Ali Goulet is turning lots of heads this season. Between dominating the USGP and winning the Utah State Championship people are starting to see, the Big Ring is strong in this one. Check out the new feature on our man over at Velonews, big time bro, big time.
Ali and the rest of TheChurchofTheBigRing/RealCyclist.com team are in the final stages of our season and are bringing the show on the road to the big show, Cross Nats in Bend. If you are there come find us, we will have tent set up with the latest in Big Ring gear, a cooler of beer and bumpin’ tunes. Stop by and shoot the shit. Ali is not our only podium shot, we are gonna come out guns blazing and hopefully walk away with some hardware. The whole crew is super motivated. Ya, racing is serious business and all too but we are all looking forward to blowing off some steam in a big way after the racing is done, usually plenty of good parties to attend after the elite race on Sunday. Plus I hear Bend has some great local brews.
So who are you picks for the Elite races? For the women it will be the Katie Compton show, no real surprises there. Still the old school in me would love to see Alison Dunlop conjure up some of her old mojo. The mens race will be a real battle this year, I think the level of parity is at an all time high. The C’Dale team has been running the table like the Saturn bullies of old (I see Bart Bowen is in my Master race). Trebon is racing in front of a home town crowd and when it comes to pure horsepower not many here in America can touch him when he is rolling, plus Wicks seems to be coming around so maybe those 2 can stand up to the C’Dale machine. Jonathon Page is always a question mark, he got the hole shot at last weekends Super Prestige and held on for a solid 15th. It wasn’t too long ago that the only question around him was how much would he win by. (his win in Napa was one of the most impressive rides I have ever seen) but US cross aint no joke, he can win but it is far from a sure thing. On the mens side I am gonna go with J Pow, Jeremy Powers. He has looked good all year and is just coming off being sick so I think he may have a little more in the tank than the others. He has the speed, the team and the skills.
Powers FTW!
Ali in 35+ … duh!
Katie will go horizon on the chicks.
And I’ve given Ali a new nickname…he’s now “The Franchise”!
Bend will be going off this week. Tons of parties every night. The race is being held on Deschutes Brewery property. The beer garden will be open from 8am to 6pm every day. Be sure to check out Bend Brewing Co. and the locals favorite Silver Moon Brewery for more great beers.
oh yeah, we got 6 inches of snow yesterday and it is super cold. It is supposed to stay cold all week. That should make for some interesting racing.
I bet Adam Craig lights it up on Sunday for the home town crowd, but it’s Trebon to win.