I’ve witnessed it a dozen times and the message will never lose its impact on me - to compete in a sport and to race your bike is a privilege to never take for grated.

Ever.

For me personally, today’s XC was rough - high expectations, good fitness, poor health. I’m having to race sick. Jamie had a tumor removed from her leg and hip last month and looks forward to walking again, unassisted. What she’d give to simply race with a cold. Chew on that next time you’re about to lament a mechanical or complain about a particular performance.

On and off the bike the MonaVie/Cannondale crew was setting the bar high - Blake locked his first top 10 semipro finish, Ohran finished (hardest working man in the business), Leana tempted fate and cleared all the doubles in 4-cross, Tinker narrowly lost 10th place and clearly dominated what’s evolving into a Legends category (with the return of David Weins, Ned Overend, and Tinker you’d think it was 1995), I survived the Black Lung, and Mitchell Peterson, well, let’s just say there’s a new Sheriff in town, at 21 years old.

It was great to connect in person with all of new industry sponsors and bring the enthusiasm and energy of our program to the Sea Otter scene. To put it mildly, the MonaVie was flowing, and will be for awhile, on the race scene.

On other fronts Sue raced the Houffalize World Cup in Beligum…a race with basically double the field size of your average US pro event, and likely twice as fast!

And back in Utah…Bart Gilliespie welcomed his second daughter to the family…baby Stella.

Congrats to everyone. I have no idea how we’re going to keep this up…but I look forward to it.

Cheers!