2023 USA Cyling XC Nationals (Heartbreak)

I arrived at Nationals a few days early, staying in a federal-style row house from the early 1900s in Allentown, PA. I only know that because my dad is an architect and he mentioned it more than once. The environment was lush, hot, and humid—a stark contrast to the dry landscapes I'm accustomed to in Sedona. Heat quickly became a concern, evident as I sweated carrying luggage to the house.

The race venue, nestled in a ski resort, promised a challenging course with ski mountains, chair lifts, and alpine surroundings. Eager to explore, I pedaled through the course, realizing a strong start would be crucial. An uphill single track near the start created a bottleneck, and with 120+ riders in my group, the stage was set for early chaos.

The long course (XCO) headed uphill away from the start/finish, then turned back on a fast downhill. Once near the base area, the course went out again on an even steeper climb and back to the finish on a final technical descent. The track was the hardest of the year, perfect for nationals. The climbs were steep. The last downhill was rocky, with roots for almost a mile, and with the moisture, it was greasy. All this played to my strengths.

I race in the Jr. Men's 15-16 category, one of the largest fields. For the XCO course, there were over 170 racers registered, but only 120 would be allowed to start. Two qualifiers would eliminate 50-ish riders.

My qualifier on 7/6 had 83 racers. I was on the front row because of my good results during the season, but I could lose the front row with a poor qualifier result; the goal was to get in the top ten. This was nerve-racking, but I was feeling good and was ready.

The start gun went off. I had a clean start. The pace was high, but I was in second heading into the uphill single track. Here is a video of the start and the huge bottleneck created by the course narrowing:

I was on Tyler Lambert’s wheel in the single track. There was a line of riders behind me. It was tight and technical; there was no passing. When the course opened up, I got around Tyler and road alone for the win. I knew my fitness was good.

Issues! Once we got back to our place, I started feeling terrible. It was heat exhaustion. I jumped in an ice bath and started pounding Pedialyte and water. I found out later several racers had similar problems. Luckily, I woke up the next day feeling better.

Race day arrived, bringing a mix of nerves and anticipation. Because it only comes once a year, the national championship has a build-up and extra pressure. All the other racers wanted it as bad as I did. You can feel the nervous energy from the parents lining the starting line, too.

I was called-up second, which was an accomplishment in itself. I focused on the task at hand and blocked out the distractions. I had a good start on the gun. I was in fifth, heading into the single track. Like the qualifier, I reached the front when the course opened. Only Mason Salazar was a head, and Ben Bravman was behind me - both dangerous boys. We had a gap from the rest. I wanted to get to the downhill before Mason, but he beat me to it. I stayed on him and passed him with an aggressive but clean move. This propelled me into the lead and after a few minutes of navigating the treacherous descent I solidified my position in the front.

Mason leading into the downhill, me chasing, then Ben.

Me just after passing Mason to take lead.

I continued to hammer the downhill. It was technical but similar to Sedona riding; I was in my playground. I came out of the descent and into the feed. My dad handed me a new bottle, and I was through. Still, there was no one behind me. I’d find out later I had a minute lead at that point.

Me in the lead on the second lap.

As the race unfolded, I tried not to think about winning; I kept pushing. All the boys behind are fast and will never give up. I was wrapping up the second lap when I noticed my rear tire was low. I had punctured. OMG! I was freaking out. In a flash, I jumped off my bike, but had a hard time getting the presta valve cap off. Come on! No one has trouble with the valve cap! My hands were shaking and not working right from the bumpy downhill. I finally got it off.

This is where I made my first mistake. I should have remained calm, but I wasn’t. I was frantic. Then, I should have found the puncture and plugged it. I didn’t. I thought the fresh Stands in my tire would stop the leak if I hit the tire with air. As I filled my tire, a rider flew past, then another and another. Once back on my bike, I was in sixth. I had to stop again and again to fill my tire with air. I knew the win had slipped away.

Ultimately, I limped through the final lap, but not after crashing several times on the downhill because of the bad tire. I finish in 12th. Ben Bravman won. I am still devastated. I was so close to winning. Here is an image of me coming through the finish line. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

2023 XC Mtn. Nationals - River Valdez P12 after puncture

While crushed by having a mechanical during the most important race of the season, I didn’t have time to be depressed. I had the Short Track two days later with another shot at a national championship.

Like the XCO, there was a qualifier that would narrow my large group to 40 riders. It would be challenging since the short track is not my specialty. The bigger, more powerful riders do better in this discipline.

The morning of the qualifier was raining, but the course was still in good shape. I was getting acclimated to the high humidity. I was motivated to redeem myself from the XCO. The qualifier started; it was bar to bar, and the pace was high. I was in the front group of 8-10 the entire time. I was pushing but still saving myself for the afternoon final. I finished in second place, which was perfect.

A few hours later, the 40 finalists gathered at the staging area to determine this year’s short track national champion. I was on the front row, and as I looked to my right and left, there were only national champions, state champions, and US Pro Cup winners around me. Aside from stiff competition, the weather would play a significant factor.  

It was raining hard as we waited for the start gun. My kit, helmet, and gloves were already soaked. My glasses were foggy from the humidity, with raindrop beads all over them. We heard reports that the earlier races were shortened since the track was in poor condition. Here is the actu: 115-16 2023 Nationals Short Track.

If you can’t view the video. The weather played a big factor. The course was greasy, especially on the downhill, a slalom course with a series of jumps and rollers. Visibility was awful. I had to disregard my glass halfway through, but then got mud in my eyes and was blinded intermittently.

8-10 riders were battling for position all race long. The BYRD riders were controlling on the penultimate and final laps. I was in the front group (in fourth) but couldn’t take the lead, I was on my limit and beaten by the weather.

From my position, I saw Ben Bravman move from second to first by making an aggressive but clean pass on the final downhill. He then held the lead to the finish. I came in fourth.

2023 Short Track Nationals Podium

Reflecting on the races, I recognize the highs and lows of competition. Whether overcoming heat exhaustion or battling a punctured tire, each race is a learning experience. The Short Track podium, while not the ultimate victory, fuels my determination to continue improving. As I trust the process, I look ahead to future races, eager for the big win I've been striving for.