Six Whole Athlete/Specialized Riders Named to 2015 World Championship Team!

On the heels of a successful National Championships bid that saw the team earn three titles and five medals, Whole Athlete/Specialized was rewarded with selection of all six eligible athletes for the 2015 World Championships in Andorra on September 3rd!

Kelsey Urban, Christopher Blevins, Haley Batten, Cypress Gorry, Anders Johnson, and Carson Beckett
will represent the USA at the 2015 World Championships in Andorra.

Automatic selections include newly crowned U23 National Champion Cypress Gorry, Junior 17/18 Champion and world #1 ranked Christopher Blevins, and Junior 17/18 Women's Champion and world #1 ranked Haley Batten. The three well-deserving discretionary selections are Anders Johnson, Carson Beckett, and Kelsey Urban. Johnson and Beckett are the 2nd and 3rd highest ranked US Junior riders, while Urban has consistently maintained a top-10 world ranking all year. All three riders have been consistently on national-level podiums throughout the season.

Gorry has been on the verge of breakthrough success all season.

Batten has been unbeatable in the US.

Blevins aims to compete in both road and MTB Worlds this Fall.

Beckett is no stranger to the podium.

Urban a model of consistency.

Johnson has been steadily on the rise all season.

Next up for the Whole Athlete / Specialized Team:

August 2nd: U23 World Cup #7 - Mont Saint Anne, CAN
August 9th: U23 World Cup #8 - Windham, NY
September 3rd: Junior and U23 World Championships - Valnord, Andorra

Stay tuned for more exciting news!

Three National Champions, Five Medals for the Whole Athlete/Specialized Team

Capping off an impressive summer of racing, Whole Athlete / Specialized shone brightly at the 2015 National Championships with three titles and five medals. The high elevation of Mammoth Mountain saw winning performances by Cypress Gorry (U23), Christopher Blevins (Junior 17/18), and Haley Batten (Junior 17/18 Women). And joining their teammates on the podium were Anders Johnson, 2nd place in Junior Men and Kelsey Urban, 3rd in Junior Women.

Gorry 1st - U23, Blevins 1st, Johnson 2nd - Junior 17/18, Batten 1st, Urban 3rd - Junior Women 17/18

The U23 race came down to an exciting two-man battle that played out on the very last lap, as Gorry timed his final effort to perfection to come into the finishing straight alone. And despite the deep effort to win the U23 cross country, Gorry came back the following day to place 4th in the Pro Men's Short Track Event! 

Gorry's breakout year continues with the U23 national title. (photo: PB Creative)

In the Junior Men's race, Blevins showed why he's ranked #1 in the world, distancing himself on the first lap and steadily building his lead to the finish. 

Blevins set a blistering pace, leading from start to finish.
(photo: Kenny Wehn)

Also world-ranked #1, Batten took the Junior Women's title in similar fashion, with a flawless three laps of the climbing-intensive, low-oxygen course. 

A happy Batten earning the stars and stripes.

Not to be overlooked were the powerful podium performances of Johnson and Urban in 2nd and 3rd, amid highly competitive Junior fields.

Johnson continues his upward trajectory with an impressive silver medal. (photo: PB Creative)

A solid 3rd place finish for Urban. (photo: PB Creative)

Cypress Gorry is U23 National Champion.

Christopher Blevins and Anders Johnson go 1-2.

Haley Batten and Kelsey Urban 1st and 3rd. 

Next up for the Whole Athlete / Specialized Team:
August 2nd: U23 World Cup #7 - Mont Saint Anne, CAN
August 9th: U23 World Cup #8 - Windham, NY
September 4th: Junior and U23 World Championships - Valnord, Andorra

Stay tuned for more exciting news!