Between the Tape: Fast Racing and Mud Slinging in Cincinnati for Easton-Giant
Between the Tape: Fast Racing and Mud Slinging in Cincinnati for Easton-Giant
Photos: Bruce Buckley
After a couple weekends of local racing and training, the Easton-Giant gang was back together for the final C1 of the season in Cincinnati’s Kingswood Park. In a continuation of the season’s CX weekend trend, the team was treated to one day of slippery and slimy racing and another on a fast, bumpy, and hard packed course.
Day 1 - While the mud in races earlier in the year has turned into a thick, peanut butter like slop when courses got wet (Waterloo, anyone?), the Cincy track became something more similar to a slip 'n slide. Bike handling and finesse, not raw power, became a rider's most important asset to stay upright and to stay ahead in the pack.
Day 2 - Sunday's race offered the exact opposite when it came to conditions. As the winds picked up and the sun came out, the course turned from slimy into a high speed race course, where the ability to hammer out of the corners, not technical skills, reigned.
Michael finished 8th on both days despite the vastly different conditions, Jenn picked up 10th and 14th, Bridget 22nd and 16th (2nd Junior), and Dylan 19th and 24th.
THE ATHLETE'S TAKE
“Solid weekend of racing for me. I had an amazing start in the mud on Day 1 and made it to 4th, but some mistakes in the last half of the race cost me and I finished just outside of the top-20. The dry conditions on Day 2 were more to my liking and I was fighting for a spot inside the top-15, ended up in 16th and as the 2nd Junior." - Bridget Tooley
“After a couple solid weeks for training, Cincy was a solid opportunity to open up my legs for this next really important chunk of racing for a jersey at Nationals and Pan Ams. 8th on both days was my dream result, but with the top-10 all finishing approximately a minute apart, I know I’m not far from where I need to be. "
- Michael van den Ham
“It took some time, but the wheels finally started turning this weekend. Breaking into the top-20 on a stacked C1 was a good confidence booster and I know that my form is only on the rise right now " - Dylan Postier
In the Media
• Michael’s Custom Giant TCX - GCN Tech
• Bridget races with One Shoe in Waterloo - CX Magazine
• Top-5’s for Jackson and van den Ham - Canadian Cycling Magazine
Photos: Bruce Buckley
After a couple weekends of local racing and training, the Easton-Giant gang was back together for the final C1 of the season in Cincinnati’s Kingswood Park. In a continuation of the season’s CX weekend trend, the team was treated to one day of slippery and slimy racing and another on a fast, bumpy, and hard packed course.
Day 1 - While the mud in races earlier in the year has turned into a thick, peanut butter like slop when courses got wet (Waterloo, anyone?), the Cincy track became something more similar to a slip 'n slide. Bike handling and finesse, not raw power, became a rider's most important asset to stay upright and to stay ahead in the pack.
Day 2 - Sunday's race offered the exact opposite when it came to conditions. As the winds picked up and the sun came out, the course turned from slimy into a high speed race course, where the ability to hammer out of the corners, not technical skills, reigned.
Michael finished 8th on both days despite the vastly different conditions, Jenn picked up 10th and 14th, Bridget 22nd and 16th (2nd Junior), and Dylan 19th and 24th.
THE ATHLETE'S TAKE
“Solid weekend of racing for me. I had an amazing start in the mud on Day 1 and made it to 4th, but some mistakes in the last half of the race cost me and I finished just outside of the top-20. The dry conditions on Day 2 were more to my liking and I was fighting for a spot inside the top-15, ended up in 16th and as the 2nd Junior." - Bridget Tooley
“After a couple solid weeks for training, Cincy was a solid opportunity to open up my legs for this next really important chunk of racing for a jersey at Nationals and Pan Ams. 8th on both days was my dream result, but with the top-10 all finishing approximately a minute apart, I know I’m not far from where I need to be. "
- Michael van den Ham
“It took some time, but the wheels finally started turning this weekend. Breaking into the top-20 on a stacked C1 was a good confidence booster and I know that my form is only on the rise right now " - Dylan Postier
In the Media
• Michael’s Custom Giant TCX - GCN Tech
• Bridget races with One Shoe in Waterloo - CX Magazine
• Top-5’s for Jackson and van den Ham - Canadian Cycling Magazine