Wednesday, April 18, 2018

From Bonelli to Belgium, Fontana to France, Whole Athlete p/b DNA Riders Achieving Global Success

Racing in four countries on two continents over the past few weeks, Whole Athlete p/b DNA riders have had an impressive start to the 2018 season with multiple international podiums.

At the first North American Junior UCI Series race in British Columbia, Kevin Vermaerke kicked off his 2018 World Championship quest with his first of three consecutive podium finishes. First-year U23 Savilia Blunk and Kelsey Urban also featured at the Canada Cup, both landing in the top-10 of a strong Pro women's field. Vermaerke followed his solid Canadian ride with two more podiums at the Fontana-Bonelli Junior UCI Series double these past two weekends in highly competitive international fields, while Finn Gullickson rounded out the top-10 at the Fontana XC, showing his building form as well. 

Kevin Vermaerke
Vermaerke doing the national champ jersey proud. (photo: PB Creative)

Meanwhile on the cobbles of Northern Europe, Quinn Simmons and Nolan Jenkins jumped in the deep end of the world-level road racing pool, taking on Junior Gent Wevelgem and Paris Roubaix for the first time. Simmons surprised and impressed many with a breakthrough podium finish at Gent Wevelgen, followed by 3rd overall at the highly competitive Belgian stage race Ster van Zuid Limburg, and then a hard-fought 7th place finish at Paris Roubaix -even after being taken down in a crash and suffering a flat tire in the final sections of pave'. Simmons then rode to another podium finish at the Bonelli Junior UCI XC after flying back to the US just days prior. 

Whole Athlete p/b DNA
Simmons thrived on the cobbled roads of Northern Europe.

Not to be outdone by her teammates, up and coming 16-year-old Gabbi Richardson was equally impressive with four podium finishes in four national-class races at the Fontana and Bonelli ProXCTs, including a breakout win at the Bonelli Short Track in the 15-18 field.

Gabbi Richardson
Richardson finished on the podium in every race entered at Fontana and Bonelli. (photo: PB Creative)

Kevin Vermaerke
Simmons' podium finish at Gent Wevelgem auto-qualifies him for the road World Championship Team.

Vermaerke, Simmons
Vermaerke and Simmons land a hard-fought, international podium at Bonelli.

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


Next up for the Whole Athlete p/b DNA Team:

04/21/18 Sea Otter ProXCT #3 - Monterey, CA
05/06/18 Soldier Hollow ProXCT #4 (Junior UCI Series) - Soldier Hollow, UT
06/09/18 Missoula ProXCT #5 (Junior UCI Series) - Missoula, MT


Stay tuned for more exciting news!

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