Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Whole Athlete/Specialized Team Flyin' in Missoula

Cypress Gorry
Cypress Gorry takes the A-line at the Missoula XC.

Amid the lush mountains of northwestern Montana, the Missoula ProXCT served up some of the country's best racing. And Whole Athlete/Specialized riders came to play, earning three wins and seven podium finishes. 

Christopher Blevins did the double, winning both the Cat 1 short track and cross country, and doing so with the fastest amateur time of the day. Haley Batten took a convincing win in the Junior Women's XC, followed by teammate Kelsey Urban in 4th place. 

Sean Bennett and Neilson Powless both landed on the podium in the UCI Junior race with 3rd and 5th, while Cole Avery took 3rd place in the very competitive Junior 15/16 race. Silas Blunk also hit the top-10 with a solid 6th place finish in the Cat 1 combined event. 

Christopher Blevins
Blevins on his way to the Cat 1 win and the fastest amateur time of the day.

Haley Batten
Batten flowing the singletrack.

Kelsey Urban
Urban dropping in.

Cole Avery
Avery on a podium run.

Neilson Powless
Zach Peterson and Neilson Powless charging the first climb.

Sean Bennett
Bennett on the flyover jump.

Casey Williams
Williams battles in the Elite Men's race.

Silas Blunk
Blunk climbs his way to a top-10 in the Cat 1 open race.

Christopher Blevins
Blevins soars the A-line.

Kelsey Urban, Haley Batten
Urban and Batten were all smiles after their podium performances.

Check out all the team's 2014 Top-10 results here.

Next up for Whole Athlete/Specialized:
6/28 ProXCT #5 - Colorado Springs, CO
7/12 ProXCT#6 - Portage, WI
7/18 XC National Championships - Bear Creek, PA
7/26 ProXCT #7 - Catamount, VT

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Another Top-10 World Cup Performance!

Neilson Powless
Powless rides to another top-10 World Cup finish.

For the second weekend in a row, Whole Athlete/Specialized Junior Neilson Powless hit the top-10 of a European World Cup, this time in Albstadt, Gemany. Powless faced yet another huge field of over 125 racers from all over the world. His final lap on the fast and slippery course was the fastest of all the juniors, showing that he has what it takes to finish well in the world's most demanding cross country events. 

Jacob Albrecht
Albrecht on his way to a podium finish at the Cat's Hill Criterium.

Meanwhile, U23 rider Jacob Albrecht's transition to the road has been spot on, reaching his goal of upgrading from Cat 3 to 1 in only a few short months. Already landing on podiums in Pro 1/2 races, Albrecht's future in road racing looks bright. 

Check out all the team's 2014 Top-10 results here.

Next up for Whole Athlete/Specialized:
6/21 ProXCT #4 - Missoula, MT
6/28 ProXCT #5 - Colorado Springs, CO
7/12 ProXCT#6 - Portage, WI
7/18 XC National Championships - Bear Creek, PA
7/26 ProXCT #7 - Catamount, VT