#cyclocrossworld

After successful seasons racing from New England all the way to Europe, both Cooper Willsey and Austin Vincent were selected by USA Cycling to represent their country in the 2014 World Championships in Hoogerheide, NED.

This trip, however, comes at quite an expense to the riders and their families. After traveling around the globe (Cincinnati, Louisville, Belgium, Italy, Boulder) to meet the qualification requirements, they are now faced with more fees and travel expenses to compete in their ultimate goal, the World Championships.

Stu Thorne (CyclocrossWorld.com) has offered to support these youngsters in their cyclocross endeavors by donating two 2013 Cantilever Cannondale SuperX Hi-Mod Frames to this fund raising raffle. One is a like-new, 52cm Frame/Fork/Headset combo and the other is a brand-new, 54 cm Frame/Fork/Headset combo.

These are the green/black paint schemes the Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.com Pro Team raced on last season, but they are built for cantilever brakes.

How does it work?

Simple: For each dollar you donate, you will receive one raffle ticket for the frame/size of your choosing. $1 donation = 1 raffle ticket. $50 donation = 50 raffle tickets.

Donate for a chance to win here:

http://www.bikereg.com/superxraffle

Each year, since we really started focusing on this program three years ago, we have had increasing interest from riders across the country.  This interest comes from aspiring amateur racers seeing riders like Crystal Anthony (Optum Pro Cycling) and Maghalie Rochette (Luna Pro Team) graduate to the Professional ranks after just one season with us.

A few months ago I was contacted by a rider I have been watching fairly closely for a few years now.

If I were to describe this rider, I would start by calling him a bit of a Wild Man - a non-conformist, so to speak.  Rumor has it his peers once found him in the woods, shirtless, and on his cyclocross bike in the middle of a raging hurricane.

Notoriously a man of few words, his email was direct.

"If there are any opportunities associated with CyclocrossWorld.com, I would like to have an opportunity to discuss them with you."

His resume was attached.  So I read it. 

It was impressive.  There were things I didn't know.

He had summited a Mountain in Ireland that left certain (one) members of his group trembling, unable to reach the top with him. 

I wanted to know more.

His 2014 goals?  Ambitious. 

Or were they?

We traded emails a few times and finally arranged for a meeting at his hotel in Boulder, Colorado after he finished contesting his National Championship event.

When I got the lobby of his hotel, I was greeted by his management team and people I can only assume were his entourage. 

His manager stood and said, "We've been asked to leave." 

I found myself sitting alone, face to face with a rider who, according to his resume, had finished at the front of every nearly every race he had entered since 2010. 

He was a leader. 

He was an extreme athlete, and he was even a film star.

I asked him a few questions and his answers were poignant.

I asked about his commitment to cyclocross.  How rich did his blood run with this sport?

"I thought, for a short time, that I wanted to play traditional sports," he said.  "You know, baseball, basketball...but I don't want to do that.  I race cyclocross.  This is my sport."

I asked him to compare himself to a European Cyclocross Professional.

"Kevin Pauwels." 

I asked why.

"Because he is humble."

"If you are chosen to ride for our team, can we use images of you racing on the internet?" I asked.

"Of course," he replied.

With most of my questions answered, there was just one more thing I wanted to know.

"Do you have a nickname?"

"The Bear Cub."

Is this the backside of the head of the newest recruit to the 2014/2015 Cyclocrossworld.com Elite Team?  Maybe.

We made excuses for 18 months...but the moment has finally arrived.  All the hard work (and the patience from our Das Pro und The Rookie Kickstarter backers) is finally paying off.

So, without further ado, we can say, with much excitement, the Tim Johnson Mud Fund Scholarship is officially live.  Please share this application with any Juniors, U23s, and families who can benefit from the assistance of the Mud Fund.

If you haven't already, pick up a copy of Das Pro und The Rookie.  100% of proceeds benefit the Mud Fund.  You can also support the Mud Fund by picking up a stylish I Cowbell CX t-shirt.  $5 from every shirt sale benefits the Mud Fund.

The deadline for all application submittals is December 15th, 2012.  No applications will be accepted after this date.

More GoPro goodness from Christian Heule. This time, it's from the World Cup at Hoogerheide, NED. I was going to accuse Christian of playing this video slightly sped up, but then I would be an idiot.

Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld rider, Christian Heule, snuck a GoPro into the World Cup at Lievin this weekend. The course looks surprisingly greasy in Christian's footage. Many referred to this race as a "grass crit," but this footage indicates it was a little more complicated than that...