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Greetings!
This month, we have a contribution from ACA Board member Chris Case, 2011 Cross Cup Champion and Managing Editor of Velo magazine. Thanks Chris for sharing!
On a misty May day - knowing I'd be traveling to the Tour of California for a week, unable to ride my bike while I worked the pro peloton for Velo magazine - I headed out for a hard block of climbing intervals. First was the climb to NCAR; then the iconic SuperFlag. Next up was Sunshine Canyon. As I approached the wall above Poorman Gulch, someone in full Team Astana kit passed me. Usually those who might wear such a kit are recreational riders that would rarely pass me. So, I jumped on the wheel and soon spotted his team sticker on his top tube. It was Janez Brajkovic, former teammate to Lance Armstrong in his Team RadioShack days, and winner of the 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné, arguably the second most important race in France. So I sat back there waiting for the opportunity to cruise up beside him and introduce myself. When it leveled off I did just that, apologizing for not taking any pulls.
"Why aren't you out in California?" I asked.
"Not invited," was his rather stoic response.
"Will you be doing the Dauphiné, then Tour?"
"Yup."
It was obvious that he didn't much feel like conversation. Who could blame him? I followed his pace until the climb turned to dirt, where I had intended to turn around. "Have a great ride," I said.
"Yup."
When I did my first race, I was in graduate school in Austin, Texas. I didn't start out as a cyclist, mind you. I just got on my road bike -- complete with hairy legs, prescription wireframe glasses, possibly with baggy shorts when I was feeling nonconformist -- and rode my heart out. It took me a year or so before I really turned the page. I started racing more, I looked outside of collegiate races, and entered my first USA Cycling event. That day at Lago Vista was eye opening; I attacked from the start and never looked back. I finished well ahead of the pack not really knowing what I'd done. Strong but stupid? Sandbagging? Showing off? None of these things really entered my mind. I was just riding my bike.
Once I moved to Colorado, I started to diversify my riding, while simultaneously finding my niche. I discovered cyclocross; I confirmed that climbing was for me.
When I was asked to be on the Board of Directors of the ACA, I didn't hesitate. I wanted to be more involved in my passion in any way that I could, to learn more about the sport, to meet the people that bring world-class racing and racers to our small part of the globe.
And, though I was on the brink of applying to Ph.D. programs in clinical neuroscience, when the opportunity came along to become managing editor of Velo magazine, I didn't bat an eye. Now I get to see the world of cycling from at least three distinct perspectives: through my own race experiences, from within the organization that helps to promote and organize the races within our state, and through the lens of the media and, with it, the professional racers we so admire.
As so many of you already know, that's the power of cycling. In many ways, most of them exceptional, cycling can redirect your aspirations. Yes, I've probably missed out on the occasional backpacking trip to the mountains. But, I've found a passion that will bring me satisfaction in myriad ways: through an invigorated community, by achieving a shared vision, through international experiences, and by bringing an element of the professional stage to the local race.
Who knew that the kid that once chased cars on his BMX bike until he nearly made himself sick would end up riding up Sunshine Canyon on a sleepy Sunday afternoon with one of the 200 or so riders who can claim to be truly professional in cycling?
I surely didn't. Thank you, cycling.
Chris Case
As always, the ACA website - www.coloradocycling.org - is your best source for Colorado racing information. Please contact ACA staff if you need help with licenses, permits, schedules, upgrades - anything racing related. Thanks for sharing this e-newsletter with your friends and family.
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ACA Alum and Colorado Native Timmy Duggan
is National Road Racing Champion!
Thank you Velo Magazine for this story and photo.
Timmy Duggan (Liquigas-Cannondale, Nederland, Colorado) won the 2012 USA Cycling Professional National Championship Road Race after attacking solo from the leading group inside 15 miles from the finish of the 181 kilometer race.
"It's one of the most satisfying days of my career," said Duggan. "It's incredible... I've been thinking about this for a long time and it's exactly how it happened."
Sensing a lull after the final climb, Duggan rolled off the front of the lead group shortly before the start of the first of the three 3.8-mile closing circuits. He took a quick gap, put his head down and worked his way into a 25-second advantage with two laps remaining. "When the moment's right, you go all out," said Duggan. "You can't look back. It's kind of simple... You don't have room for error or mistakes." And Duggan made none.
"Once (Duggan) got a pretty [good] gap, we got together and started working," said Tejay van Garderen. "But by that time, it was too late."
"For everything to fall into place, especially for me, I'm not going to win a 60-man sprint or anything," said Duggan. "I just took this race kilometer-by-kilometer, didn't think too much and took it how it was."
Timmy Duggan started his racing with the ACA Junior Development Program, and says, "The ACA was an absolutely integral part of my development from a clueless local cyclist to a ProTour rider. The amount and variety of races and training opportunities provided me an excellent skill foundation for my career. Most importantly I could draw from the vast knowledge and experience from the ACA's tight community of riders! Every event was a chance to learn, improve, and have fun!"
From all of us here in Colorado, congratulations to Timmy, his family, and all who contributed to this amazing achievement!
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2012 State Championships this Month
Check the Event Calendar for this month's
State Championship event flyers:
the John Stenner Memorial State Time Trial,
the Colorado Elite State Track Championships,
and
the Masters Criterium Championships
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Meet an ACA Board Member Rachel Scott 
Rachel grew up in Tennessee and is a non-profit professional working at the Colorado Mountain Club. She enjoys hiking, mountain bike riding, and all forms of bicycle racing. Rachel helps manage the Naked Womens Racing p/b Tribella racing team, and coordinates the Riding For Reading book drive each spring. Rachel lives in Golden and loves living in Colorado! Her enthusiasm, energy and positive thinking are infectious, and Rachel is a great attribute to our organization.
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Team Evergreen Racing - Who are These Guys and Gals?
Team Evergreen Racing (TER) is part of the Team Evergreen Bicycle Club, the largest cycling club in Colorado. Founded in 1988, Team Evergreen is a non-profit 503(c)(4) organization, with ~1,000 members. Team Evergreen is deeply involved in bicycle and community organizations, and their goal is to support and promote the sport of cycling through advocacy, community building, road and off-road riding, racing and junior development programs. Team Evergreen produces the Triple Bypass, and Team Evergreen Racing directs the Bob Cook Memorial/Mt Evans Hill Climb each year. Thank you Team Evergreen Racing for your contributions to the ACA Junior Development Program.
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Upcoming Events
See all the race flyers on the
ACA Event Calendar
as the great racing continues!
Junior Road Camp- June 8, 9, 10 at CSU. Juniors - get ready to have a great weekend, improve your riding skills, learn about training, nutrition, and bicycle basics. Registration for the 2012 Junior Road Camp is now available on MadSync.
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Extra Big Thank Yous The ACA is incredibly fortunate to work with many fantastic people and clubs who help with our signature events. Special thanks to:
Alan Boisvert, Keith Rennison and Lima Beans Cycling for their work with the KHMTT Series at Cherry Creek and the Bear Creek Lake Time Trial Series Bill Sommers and Two Rivers Cycling for their work with the 2012 Colorado Mini Classic p/b the USA Pro Challenge Ed Greivel, Schwab Cycles and Yvonne van Gent for their work with the John Stenner State Time Trial Championships Clint Bickmore and Jon Heidemann for their work with the 2012 Junior Road Camp
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Chris McGee
Executive Director
Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado - the ACA
1010 Washington Avenue, Suite 200
Golden, CO 80401
303-458-5538
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