Champions Converge at Catamount

Recently crowned Short Track Junior National Champion,
Powless powers his way to a podium finish in the Pro Men's 17+ race.

The Catamount Classic in Vermont marked the final race of the ProXCT series and an opportunity for newly crowned Whole Athlete/Specialized Champions to compete in the stars and stripes. 

Following a podium finish in the internationally competitive UCI Junior XC on Saturday, Neilson Powless rode an inspired Pro Short Track to a 4th place podium finish on Sunday as well. Sean Bennett scored 6th place in the UCI Junior XC, and will join Powless in representing the US at the World Championships in Norway in early September. 

A focused Batten negotiates the slick, muddy course on her way to victory in the Junior 15/16 XC.

Haley Batten led the charge in muddy conditions with a victory in the Junior Women's 15/16 race, while Mike Mace not only won the Under-15 category, but took the overall in the Cat 1 field. Kelsey Urban and Veda Gerasimek rounded out the Junior Women's top-5 in 4th and 5th, as Cole Avery scored 5th in the Junior 15/16 men's race.

Williams soars toward a 6th place finish in the Pro Men's XC. 

And with an impressive 6th place finish in the Pro cross country race, U23 rider Casey Williams showed he's ready to tackle the two upcoming World Cups in Quebec and New York.

XC National Champions Batten and Mace do the jerseys proud with wins in their respective cross country events.

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

Next up:
7/31 U23 World Cup #5 - Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec, CAN
8/07 U23 World Cup #6 - Windam, NY
9/04 Junior and U23 World Championships - Hafjell, Norway

Stay tuned for more exciting news!

National Championships to Remember

Haley Batten on her way to defending the Junior 15/16 XC title. She would go on to win the Super-D as well.

The Whole Athlete/Specialized Team was truly impressive at the 2014 Cross Country National Championships at Bear Creek Resort in Pennsylvania, earning seven Junior Titles and 14 medals. Overcoming numerous flats and mechanical challenges out on the technical, rocky courses, the young riders showed tenacity and dedication throughout.

Mike Mace wins both the 13/14 Cross Country and Super-D.

An ecstatic Sean Bennett overcame a first lap flat to come back for the XC win.

Christopher Blevins defending the 15/16 XC title, even after a flat tire and wheel change. (photo: Mark Avery)

Young Pennsylvanian Veda Gerasimek rode to a podium finish in both the Junior 15/16 XC and Super-D.

Cypress Gorry earned two top-10s, with 7th in the U23 XC and 10th in the Pro Short Track. (photo: Mark Avery)

Casey Williams flew to 4th in the U23 XC and 3rd in the Pro Super-D.

Kelsey Urban hit the podium twice behind teammate Batten with 2nd in both XC and Super-D. (photo: Mark Avery)

Neilson Powless flatted out of the lead in the XC, only to have to run most of the course to the tech zone.
He would get his redemption by winning the Short Track Title two days later. (photo: Mark Avery)

Blevins celebrates Powless's Short Track victory, and a Whole Athlete/Specialized 1-2.

Cole Avery guts it out to finish after bad luck and punctures ended his podium hopes. (photo: Mark Avery)

Another victim of punctures in the XC, Silas Blunk powers on in the Short Track.

Zach Peterson was also the victim of sharp rocks with a flat, but soldiered on to finish strongly. (photo: Mark Avery)

Powless, Blevins, and Bennett go 1-2-4 in the Short Track.

Bennett is Junior 17/18 National Champion.

Batten, Urban, and Gerasimek go 1-2-4 in the Junior 15/16 XC.

After taking 2nd in the Short Track, Mace earns the 13/14 XC Title. He would add the Super-D victory to his weekend accomplishments as well.

Blevins with his second consecutive Junior 15/16 National Title.

The Super-D Medalists celebrate.

Bennett and Blevins, Junior XC Champs. (photo: Mark Avery)

The unsung heros of the team, mechanics Josh Snead and Chris Slack. (photo: Mark Avery)

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

Next up for Whole Athlete/Specialized:

7/26 ProXCT #7 - Catamount, VT
7/31 World Cup #5 - Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec, CAN
8/07 World Cup #6 - Windam, NY
9/04 World Championships - Hafjell, Norway

Wisconsin Podiums for Whole Athlete/Specialized Juniors

Batten and Urban go 1-2 in both Short Track and Cross Country!

Serving as the final tune up for the National Championships later this week, the Wisconsin ProXCT proved to be a series of podiums for Whole Athlete/Specialized Juniors. Haley Batten and Kelsey Urban were flawless, going 1-2 in both the Short Track and Cross Country races, while U-15 rider Mike Mace followed suit with wins in both events as well.

Mace wins the U-15 Cross Country.

Zach Peterson and Silas Blunk also went 1-2 in the Junior Men's Short Track, then 2nd and 3rd in the Cat 1 open Cross Country. Cole Avery showed that he's on form for Nationals with a 2nd place finish in the Junior 15/16 XC, while Veda Gerasimek rounded out the team's top-10 results with 8th in the Cat 1 Women's race. 

Peterson and Blunk race to a 1-2 Junior Short Track finish.

Peterson and Blunk top the Junior STXC podium.

Batten and Urban make their winning move in the women's short track race.

Mace wins the U-15 Short Track.

Avery with a solid 2nd place finish in the Junior 15/16 XC.

Blunk and Peterson go 2-3 in the Cat 1 combined XC.

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

Next up for Whole Athlete/Specialized:

7/18 XC National Championships - Bear Creek, PA
7/26 ProXCT #7 - Catamount, VT
7/31 World Cup #5 - Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec, CAN
8/07 World Cup #6 - Windham, NY

Whole Athlete/Specialized Riders Shine at Road Nationals

Blevins wins both Junior 15/16 Road and Criterium National Titles.

Taking a brief hiatus from the dirt to compete in the 2014 Road, Time Trial, and Criterium National Championships, Juniors Christopher Blevins, Neilson Powless, and Sean Bennett joined U23 Jacob Albrecht in Wisconsin over the weekend...And the boys did not disappoint.

Blevins was nearly flawless, winning both Junior 15/16 Road Race and Criterium National Titles, as well as earning 3rd place in the Time Trial. Powless also set a fast time in the TT, finishing 4th against an extremely competitive Junior 17/18 field. Bennett followed suit with 4th in the 17/18 Criterium, confirming the Whole Athlete/Specialized Juniors' bike racing depth. All three will transition back to the dirt for the XC National Championships in Pennsylvania next week.

Powless rides to a 4th place finish in the TT.

Bennett on his way to a top-5 finish in the Criterium. (photo: Tim Aiken)

Making a full transition from MTB to road this season and progressing from Cat 3 to Cat 1 in only few short months, Albrecht underscored his progress with a strong 14th place finish in the 160-rider strong road race. He will continue his breakout season at the Cascade Classic in Oregon later this month. 

Albrecht motors the U23 TT. (photo: deanwarrenphotography.com)

A 160-rider peleton taking on the U23 road race.

Blevins takes the win!

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

Next up for Whole Athlete/Specialized:

7/12 ProXCT#6 - Portage, WI
7/18 XC National Championships - Bear Creek, PA
7/26 ProXCT #7 - Catamount, VT
7/31 World Cup #5 - Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec, CAN
8/07 World Cup #6 - Windham, NY 

Stay tuned for more exciting news!

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ProXCT Racing Heats Up at Colorado Springs

Williams giving it all in the Short Track.

At sharp contrast to the humid Montana "Hub of Five Valleys", the ProXCT series continued with the fifth round in the desert-like Southern Rockies of Colorado Springs. With temperatures in the 90s at 6400 ft. elevation, the riders were challenged by both the competition and conditions.

Haley Batten kicked off the Whole Athlete/Specialized Team's weekend with a solo victory in the Junior Women 15-18 race, while teammate Kelsey Urban embraced the heat and high elevation, finishing 6th.

Batten hammers in the heat of the Springs.

Battling a competitive junior men's field, Silas Blunk landed a solid 6th place finish as he builds toward XC Nationals. And wrapping up the weekend with his best ProXCT finish to date, Casey Williams earned a hard fought 11th place in the Pro Men's Short Track. 

Blunk in pursuit on the loose descent.

Urban focused at the bottom of the XC descent.

Batten wins the Junior Women combined.

Staying cool and hydrated in the dry Colorado Springs heat.

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

Next up for Whole Athlete/Specialized:

7/12 ProXCT#6 - Portage, WI
7/18 XC National Championships - Bear Creek, PA
7/26 ProXCT #7 - Catamount, VT
7/31 World Cup #5 - Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec, CAN
8/07 World Cup #6 - Windam, NY