2014 USA Cycling XC Mountain Bike Nationals Mens U23

      Like stated in my Pre-National Blog http://jonstuder.blogspot.com/2014/07/pre-usa-cycling-xc-mountain-bike.html the 2014 USA Cycling cross country mountain bike nationals was located at Bear Creek Resort just south of Allentown PA. This was the second year for this location. I decided for this race I was going to race the U23 class. As mentioned in the previous blog, I was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr which is a form of mono a month before the race. I was advised to back the training off just a little the weeks before the race and just power through the race. So the weeks going up to the race I didn't do much speed work. I just rode typical rides. Some rides has some short sprints through the single track but most of the time the rides were laid back.


      I raced on July 18th which was a Friday. The U23 classes and Cat 1 junior classes rode the pro course. I was able to put in a lap of the course on the day before. I should have done more laps but I needed to save myself for the following day and realistically more time on the course wouldn't have done much good. This course was very challenging. It had a lot of climbing and a lot of rocks. After the lap on Thursday, I went back to the hotel and made a few bike changes and just tried to relax for the race the following day.


     The morning of the race I got in a good warm up on the rollers and some riding around on the race bike. I got up the start area once it was time and then the officials proceeded to line us up as we were seated. I was seated 40th out of 45. Not very good but considering 5 riders had UCI points I couldn't be to upset with starting in the back. As the race started the group took off like a rocket. Unfortunately with having mono I was unable to put in the fast pace to keep up with the group. I tried my best to stay on the wheel of the rider in front of me but I just had nothing in my legs. It felt like I was dragging an anchor. Racing with mono is the most frustrating experience I have ever had. As the race went on I just tried to keep the bike on two wheels and not crash. After the first lap I started to get in the groove and just tried to ride hard and finish the race with out any injuries or mechanicals. I had plenty of issues getting through the rock gardens and struggled with the climbs. Normally the climbs are my strong point but the illness truly messed up any chances of having a solid finish. The 4 laps that I did were getting better and better but between the illness and the heat I felt like I was out for a easy stroll through the resort. I have never felt that weak on a bike. I came across the finish 1 lap down and in 35th place out of 45. I was scored of being 2 laps down.


    After the race I was really upset with myself. I knew I could have done much better if I was healthy. I felt slightly embarrassed about how I rode. Like most people I am harder on myself that others are so I just was upset with myself for the first few hours after the race. I was upset knowing that I could have been in the top 25 if I was healthy. I put so much emphasis on this race all season long and its what I trained so hard for in the off season and the early races. Since this was my last year in the U23 class I wanted to go off with a strong finish and get my name out there in the sport. I felt like I let people down with my results.  On the drive home I was able to think things through and have some great conversations with my dad and friends. They put things into perspective for me. The top riders in that class are some of the top riders in the world cups and are getting paid to ride. I'm just a typical college student who does this out of my own pocket with the help of my parents. I don't get paid for this. I have some amazing sponsors but it's nothing compared to a factory ride. Also a lot of these riders have been riding for year. This is only my second year racing mountain bike and only my 4th year riding bicycles competitively. I really haven't been around the sport that long and to already have my Cat 1 card is a great accomplishment.


    The experience I had with this race was amazing. I got to ride a course that had elements that are not even close to the stuff that I ride in Michigan. I got a chance to compete with some of the best U23 (19-22) riders in the country. I didn't get any injures or have any bike problems. I learned so much about how I need to be setting up my bikes. This race was like no other. It really reminded me of the motocross world. You can be one of the top riders in your home state but when you take that to a national level you can be just another rider in the class and nothing special. The opportunity to race in a state that I have never been to was great. I have never got a chance to see that part of the country before so that was an experience  in it self. Even though my results were not what I was hoping for or what I know I could have done it I was healthy it was a great experience and I am happy for taking the risk of going out there knowing that I was going to struggle with this illness. I had many thoughts about giving up the trip because I was ill but I am so damn happy that I didn't give that up. It was so fun.


I want to thank those who help me the most. I couldn't do this with out you. From sponsors to friends or family. You are all equally as important to my racing and I couldn't thank you enough


Mom and Dad
Sister and Niece
Cody and Wes Sovis
Eric Statt
Jason Luther
Sault Cycling Club
Breakaway Bicycles of Muskegon
Hammer Nutrition
Crank Brothers
Schwalbe Tires
Spy Optics

Pre- USA Cycling XC Mountain Bike Nationals

    The 2014 USA Cycling XC Mounain Bike Nationals are going back to Bear Creek Resort in Mucungie, PA on July 17-20th. This will be the second year the race will be taking place at this locations. Going into the 2014 season I told myself that if the national race was in PA again for 2014 I would attempt to qualify and go race. This year is the last year I am able to ride the U23 age group and I know if I want to get my name out there going to Nationals is a great opportunity. Once I found out that the race was going to be going back to PA for 2014 I started getting everything around to start planning my season. I had help from friends that gave me information on how to qualify. As stated in my previous blog  http://jonstuder.blogspot.com/2014/05/lake-island-induction-may-10-2014.html, I qualified fairly easy.

    The past few months I have been doing races that I know would help me get in shape fast and be ready for this big race. Hanson Hills 100 was the exception. That race was just something I've been wanting to do for a few year's now. Starting off the season strong at Mud Sweat and Beers and the Lake Island Induction was a great confidence booster after a disappointing off season. The week leading up to Hanson Hills 100 I started getting really tired and the weeks to follow that long race I was sleeping a lot and just not riding as well as I would have hoped. Of course I didn't realize this till a week or so after the Chain Drive Fest. After my roommate pointed out to me how much I as actually sleeping during the day and after a rough hill workout a few weeks ago I got the feeling something was wrong. I first thought that I was having an anemic problem so I went in and got a blood test. I got tested for mono and that came back negative so they took some blood to test. A few days later I was called about the results. The test came back saying I have the Epstein-Bar virus. At this time nationals was only a month away. Of course the doctors didn't give me much instruction on how to deal with this besides to sleep and hydrate. They told me to get some pills called "Under the Weather". I also got on a supplement diet of Multivitamin, fish oil and iron supplements. Thankfully I have very helpful friends who have been through this. So after a handful of tips and trick to beat this virus and be able to power through nationals I got a good idea on what I need to be doing.

    So going into this race that is next week I have a good idea on how I can perform. I'm working on getting in the mindset and making sure I'm rested up and ready to perform. I took a week off the bike because of the crazy week of work I had last week and just to give myself a break to get recharged and re motivated. I am also getting both mountain bikes ready to go. Both bikes have fresh Schwalbe tires on them and all set up with Stans No Tube system. Both bike have fresh or fairly fresh matching ESI grips. I got back on the bike this past Sunday and Monday to test out the tires on each bike to make sure the glue would stick and I had no leaks in the rims. I know the level of competition that I will be facing at this race and I'm excited to race against these types of riders to see how I will do. Having this virus is not ideal and I wish I was healthy but there is not much I can do at this point. So my expectations for this is to go out and ride like I know how to and just have fun with this experience. My goal for this race back in February was to go out and get my name out into the mountain bike world. I know the training I have has up to this point is fairly solid so the goal is to go race hard and have no regrets. From what friends have told me about this course it is rough and rocky so to come out safe.

Here is a preview of the course

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQCMxr6-z-0


Thank You to all my sponsors and the people that have helped me get to this point

Breakaway Bicycles of Muskegon
Mom and Dad
Hammer Nutrition
Schwalbe Tires
Spy Optics
Eric Statt (LSSU Exercises Science Professor)
Cody and Wes Sovis