tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44218612833136181792024-03-18T20:57:57.364-07:00Keough Cyclocrosskeough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-43594605447418889922009-02-13T08:10:00.000-08:002009-02-13T09:07:24.512-08:00Texas TrainingHowdy Y'all,<br /> only been here for a few days and the lingo is already starting to rub off. OK not quite but everyone here really does talk like that, and I have already got crap for not pronouncing my R's. I flew to San Antonio on Wed. the 11th of Feb. one week before the start of the KBS team camp to get some warm weather miles in. Our General Manager Ken Mills invited me to come stay at his house and train before and after the camp. A very generous offer and being from NJ he knows how rough the east coast winters are. My flight with South West airlines went super smooth and I actually arrived early into Texas(how often does that happen?!). I walked outside the airport and it was almost 80 degrees and I was way over dressed! We got back to Kens nice home just outside San Antonio and I hit the hay early. In the morning I set up my new Gary Fisher road bike. A quick note on the bike. I wasn't sure what to expect of it as I hadn't seen or heard much about our new team bikes before arriving. After setting it up identical to my Lemond (the geometry is the same which is great as I don't have to change my postion) Dave Veilleux and I went out for a 3 hour spin. To my surprise the bike felt the same as my old bike with the added springiness of aluminum. Yeah that's right the frame is full aluminum. We are going to have carbon bikes soon but for now this seems like a good crit bike and a real warrior. My race bike is outfitted with full Sram Red while my training bie has full Force. Bontrager provides great stem handle bar, tape and wheel selections while I ride my tried and true Selle Italia Flite Team addition saddle. It will really be an advantage for me not to have to switch all of my equpment this winter and I am super comfortable on my bike already. I'll let you know how it really goes once I do sprints on it. The training was really good, winds out of the south and really rolling terrain. It is actually just like the training I did in Chapel Hill last winter except 30 degrees warmer!! We rode a gravel road for 15km and crossed a pretty knarly stream! All of my cross skill are really paying off! I have some long miles planned for this weekend with some more specific stuff next week. More on the training later. For now I have to go put in the miles, check back for an update next week when our official team camp starts! See Ya!keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-31864776150816527052009-02-11T12:02:00.000-08:002009-02-11T12:48:38.112-08:00Thank You All So MuchLuke and I are now back from Holland, and I'd really like to take this oppertunity to say Thank You to everyone who contributed to our fundraiser and made our trips possible. I was deeply touched at all of the support that both my friends and family and the cycling communtiy gave to our family. I hope that there is some way that I can repay the favor to all of you because you have given us the ability to take advantage of the oppertunity of a lifetime.<br /><br />As most of you know. Luke headed over to Europe two weeks earlier than I did to race in the final round of the World Cup Series in Roubaix, France. Luke had a great start, but unfortunately he was tangled up in a crash, taking him out of the lead group, on the second lap. Luke rode strongly to finish up 14th place.<br /><br />On Thursday I met up with Luke at the race Hotel in Riland, Holland, which is about 12km from the race venue in Hoogerheide. The hotel was really cool. It was an old abby that was converted into a hotel. After getting settled into my room and eating lunch, everyone headed over to the race course to get an early look at the venue. At this point the course was slightly slick and it was looking like it was going to melt even more and be quite sloppy. After riding home to the hotel to eat dinner, I pretty much passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.<br /><br />7:45 came way too early when the National team coach Geoff Proctor woke us up for his trademark morning walk before breakfast. We then proceeded to eat a breakfast of bread, deli meat, and pasta. Not your typical American bacon and eggs, but there's no reason to complain. I went out early after breakfast and did some intervals, hoping to wake my legs up after the long flight. I found a really cool cobblestone road that I went down, and it continued for as far as I could see, so I eventually turned around. When I got back I ate some lunch, and then I got back in my USA clothing to take some team photos. These photos never seem to surface, but it is always mandatory that we stand out in the cold to take them. The course had changed entirely when we pre-rode it again on Friday. It was very fast and there was no mud to be seen. I was getting pretty psyched and I was completely ready to race.<br /><br />Saturday morning Luke was selected for a random blood test at 7:00. Unfortunately, Luke passed out when they took his blood, which would throw anyone off their game. The split of 25 riders formed on the first lap, and with Luke starting on the 4th row, he was unable to make the front group. Luke chased hard for the whole race, and he picked off most of the riders that fell off the group. He ended up finishing 13th place, which was an incredible ride considering the circumstances.<br /><br />Still feeling the jet-lag I was in pretty rough shape when I woke up on Staurday, but I was so psyched to race that it didn't really matter. I started on the last row, but I was able to move my way up pretty quickly after the start. I was riding well, until I went by the pit and there was a huge pile up. I got stuck behind it and lost a lot of time. After that I couldn't find a group to get in, and on such a windy course that is basically a death sentence. I ended up finsihing by myself in 39th place, as the 3rd American finsiher. It was a bit of a dissapointment, but how often can you be completely satisfied without winning.<br /><br />Sunday was a good time. We got to stick around and watch the Elite Men's race. Let me tell you, those guys are incredible. I cannot even believe how fast they were going. I was slightly dismayed when I was told that the kid who won my race was doing comparable lap times. It's crazy over there. After watching the Elite races, we headed to the airport hotel in brussels.<br /><br />Luke and I woke up on Monday morning to find that our flight through London was cancelled. Apparently they can't handle a few inches of snowfall. I couldn't help but think how much snow it would take to slow down Boston, but I guess that's why New Englanders are just so amazing. Luckily, two of our travel companions had cell phone service, and we got our flight rescheduled for Tuesday. Ironically, Tuesday was a mirror image of Monday. Our flight through London had been shut down. I jumped into the Customer service line, and after being shuffled around for a while, I got our flight changed to go through Washington DC. We end up taking off ten minutes earlier than we would have going to London.<br /><br />We finally touched down in Boston at 11:00 P.M. Now you would assume that this is where I leave you with the happily ever after of my tale, but the shuttle that we were supposed to take was shut down for the night, and with the road being quite treacherous with snow it seemed we were stuck for the night. We then proceeded to barricade ourselves in the corner of the International Arrivals terminal, and try to get some rest for the night. Morning came for me at 1:00, and I then entertained myself until the 6:15 shuttle in the morning with my iPod, prayers of Thanksgiving, and plenty of reading.<br /><br />Talk about an adventure. This trip was absolutely amazing. Not only for the invaluable racing experince, but in every way. Everything from getting to see Luke race his last Worlds as a junior to sleeping in an airport terminal was absolutely priceless, and I just want everyone to know how incredibly grateful I am.<br /><br />THANK YOU!keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-2827279700546261782009-01-30T06:56:00.000-08:002009-01-30T07:03:13.623-08:00VeloNews Photography | Kelly Snow Camp: New Englander Matt Keough leads ... | The Journal of Competitive Cycling.<a href="http://www.velonews.com/photo/86958">VeloNews Photography Kelly Snow Camp: New Englander Matt Keough leads ... The Journal of Competitive Cycling.</a><br /><br /><strong>This really annoys me! If you are not a certain 7 time Tour de France, winner the media doesn't even care! This year it is my goal to make sure nobody ever forgets my name!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;">JAKE KEOUGH</span></strong>keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-39606446491517638882009-01-30T05:50:00.000-08:002009-01-30T07:18:44.081-08:00Kelly Benefits Winter Training Camp<div align="right">KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES PRO CYCLING TEAM 2009<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297098308179705666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNim_BuozyhBy9rwRlqatKQit1UV290odgEsiPJIQEqaccpbg01xKQRcKX3qvoioCG0yo7CCroFIb0PocFJr3PPX58-XgBFIQmDIZY0RlAqBqWVlYok4cg4D72o6WMUpIzaxZrMW71iU/s320/DSC00757.JPG" border="0" /> Just back from our first team camp of 2009. I flew out to Winter Park Colorado, where our team Director Jonas Carney lives, on Wednesday the 21st of Jan. My flight went smoothly and showed up on time. It was strange flying to a team camp with not one piece of cycling apparel, just ski gear and warm clothes. I immediately met up with the infamous El Gato(Jonny Sundt). We sat down for a cup of coffee at an airport cafe as there was some time to kill before the others arrived. We met up with Cando, and Erker, and finally Scott Zwizanski came through for us with the rental car and picked us up right in front of the terminal, what service!! The drive out to winter park was long but scenic and by the time we got there we were starved. The other half of the crew was to come in later so we went out to eat with Jonas before meeting up with the other guys at the house. We hit the sack wondering exactly what kind of "team building" activities Jonas had in store for us over the next few days.<br /><br />We woke up relatively early and were told that we were going to go conquer a Mountain on snows shoes. Being from wintry New England I had a distinct advantage over guys like Neil Shirley form San Diego who hasn't played in the snow for years! We got going straight away and hike for about an hour and a half to reach the summit. We worked as a team breaking new trail but as in any competitive group of guys we soon began a race. A few of the guys, Erk, Neil, Ryan Anderson, and Deja Vu, decided it would be best to climb straight to the top. The rest of us, myself Zach Bell, Gato, Jonas, Cando, Ried, Zwizza, and Bowman, all decided to tack back and forth across the face in order to move faster and use less energy. We made the first peak at about the same time but because our method put us further across we were actually a few minutes ahead. There was no rest and we continued at this juncture Dave and Randy bridged up to Zach Reid and Myself to make up the front group. We pushed ahead until Deja made a clutch decision to remove his snow shies on a particularly rock section. He pulled ahead of me and the gap was just too big to bring back by the summit. Dave summited about a minute ahead of me with Reid close behind. At the top we found a huge cornice and jumped off it into some waist deep powder. The trip down was not so much fun as going down in the deep snow with snowshoes just wasn't productive. Every step you took you had to take an extra 20 seconds to get you feet out of the snow. We made it down fine however and waited in the base lodge for Charles who had apparently made it most of the way up, a good distance behind us, and now for we new was lost on the mountain! He impressively made it down not far behind everyone and we headed back to the house to get warm.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUzC1chxpuP1mgS74aEfZbGKi5hSgHdqiUwyUQi_0m5Jhj8rqu4rnz7ka04jFC4WYvYEEFILYeFGJRbDfNO3TLXHDO_OgxYl_OG3UHZiDtXnlwtoMmEdymn0STpse6nEUGXvI74lNeEc/s1600-h/DSC00758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297098717142112082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUzC1chxpuP1mgS74aEfZbGKi5hSgHdqiUwyUQi_0m5Jhj8rqu4rnz7ka04jFC4WYvYEEFILYeFGJRbDfNO3TLXHDO_OgxYl_OG3UHZiDtXnlwtoMmEdymn0STpse6nEUGXvI74lNeEc/s320/DSC00758.JPG" border="0" /></a>Later in the day Dan Bowman and I decided to start the weekend long project of making the Death Sled jump in the back yard. We made the run in and first hit but the snow was too light to effectively work with so we decided to leave the rest for the next day, but not before Dan hucked off it and landed on a pretty huge stump!! We went out for Pizza with the whole team after Casey Gibson did some head shots for the Team Website.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVe-Pljo6Q0VBzkp9SAphHY5YBga9ykAO0SRf3NYdE0_MvFKljdNGh3gIoDhyphenhyphen5Fwih_diexmxYGwy9NP5I4IwdMsJR29G3jT9bRrX9e_7GedihA6YH3Es_fw1scdhH46HcoGSRz7_2vjM/s1600-h/DSC00759.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297098870657334402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVe-Pljo6Q0VBzkp9SAphHY5YBga9ykAO0SRf3NYdE0_MvFKljdNGh3gIoDhyphenhyphen5Fwih_diexmxYGwy9NP5I4IwdMsJR29G3jT9bRrX9e_7GedihA6YH3Es_fw1scdhH46HcoGSRz7_2vjM/s320/DSC00759.JPG" border="0" /></a> Friday half of us went Classic Nordic skiing and the other half went snow boarding with Jonas. It was snowing pretty hard all day but the skiing was still good. I have been skiing a lot back home so this was really just a normal day of training. After we got back to the house and had some lunch Zach and I went out to work on the Death Sled Jump. The snow was perfect for building and before long we had the run in dialed with two pretty good sized doubles and a berm at the end. We rode it for a few hours with no serious injuries and plenty of close calls! All in a days work!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297098994580648274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_7_Ozj1_Mmp8zSEte7caKxe24kOHYqgT4-eyPI5ixFjokJ5WakJTvnvi6ULNTBYK0G5Ui8583vM_L7vBMV9A4nzhgWpZLsA2L3HirUU7emPAY826rxPUnhxwHmW3Ph4z1IuBucl70SQ/s320/DSC00760.JPG" border="0" />Saturday we split up again this time between skate skiing and snowboarding. I have only skate skied on my classic back country skis at home so this was a new experience. I picked it up relatively quick and got in a good hard work out. By the time we were headed back it was white out conditions and it took us a few attempts just to get out of the park! We got back and just chilled out as everyone was pretty tired. We had a team meeting and then went out to dinner together at a seafood restaurant. As an aside I have a general rule that I have developed after living 21 years on coastal Cape Cod- If you can't see the ocean, don't buy the fish!. Obviously at 9500ft there was no ocean within a couple hundred miles. After some debate with the waitress about the "fresh catch of the day" (I mean seriously, how fresh could it be!) I ordered the Ahi Tuna, it was decent although not Cape quality, we left with a full team snowball fight in the parking lot and headed home.<br /><br />Sunday morning we had some team photos to do as well as some more death sledding. We got some pictures before flying out and headed over Bertha pass to the airport. There was some concern because the pass was closed earlier for Avalanche blasting. It was fine however and we made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. We hung out at the airport ant all boarded our flights on time. I had a bit of flight trouble, par for the course, the flight attendant broke one of the over head bins so a mechanic had to come on board, that put us out of the deicing line which in turn put us 2 hours behind. I arrived in Boston at 2 in the morning and Mom and Dad were there waiting! THANKS! Well that's it for this trip, tune in to here about our real Training Camp in a few weeks. I am heading down to Texas a week early to train at Ken Mills house. Should be fun, actually riding with all the guys but be assured there will be plenty of off the bike antics! PEACE OUT!keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-36489164151137390872008-12-31T15:06:00.000-08:002009-01-15T11:46:18.124-08:00Long Season, No PostsPost by: Nick Keough<br /><br />The US cyclocross season has flown by, so much so that I haven’t gotten a chance to make a post the entire time. My season had some downs, a bunch of ups, and a few rides that made the ‘08 cross season my best ever. In September I laid out three major goals for this season, I wanted to podium at nationals, win the Verge U23 series championship, and be a consistent top ten finisher in the UCI events that I raced in. Looking back on the season I am happy to say that most races went well, but I feel like the ones that didn’t just added to my experience, making me a better bike racer. I mean seriously, who gets it right every time anyway.<br /><br />Green Mountain Cyclocross (UCI C2) Verge Series Rounds 1&2<br /><br />Coming into my first race of the season I had no idea what to expect. I hadn’t stepped on a cross bike since nationals last year, I was riding on borrowed bikes, and my road season had just ended two weeks previously with the hardest bikes race that I’d ever done (Univest GP). I lined up on the front row and I got the hole shot, not being exactly sure what to do I looked back at my teammate Chris Jones who was on my wheel. I figured that I should just keep it rolling, I felt pretty good so that’s what I did. We started rolling and our group formed with Jamey Driscoll, Matt White, Matt O’Keefe, Justin Lindine, Chris, and myself. Unfortunately, about three laps later I flatted out of the group just after the pit. Let me tell you, that was not a fun jog through a Vermont XC skiing area, it was pretty miserable. I ended up making my way to the pit, and I finished up the day as the 3rd U23 of 3 and 22nd overall. I was pretty bummed, but I knew that I had good legs so it didn’t bother me too much.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge092708.htm">http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge092708.htm</a><br /><br />At least I knew what to expect for the second day of racing, I came into it with some pretty solid confidence and I felt like my cross legs coming back underneath me a bit. I started off well again, making that front selection, but when Dan Timmerman attacked hard on the first lap I used my better judgment and let him go. Coming into the second lap Jamey hit it pretty hard to go after Dan and Chris followed him. I decided to sit back and race my own race. I felt pretty solid at first, but I think I over did it a little, and I faded slowly back to 8th place. I just held of Justin Spinelli who was closing on me the last three laps. I was pretty excited because that was my best result in a UCI race, and it was only the first weekend.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge092808.htm">http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge092808.htm</a><br /><br />Erdinger Grand Prix of Gloucester (UCI C2) Verge Series Rounds 3&4<br /><br />Gloucester is always one of my favorite races of the year, the venue, the course, the fans, it is just the epitome of a great New England cyclocross race. This was the first time that I had lined up with the real guys for the season, and as always there was a very solid field with riders like Ryan Trebon, Tim Johnson, and Jesse Anthony lining up just in front of me. My plan was to ride smart, and hopefully end up with a top fifteen finish, which would be respectable considering how poorly my race went there in ‘07. I had a good start and made it into the preliminary front group, I made a rather unwise decision of staying in the front group early on, but it was working out as I settled in and felt pretty good. On the third lap I got a rear flat coming off the pavement on the finish straight. I tried not to panic, but its your first reaction when you know that your race is over. I made it to the pit eventually, but it was just damage control at that point. I rode in as the 3rd U23 again and 25th place overall, I was very unpleased to say the least.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge101108.htm">http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge101108.htm</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtc3dRXah-lZriB6pgz5xAeg8nVoXx-aFoIeXhDvWnA2Sv1f7maj0YqHcnPClrl6-gX-kc2F-_n-WvQyYA_2x4U6prFl55JhvBmg4NAYGyTSqKd0g0q1pCiRujCXFcx0H0GwsypkrzKk/s1600-h/gloucester.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291608999847628370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtc3dRXah-lZriB6pgz5xAeg8nVoXx-aFoIeXhDvWnA2Sv1f7maj0YqHcnPClrl6-gX-kc2F-_n-WvQyYA_2x4U6prFl55JhvBmg4NAYGyTSqKd0g0q1pCiRujCXFcx0H0GwsypkrzKk/s320/gloucester.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The course on Sunday was not typical Gloucester, but it suited me pretty well with the newly added soft run up and s-turn sand pit. It was a very hot day and I made the best decision that I had all weekend in bringing a water bottle with me in my back pocket. I had a much more tame start, and I settled into a good group with Matt White and Justin Spinelli, but unfortunately he had a mechanical early on and I was by myself for a bit. Eventually Jesse Anthony and I began to work together and we caught Matt White with a couple of laps to go. Jesse attacked pretty hard when we caught Matt, and I wasn’t able to stay with them. I worked my way back up to Matt after Jesse gapped him out, but he left me coming into the final lap. I was still feeling pretty solid and I had a big enough gap over the next group of Adam Myserson and Josh Dillon that I held them off pretty easily. I ended up finishing 9th place overall and I was the first U23. I was very happy with the race, and I ended up taking the lead in the U23 Verge Series. It was nice to put on the leaders jersey at Gloucester, especially since it was the first time that I’ve ever lead the Verge series in my career.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge101208.htm">http://cycle-smart.com/neccs/results/2008/verge101208.htm</a><br /><br />Granogue (UCI C1) and Wissahickon (UCI C2)<br /><br />The next week after Gloucester Jesse and I piled all of our crap into my little Chevy S-10, with our final destination being the best Mid-Atlantic cross race in the US. I was pretty excited because I finally got my new bikes built up, but I was slightly worried to race in a new position. After more planning snafus that one would believe Jesse and I arrived at the venue on time Saturday morning. Because it was the biggest race that I had entered so far I really wanted to pull down a good ride so that I could gain some momentum as the season started to pick up. I made the second group after the start with Jamey Driscoll, Barry Wicks, and Andy Jacques-Maynes. I was feeling good, but a stupid mistake in a technical corner left my shoulder, knee, and hand meeting the ground in a way that I would have preferred to avoid. I couldn’t hold onto the bar very well at all, and I ended up pulling the plug to save myself for Sunday once I realized I was out of contention for any UCI points.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/18-Granogue-Cross.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/18-Granogue-Cross.asp</a><br /><br />Sunday’s event was a half hour away from Granogue in Wissahickon, Pennsylvania. The course was very open and fast, the exposed venue was very tough as a result of the cold air and high winds. The race went pretty typically for me, I was riding very strongly in a group with Jamey Driscoll and Davide Frattini, until I got to a point where I was riding way over my head and I made a mistake. I got hooked up on a course post and my shift lever was ripped off. I was still in good position after taking my pit, but a front flat left me well outside the top ten. I ended up finishing the race in a pretty disappointing 27th place. The drive home got me pretty bummed that I traveled all that way for no result, but if you don’t try you’re not going to even have a chance to do well.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/19-Wissahickon-Cross.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/10/19-Wissahickon-Cross.asp</a><br /><br />Cycle Smart International (UCI C2) Verge Series Rounds 4&5<br /><br />Going into the fourth round of the verge series I was leading the under 23 category, and I only didn’t have a good hold on it as a result of my ridiculous inconsistency. I had impressively bad legs in the race, and I ended up finishing in 16th place. I’m still not sure what caused that ride, but I just didn’t have the legs on the day to get a good result.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/01-Cycle-Smart-International.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/01-Cycle-Smart-International.asp</a><br /><br />The only bonus about having as terrible a ride as I did on Saturday is that you ge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4gwTriSwCX0gq9q80CgaKdMkGPurJ2c5aZZHeOEtM4hg_rM0qGux52_uPfpjw4dA-WT01ICAJmh35lx5fcz4l2T9I34oZlVv5N6g008mA6WVHX0Td33uBTCzxzTZE3s_WyURtJ_MjBk/s1600-h/northampton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291607321228514738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4gwTriSwCX0gq9q80CgaKdMkGPurJ2c5aZZHeOEtM4hg_rM0qGux52_uPfpjw4dA-WT01ICAJmh35lx5fcz4l2T9I34oZlVv5N6g008mA6WVHX0Td33uBTCzxzTZE3s_WyURtJ_MjBk/s320/northampton.jpg" border="0" /></a>t so pissed that nothing is going to hold you back from getting what you came for on Sunday. After Jake and I messed with my position on the bike I headed to the start. I made the front selection with Jamey, Dan Timmerman, Andy Jacques-Maynes, Matt White, Davide Frattini, Justin Lindine, and Josh Dillon. Eventually, our group split apart into two groups with Jamey, Andy, Dan, and Matt up front and the rest of us holding about five seconds back. I was feeling good and I tried not to over do it, just rolling through to keep everything moving. On the last lap Davide made an acceleration that only Josh could follow, and I decided to wait and take Justin to the sprint. I took the sprint for seventh place, and I won the U23 race which put me back into the jersey yet again.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/02-Cycle-Smart-International.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/02-Cycle-Smart-International.asp</a><br /><br />Plymouth Cyclocross<br /><br />After a very large amount of deliberation with myself, I decided to take a weekend at home instead of flying out to Toronto to race the two C1’s that were happening this weekend. My teammate Matt Shriver put in a few very good rides out there making it onto the podium for Sunday in 5th place. Instead I raced my home event, put on by Bill Sykes in Plymouth, MA. I was very happy to see that Matt O’Keefe showed up because it was nice to have someone to race with. The course was a blast, and after hopping the two single barriers on the course I put a gap into Matt and I was able to keep it going for the rest of the race, despite the fact that my front derailleur broke and I could only soft pedal for ¾ of a lap. It was nice to win a race, despite the size of the event, it’s always good for the moral to cross the line in first place.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/08-Plymouth-Cyclo-Cross.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/08-Plymouth-Cyclo-Cross.asp</a><br /><br />USGP Mercer Cup (UCI C1) Rounds 3&4<br /><br />I was really psyched to race going into the USGP races in New Jersey, it had been a two weeks since I had done a big race and I was feeling really good. I had a really bad start position because everyone and their uncle came out to this race. Knowing that it was a long race I chilled out for the first couple laps of the extremely muddy race. I worked my way slowly forward, and with about three laps to go I was into the top fifteen and riding with Bjorn Selander. Bjorn and I were the third and fourth U23 riders, with about three laps to go I was coming up the finish straight when a gust of wind blew some mesh snow fencing into my right shift lever. I was thrown to the ground and I immediately rolled off the course to avoid being hit by other riders. By the time I realized what was going on there was an EMT standing over me telling me not to move. Naturally I ignored him, staggered back to my feet, and got back into the race. I still rode quite well but I lost about 30 positions while on the ground. I worked my way back up to about 30th place. After the race I went the EMT station because I couldn’t see straight, and they told me to go to the hospital if I didn’t get any better over the next couple of hours. They kindly informed me that there was a chance that if I went to sleep I wouldn’t wake up, that didn’t help me feel any better. I ended up suffering through the night, and obviously, since I am writing this now, I did survive and I did race on Sunday.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/15-USGP-Mercer-Cup.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/15-USGP-Mercer-Cup.asp</a><br /><br />I woke up Sunday morning with a killer headache, but my legs felt surprisingly good for having raced hard the previous day. By the time the Elite Race came the course was a total mess, but it was slightly better that it had been on Saturday. I started off very poorly and I was informed the first time through the pit that I was sitting in the top 35. Now I know that when the word “top” is placed in front of any number it makes it sound way better, but we all know that it is just a cover up for the truth. I started picking riders of slowly, and by the end of the third lap I was being told that I was just outside the top fifteen. I was feeling great, I just kept thinking that I knocked something loose the day before that was making me ride better than I ever had. The next report that I received was that Danny Sumerhill, who was sitting in 10th overall and 2nd U23, was just in front of me. Just after seeing two laps to go I caught onto the group of Dan Timmerman and Danny. It was then that I went into race mode, you know, the point when all you are thinking about is what the most efficient way to cross the line before the guy you’re with. As Danny and I started to line each other up we were able to leave Timmerman. On the last lap I came to the front for a second and got a gap, but coming I rode farther on the uphill and Danny ran by me into the pit. We got slightly tangled in the pit and he got a gap on me. I punched it as hard as I could coming over the flyover, but just as I caught his wheel in the last corner I dabbed my foot and that was the only gap he needed. I finished up 11th place overall and 3rd U23. After the race I was told that I ended up a close second place in the SRAM most aggressive rider to Troy Wells. I couldn’t have asked for a better race, I knew that I was coming into my legs and that I was just improving as the season continued.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/16-USGP-Mercer-Cup.aspWhitmore">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/16-USGP-Mercer-Cup.aspWhitmore</a><br /><br />Landscaping Super cup (UCI C1) Days 1&2<br /><br />After a short ferry trip and a bit of aimless driving around Long Island I lined up for the first day of the UCI Category 1 Elite race at the Whitmore Super cup. I had a great start on the day, as usual, but I ended up really struggling in the cold. I was having a lot of trouble with my lings, I couldn’t get a full breath. I went backwards pretty quickly, and I just finished up the day in 18th getting lapped in the last 200m of my last lap.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/22-Whitmores-Landscaping-Super-Cross-Cup-1.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/22-Whitmores-Landscaping-Super-Cross-Cup-1.asp</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvQD0ZnIA_MvvgRYUIukI6VfMyGX4oyGXnEnQ0AAldnePUVlGWAtHiMKBkuUiYy8JusfDvdEgdFhho_WPDlVN8vl5NKDKhZj7tVmAOMzBeXn7bX-LoyM7tGisqWqjdiZDhfSSK2N8GkY/s1600-h/southampton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291604268661300786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvQD0ZnIA_MvvgRYUIukI6VfMyGX4oyGXnEnQ0AAldnePUVlGWAtHiMKBkuUiYy8JusfDvdEgdFhho_WPDlVN8vl5NKDKhZj7tVmAOMzBeXn7bX-LoyM7tGisqWqjdiZDhfSSK2N8GkY/s320/southampton.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As my weekends typically go, Sunday was the best race that I’ve had in my life. It was still freakin’ cold, but I was more prepared. I had a good start, but I held back when things started to get tough. After losing contact with the front group, Troy Wells and I began to work together. About two laps later he had an issue with his leg, and I started to settle into my own pace. With five laps to go Matt White and I came together and started trading off pulls. We were moving forward pretty well, and on the last lap I came to the front and got a gap on the ride-up. I hit it and didn’t look back, knowing that I was playing my last card. I was able to hold a five second gap on Matt, and I almost caught Andy Jacques-Maynes on the line. I finished in seventh place, which was the best result that I’d ever gotten. It’s the best feeling when you cross the line, knowing that you’ve accomplished what you came to the race to do.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/23-Whitmores-Landscaping-Super-Cross-Cup-2.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/23-Whitmores-Landscaping-Super-Cross-Cup-2.asp</a><br /><br />Baystate Cyclocross (UCI C2) Verge Series Round #6<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8MRjUI2SxWHFj57v7mefpFZstI25py0pFBgttrs_BKRRksV6A4k6JN3P6JqJPeP5yq6gozqOdqgga3ylO9gLML1GDiXaotQ1-QwL5anMBFQDzz39dwg_lcyl7uYxZFb-E7S-0rsnIao/s1600-h/sterling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291603348813339730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8MRjUI2SxWHFj57v7mefpFZstI25py0pFBgttrs_BKRRksV6A4k6JN3P6JqJPeP5yq6gozqOdqgga3ylO9gLML1GDiXaotQ1-QwL5anMBFQDzz39dwg_lcyl7uYxZFb-E7S-0rsnIao/s320/sterling.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This race was officially the worst ride of my life. I got the hole shot pretty easily, and I lead for the majority of the first two laps. Then Jamey Driscoll attack our group pretty hard, I ended up being the only person to follow him. The next three laps were like I was moving in fast forward. Jamey was just rolling it on and I was holding on for dear life, but then the best thing happened, he slowed down slightly and looked over his shoulder to check if I was still there. I was psyched because I knew that I had made it though the hardest part. That lap, on the run up, I put my foot down and my knee just completely buckled under my weight. I didn’t know what was going on, my leg was totally numb. After a lap of struggling to figure out what was happening Matt White and Justin Spinelli caught and passed me. I didn’t even have the ability to respond. Over the last three laps I was just trying to finish. After a visit to my chiropractor and my primary care doctor we traced the issue to my crash in New Jersey because my neck had been bothering me over the previous two weeks. Luckily as of now it still hasn’t happened again, but my neck isn’t 100%, but it didn’t hinder me in RI or at Nationals so I think I’m okay.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/29-Baystate-Cylocross.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/11/29-Baystate-Cylocross.asp</a><br /><br />NBX Grand Prix of Cyclocross (UCI C2) Verge Series Rounds 8&9<br /><br />The last weekend in the regular season of cyclocross saw me finally figuring out how to ride my bike consistently. I started off the race conservatively, not following Jamey when he attacked on the first. Our chase group was eight guys, and I was planning on just sitting in and gauging my efforts. Everyone in the group gave it a go at least one time, but I just sat back, listening to the advice that I had heard a hundred times from a number of experienced riders, “sit in”. I picked my place to go for it on the last lap, knowing that I needed to lead out the sprint. I hit it hard going off the road at the top of the course, and lead coming off of the beach. After the effort the only person left on my wheel was Adam Myerson, and I knew that if I was going to win the sprint I would be best off not to let him get back to my wheel easily. I still had a gap coming onto the pavement, and I took the sprint pretty easily. I couldn’t believe that I had gotten second at a Verge race! I was pumped.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/12/06-NBX-GP-of-Cross.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/12/06-NBX-GP-of-Cross.asp</a><br /><br />Sunday went very similarly to Saturday in that we had a very large group that was not breaking up easily. However, Jamey chilled out for a while and waited until three laps to go to attack, and that split the big group up a bit. Jamey got a gap on his own, while the second group consisted of Derrick St. John, Justin Spinelli, Adam Myseron, and myself. Unfortunately, I got a front flat on the last lap. I got to the pit still sitting fifth place, but I ran out of time and couldn’t catching the group of three that I was in. I still finished a very solid fifth place, and I took the win in the Overall U23 Series, which was something that I’ve wanted to do since I started racing cross. I was feeling great and with nationals only a week away, I felt like I was ready.<br />Results: <a href="http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/12/07-NBX-GP-of-Cross.asp">http://www.bikereg.com/Results/2008/12/07-NBX-GP-of-Cross.asp</a><br /><br />2008 USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZxB-mx-kudaf2lhNLWznqAFneU-lqugOZD1Bb8kPgAA1rt0I7zluaJUiBwGyqiSyMlPLqDc3mtbFpyWQnYNDNvsfLwoCnuCWHlKtaOFMN9tsc99FMZveAzWcXUjJDCbqAGpwwkd1U5Q/s1600-h/DSC_0999%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291602018753723234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZxB-mx-kudaf2lhNLWznqAFneU-lqugOZD1Bb8kPgAA1rt0I7zluaJUiBwGyqiSyMlPLqDc3mtbFpyWQnYNDNvsfLwoCnuCWHlKtaOFMN9tsc99FMZveAzWcXUjJDCbqAGpwwkd1U5Q/s320/DSC_0999%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a>After road tripping it straight from the race in Warwick the previous week, we made it to Kansas City, Missouri on the Wednesday before my race. The conditions on Friday were very slick and muddy, but by the time my race came around on Saturday the course was dry, but very tacky. While warming up on the course I had a big scare when my front tire rolled off the rim on a downhill corner. I was thinking that the day wasn’t going to go very well, but I got it all figured out and started my warm-up routine on the trainer. I was called up to the start line as the second rider because of my UCI standing. I took the hole shot, knowing that it was better for me to set the pace until I knew how everyone was feeling. On the climb Danny Sumerhill got tangled up on my rear wheel and Nick Weighall attacked pretty hard. I was able to follow easily enough, and that was the selection. We started rolling for the next couple of laps, until Alex Howes ad Adam McGrath came up to us. Nick attacked again and I followed, which got rid of the two of them quickly. Coming into the run up a lap later I felt my headset come loose drastically. Nick pulled a gap on my down the descent, and I got on my pit bike after loosing about thirty seconds. At that point I went into damage control, I knew that I could hold Danny off who was about a minute back. After settling in seeing four laps to go, I heard Luke yell, “you’re f’ing catching him, keep it up!”. I looked up and saw that I was riding back up to his wheel. I felt perfect. I settled in then came to the front and I knew that I was racing how I had wanted. On the second to last lap, Nick gapped me out coming off the run-up and he punched it hard. Over the next lap I chased hard, but I wasn’t able to make it to his wheel before the pavement. I finished second, and although I am never happy with a result that I know that I could have improved upon, I really can’t complain.<br /><br />Results: <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross/2008/dec08/UScrossnats08/?id=results/UScrossnats089">http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross/2008/dec08/UScrossnats08/?id=results/UScrossnats089</a>keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-19902102443163792192008-12-31T09:23:00.000-08:002008-12-31T09:42:28.095-08:00Happy New Season!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWnZTF3siWxnEKlv1BdtPXnAJBDXKZ2i7v4xQwBRZxE9EjsQuNay_WIPfYt66lms57jByyU4gdjfm6bLXWT0oSkiHsES5QhuYGhQpJvwArxhUObm34h0qqBxF8EMcnwiEk9W9pqCRUog/s1600-h/PARIS.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286009369435792466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWnZTF3siWxnEKlv1BdtPXnAJBDXKZ2i7v4xQwBRZxE9EjsQuNay_WIPfYt66lms57jByyU4gdjfm6bLXWT0oSkiHsES5QhuYGhQpJvwArxhUObm34h0qqBxF8EMcnwiEk9W9pqCRUog/s320/PARIS.jpg" border="0" /></a>Dec. 31 2008<br /><br /><div><div></div><br /><div>This Fall Kelly Benefits raced in a one day Pro Crit just outside Paris. It was a short trip but the team did really well. The course was all about a bunch sprint but unfortunately the janky french crit racers didn't want a bunch. We put Reid Mumford in the break and with about a quarter of the race to go he lapped up. I chased anything dangerous and tried to do a good lead out. The reason I say tried is because although Reid is unbelievably powerful he is a TT and break away specialist not a bunch sprinter. He did well to get 8th and the most aggressive rider prize! I was second or third in the bunch to get top 15 not bad for a sweet trip to Paris end of Season.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div><br />For 2009 I resigned with my current team Kelly Benefit Strategies Pro Cycling, and I couldn’t be happier with the group of riders, Management, and contract I negotiated. I really felt like I integrated into the team seamlessly this year ,immediately getting results and laying it down for teammates results, like Dave’s win in PA, or Cando’s 2nd at ProCrit. Next season should be epic and I have set my goals high as always. I have more specific goals, but my overall objective this season is to make the same leap I have in the past 4 seasons. Each year I have managed to deny everyone who has told me I will stop improving, and have made the same step each year. First going from learning to race as a Junior to winning and making podiums at big junior events, then making podiums at local pro races to winning those races and getting to NRC’s. Last year I knocked on the door of every top sprint I was in, and came up with a 3 professional wins with more than 15 podiums. For this season I want to convert those podiums to wins. Again most people I talk to tell me not to be disappointed when that doesn’t happen. For me that is fuel and everyday I train I use, it, and all those near misses to make me better. I am hungrier than ever and with my training more dialed than ever, I am looking forward to making those that doubt me look stupid.<br />Now that the cross season is finally over and the road season is just around the bend my training has been quite extensive and going very smoothly. With lots of time in the gym, multiple training sessions per day and trying to rest fully in between, my schedule has been single minded and focused on the season to come. Throughout November and December I have been putting in the miles both from my home base on Cape Cod and from Cross venues each week (Where I also play pit crew for my brothers). However after our trip to Hell, I mean Kansas, it has been nice to get into the routine of training strictly from home and checking off my training objectives as they come. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLICbRLgx9fm_nG7Ip3_jogYmL-nlaP6XcPS4wRI0rIP15ZVcE84Q3QXzq0sS3pjtDP0MP7qCn05nY-7hL0Zpd-ad1XtQcSc4LH_i1LTf6x-DoHsrD9C7EOVCRBSIQe8ohAhbjUPqhwA/s1600-h/IMG_6082%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286008760193969762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLICbRLgx9fm_nG7Ip3_jogYmL-nlaP6XcPS4wRI0rIP15ZVcE84Q3QXzq0sS3pjtDP0MP7qCn05nY-7hL0Zpd-ad1XtQcSc4LH_i1LTf6x-DoHsrD9C7EOVCRBSIQe8ohAhbjUPqhwA/s320/IMG_6082%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Now don’t get me wrong, our drive to Kansas for Cross Nats was quite productive, with two 2nd places finishes and Nick and Luke both going to worlds, not to mention some surprisingly great training roads for me. However if we were to drive 1500 miles in any direction from our house other than to Kansas, I am sure we would have ended up somewhere quite a bit more remote and desirable for bicycle riding! Needless to say I logged a good week of frigid training while traveling and we had some great fun! Christmas at our house was pretty chill this year and we just hung out. My bros got me a rad espresso machine so my daily training routine now involves pulling at least 2 shots first thing every morning! Last week’s weather was great for training being 40 degrees super windy, and pissing rain. By the way there is no sarcasm there! If the roads in New England are clear of snow and it is above 25 I am psyched and outside training! Unfortunately I ran out of luck and as I am writing this it is white out conditions outside.<br />On a better note I got my race schedule for the spring and it looks awesome! Lots of racing and traveling as always but let’s just say it has some uncharted territory for me, right in line with some of my bigger goals. More on that at a later. First on my schedule is our first team camp in Winter Park, Colorado. As you could imagine the training is not perfect for training there but that is not the point. The trip will be short, less than a week, to get to know new teammates, catch up to old ones, and have some fun in the snow. It will also provide the opportunity to nail down everyone’s goals and objectives and really start the teambuilding process. Two weeks later I fly to Texas for the formal Team Presentation, Photos, and full on warm weather training every day for 2 weeks. Because I am obsessive about my training I am personally looking forward to this camp more than the first. It will provide some great motivation as the weather will be nice and the whole team will be training together. The other important aspect of the second camp is that it should complete the team building process. Bike racers are much more comfortable on their bikes than any where else and long days training with teammates provides a good foundation both physically and mentally for the season to come. As I said stay tuned for more info on my schedule. Now I have to venture out into a blizzard to get my training done for the day!!!</div></div>keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-3537701449879194162008-09-23T08:56:00.000-07:002008-09-23T11:15:41.711-07:00Photo Diary (Super Week)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmJBSwg-n2NSOF7qku77fb_gXqkVYLKcIQVfBkatOKWG-jpVQqO4deki0zp9gV4PWh0VsIaEdp2VhjJs-RSBsoxYpDe1ArNAVtkR0th_4xcXSJEycGmv9qBHkOaMM34Lz6mFiW8atnTU/s1600-h/2008_sw8_m14%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249257314195436114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmJBSwg-n2NSOF7qku77fb_gXqkVYLKcIQVfBkatOKWG-jpVQqO4deki0zp9gV4PWh0VsIaEdp2VhjJs-RSBsoxYpDe1ArNAVtkR0th_4xcXSJEycGmv9qBHkOaMM34Lz6mFiW8atnTU/s320/2008_sw8_m14%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHD4RbdCWAk2sEZmgNFbR-zxt9D34IgzzvMwXMqbGUm7q2SgMNN_brsD_oN-ArJqo5BBLtq9VXK9E06rEJcEel7eKnmJt-_vHOWX-a8Wo2Mkll1dUitMJbXqCt-o8OkLMSb5gKziQzKw/s1600-h/2008_sw8_m05%5B1%5D.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_owEnss097jN4X21RJ723hAuv8tCvXBve-G6RY423wULfR_dzapdULtZ8mwb3b5nCJ46UUCgAt88B2mflaXNWtQCcFOTN-QJpp_6x0aw7OolAeIr1eZaV8Ix-xeVYRkAMjHpdEi6SZiU/s1600-h/2008_sw8_m13%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249258016861109026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_owEnss097jN4X21RJ723hAuv8tCvXBve-G6RY423wULfR_dzapdULtZ8mwb3b5nCJ46UUCgAt88B2mflaXNWtQCcFOTN-QJpp_6x0aw7OolAeIr1eZaV8Ix-xeVYRkAMjHpdEi6SZiU/s320/2008_sw8_m13%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvt_f8ly6kjvSznuMti6jAk2Mn6aGXhOgA_fjU3J9K9IH_2YHoSNSzKHx1pYh82LBh1sr9-KXPDYLgwTmQ6b5ccuVHGil5CMKEk1Y_Jr1CBUdUxlPHzAgCE1OtLERby2WLGPFZrEFR0E/s1600-h/2008_SW4_M11%5B1%5D.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7zrVwx6VyNYduelAuC8lptgqdY5PiKg0BME2jOU-L0uM6KRZQCIWYRg0ZPRcrF1yO7wPcZI1A6VFdfbmrLtaGyaGYM9r8oVXCNrIZ6hShE0YYxkCBYfi7xfnYHMbg8r5IyK5ALUmWnM/s1600-h/2008_sw8_m05%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249249933627840962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px" height="181" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7zrVwx6VyNYduelAuC8lptgqdY5PiKg0BME2jOU-L0uM6KRZQCIWYRg0ZPRcrF1yO7wPcZI1A6VFdfbmrLtaGyaGYM9r8oVXCNrIZ6hShE0YYxkCBYfi7xfnYHMbg8r5IyK5ALUmWnM/s320/2008_sw8_m05%5B1%5D.jpg" width="195" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249250617468771650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuc2Ta-jUgKYVkMOy18AALfFkysHD0vcm-Fes-S7aPUfON-3cCA8VetFNqsn9tZC-texnuGgpU57sbLovIE1b7yISyyo381dCeFrI204ONcnhPFCcc5mi4HvOiWI4bhZmN4i7irR9s0k/s320/2008_SWrace17_14%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAHpGD_UzvXMS3E4_mAmjDmtIAQbWf5_npwBJXG9na9QEHfUmtNn-gRUcg51wDv2JGI8p2e_Wo_GgwK62_Vw1jJVB8FrtH5kcqwlu3ZqZAMtkTeIgtg1qveVJ1krwWnQ89HUJe98gvl0/s1600-h/2008_sw8_m01%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249257451413255154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAHpGD_UzvXMS3E4_mAmjDmtIAQbWf5_npwBJXG9na9QEHfUmtNn-gRUcg51wDv2JGI8p2e_Wo_GgwK62_Vw1jJVB8FrtH5kcqwlu3ZqZAMtkTeIgtg1qveVJ1krwWnQ89HUJe98gvl0/s320/2008_sw8_m01%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm8PdY5spYfUl1k7mP81uLF5x89N_JrPXIiyDQoaKZBwlqLKTJQmjE6WIymobSnqe1sQzfN4IbZ0JlrYITKZ9FgXu4cTX2FI8-hN3qOTHlL7kTi0jLf1afsMozvkuhmTVNbezZ2mDBS4/s1600-h/2008_SWrace15_14%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249250433312608210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm8PdY5spYfUl1k7mP81uLF5x89N_JrPXIiyDQoaKZBwlqLKTJQmjE6WIymobSnqe1sQzfN4IbZ0JlrYITKZ9FgXu4cTX2FI8-hN3qOTHlL7kTi0jLf1afsMozvkuhmTVNbezZ2mDBS4/s320/2008_SWrace15_14%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNU-T3FNdpDqMXYf_xPY-ahESm8EyqHL6Eb2OafYOMZY5QnXRBZBkYKRxHFs5T-B7Z8e7GKN3W7pmvs-f-IBAnTjQcgeml5Ew6y8XikcXoLre895iIzlNH9OONzn86cWwOzkAFwJ8hIPI/s1600-h/2008_SWrace15_14%5B1%5D.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92Phh81e6sA22oJHtoD9Gcw5-1eqZ4FZH-dewrFZHgSgX-Sa58Ntx1xfSeTY-QMkVhNQs1OOYtim9p222B-JE1Ycr5-X4xIjddln1SRPP-d_k4MbtnfErYaJOrwtj9vxGyMGYWq04o0c/s1600-h/2008_sw8_m14%5B1%5D.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-18695628333971235732008-09-23T08:02:00.000-07:002008-09-23T08:56:43.456-07:00Catching Up, (post crazy summer)This summer has been absolutely CRAZY! I have not had time to keep this updated due to bike racing all over the country, but priorities first right! So I will just pick up where I left off.<br /><br /><br /><br />After Harlem my contract with Kelly Benefit Strategies/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Medifast</span> Pro Cycling was signed and active. The following week I raced Nutmeg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Criterium</span> in New Britain Connecticut. The course is super fun and it was the first day on all of my new team issue equipment. I figured it would be good to get at least one race under my belt on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lemond</span> before heading to the International Tour of Pennsylvania. the race went well and although the bike felt very foreign to me my legs were really good. On the last lap Robbie King of Rite Aid jumped to the break and I followed his wheel. I jumped at about 150meters from the line and won the race! It was a good start to a summer that was to be an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">exhilarating</span> ride!<br /><br /><br /><br />The next week I flew to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Philadelphia</span>, PA for the inaugural Tour of Pennsylvania, a 7 day, international U25 stage race. The race boasted the largest prize list of any U25 race in the world. This race was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">priority</span> for Kelly and our director Jonas Carney fielded a super strong team to race and win in PA. The roster included, David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Veuilleux</span>, Keven <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lacombe</span>, Myself, Benny King, Clay <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Murfet</span>, and Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Hinnen</span>.<br /><br />I showed up a day before the race late at night, and was picked up at the airport by our team <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">swany</span> Ryan Kelly. The next day I got my race bike dialed in with our team mechanic Jordan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Schware</span>. My race bike has the same <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Lemond</span> frame as my training bike but with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Sram</span> Red instead of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Sram</span> Force, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Bontager</span> Carbon wheels rather than the box section ones on the training bike. Later in the day I went for a spin with Dave, Keven and Clay into down town and we had lunch at a cafe. We rode back and bumped into Ben who had just flown in and was out for a pedal of his own. Mark got in later that night and we all had dinner together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLTzkdMfIPEB_AKZ24jfDXS5348FZWfrt5DFcg9kLttH9u3xsOcpXXQeK5Gi_ETuOHI87lCoEM_lXqWmuAdSeRpiHqoMv_c57PiJKh1bDRWl5I_r8u7fY9boQHwzV_BRA-zL7PoZOaR4/s1600-h/dsc_6786%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249244233417151922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px" height="227" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLTzkdMfIPEB_AKZ24jfDXS5348FZWfrt5DFcg9kLttH9u3xsOcpXXQeK5Gi_ETuOHI87lCoEM_lXqWmuAdSeRpiHqoMv_c57PiJKh1bDRWl5I_r8u7fY9boQHwzV_BRA-zL7PoZOaR4/s320/dsc_6786%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" border="0" /></a><br />The first day was a double stage <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">with</span> a short prologue in the morning and a fast <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">crit</span> at night. Dave did great in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">TT</span> getting 4th place and setting himself up well for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">GC</span>. The first night of racing was the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">crit</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Philadelphia</span>. The course was super technical and fun. The plan was to have Dave Keven and I hit out with 500meters to go and come over the top of whoever was riding the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">leadout</span>, going into the last corner. Well the plan worked as we came over the top but did not close the door enough on the inside. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Dannny</span> Holloway got in there and I got boxed in behind Keven who had to hit his brakes in the last corner. My jump was really good and after I got out of the cluster, I came close to getting Danny at the line. With the finishing straight being only 100meters long I was too far back to pull it off. It was a bummer because I felt super fast, and it really just came down to a lack of team experience between me and Keven and Dave. However what could I expect, it was the first time we had ever raced together!<br /><br />After that our momentum really started to roll.keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-31846966017755903622008-06-20T06:45:00.000-07:002008-06-20T07:33:58.762-07:00Harlem, Goodbye Sakonnet, Moving on<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz8CCdfBOebOKRGu1hFZYL9Z7NHrXwgA-O5fK6HiCvhVyC_6J2zt19qEBwpyR45Q4HyWCJOLw_fYbe_Fkp7gz8Ea6e2j3wzVuS2Nql0gpY6TTaDeEaxTlSWpO0VHO5nZLRfcNEYF4yLA/s1600-h/20%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213971798186753314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz8CCdfBOebOKRGu1hFZYL9Z7NHrXwgA-O5fK6HiCvhVyC_6J2zt19qEBwpyR45Q4HyWCJOLw_fYbe_Fkp7gz8Ea6e2j3wzVuS2Nql0gpY6TTaDeEaxTlSWpO0VHO5nZLRfcNEYF4yLA/s320/20%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>This Spring has been one insane adrenalin rush. From the minute I won Grants Tomb Criterium, to me 3rd at Harlem Skyscraper Crit, I have been full gas, and loving it! Racing for CRCA Sakonnet Technology U25 team has presented me with opportunites to to lead a team, race in the biggest criteriums in America, and get the results I needed to accomplish my greatest goal of the season. I signed with Kelly Benefit Strategies/ Medifast Pro Cycling for the second half of the 2008 racing season.<br /><br />Going into the 2008 season I knew that I had laid the ground work for a stellar season, the hard part is proving it to everyone else! After racing in the Southeast with CRCA Sakonnet, I had convinced many, and began talking to several pro teams. When the dust settled I found my self riding with Kelly and I could not be more happy with my decision. As a young sprinter my dream was to ride for a true sprint team, and in the US, the Kelly train is both feared and respected like no other team.<br /><br />My last race with Sakonnet could not have been more fitting with the race being held just a few blocks from Sakonnet's headquarters in New York City. The race was just my style, flat four corners with some rough pavement, and a super high quality field. the venue was great with Mike Ball from Rock Racing really putting on a good show. This race needs to be an example to all other criteriums in America. If we want to create a scene around cycling and get Amercans interested then this is the venue we need. The jumbotrons were awesome, the fans could see the race fly by, watch the lap in its entirety, be able to understand how the race developed, and get an extremely entertaining show at the same time! If all downtown crits were run this way we would have a huge American fan base in no time. This is the future of American bike racing!!<br /><br />The race played out exactly as I had hoped, with a small break getting established, the field settling in and bringing it back with a few laps remaining. I conserved energy and followed a few major moves during the race but was focused on the bunch sprint. With 2 to go I was locked on to the Rock Racing train, but got swarmed going into 1 to go. I did my now standard last lap kamikaze riding and got to the front but got boxed in going into the last corner. I was a little to far back when I opened up my sprint and just ran out of rode before the line. My sprint was super fast, but without perfect positioning it is near impossible to win. 3rd place was a great result and I was glad I could deliver one more time for CRCA Sakonnet.<br /><br />Next on my schedule is the Tour of Pennsylvania racing for Kelly Benefits, check it out everynight on TV ont the Versus channel.<br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Jake</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />Jake</div>keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-50515790498741418722008-06-12T11:47:00.000-07:002008-06-13T15:46:15.258-07:00Tour of Somerville WeekendBike Jam/Kelly Cup NRC Criterium<br />Baltimore, MD<br />Saturday May 24th<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211500800291068754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS8T2_FRhpPveJZ7Uvi34jYkb1xJZG_uVM6UOsONGS3mPEj2oQMT78gHmYVMWDcNSOfy8L0egiNiOZp7NsuhPu4IOgXH7Y8pRbqZZozTEFC68HAOgT_-0eH5S4VMh9gweb32UK25gkdo/s320/Kelly+Cup+Course.jpg" border="0" />Jake and I went to Baltimore, Maryland on Memorial Day weekend for the Bike Jam/ Kelly Cup criterium. It was a pretty wide open course, with one sweeping right into a tight chichane. Two of our other team mates were at the race, Gavi Epstein(from NYC) and Ryan Bauman(from Madison, WI).<br /><br />Luckily, Jake got a call up to the frontline at the start of the race, along with some off the biggest names in US cycling. Including, Dominique Rollin, Klye Wamsley, Jonathon Page, and Sebastian Haedo, not bad company to be in. The race rolled off very fast with everyone wanting to string the race out from the beginning. It wasn't long before Jake, Gavi, Ryan, and I were near eachother. I started by following some early moves, but I was forced to abandon due to mechanical problems with my bike. A breakaway of four riders held off the field leaving Kelly Benefits rider David Veilleux taking the win. Jake finished a solid 6th Place in the bunch, taking tenth place overall.<br /><br /><br />Bound Brook Criterium<br />Bound Brook, NJ<br />Sunday May 25th<br /><br />For Sunday, Jake and I met up with the rest of the family, where Jesse and Luke raced the Junior event at the Bound Brook Crit, a precursor race to Monday's Tour of Somerville. Jesse and Luuke were riding very strong, with Luke and Jesse folling numerous moves early on. With two laps to go Jesse was in a move that looked promising, along with one rider from the Metro-Wendy's team. However, as the race came around the last corner with one lap to go, the field was fast approaching. After the breakaway got caught, Jesse attacked into the last corner on the final lap, with Luke two wheels behind. Luke opened up his sprint from 300 meters out, and he won bike five bike lengths in the sprint!<br /><br /><br />Tour of Somerville<br />Somerville, NJ<br />Monday May 25th<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNIrAMf4CtOELrc8WTuBVdVeUW2VpFfDHXt5-PG6Nvbp04z6RV86P8_NISNo7XtGIeJeSst6NajgohHXistnd7v7VW0a6WKvd8QZN4pNrvb89MqDA96IhFCrfLCLmN-23GRTjTUCDRnc/s1600-h/luke+somerville.jpg"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211086021348381314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz84VoQlrVhTmUNeX2kUN48xDUaw2Ng0ZSwrxhKpypQvWTdebfZhucw0d0Fjq9xT8LMOiylLkf-Oe8Idor6yzn8alpSDsdIu7DNjrKTcStImnnM-mK6j79IrULfdDmuXPQR3JXN_-SpaM/s320/luke+somerville.jpg" border="0" /><br />Following his strong result on Sunday, Luke's plan for the biggest junior criterium in the US was to wait for the sprint (the Tour of Somerville almost always ends in a large bunch sprint). Jesse and Luke did a good job paying attention to the dangerous moves early on in the race. However, one rider slipped away with about five laps left to go in the race. Coming into the finish the solo ride still had about five seconds on the field. Luke took the sprint by a solid margin, but he still couldn't catch the one rider, and he finished up 2nd.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211500430965619170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAyI6oe2um_dyCesdw397JZSBexBJpQteqLyxGYwh_YH6JetprlEmE3Oa0VXc9uznRmXlJit_paejRYupLISqljBa2fv74V_2ZR79XKTC_v5Vg_RQefupGPsfhpveBK6IqIbr2X7duoU/s320/Jake+Somerville.jpg" border="0" /><br />The pro race was quite a mess. Although there was a very quality field including full squads from Colavita, Kelly Benefits, Team Type One, Team Inferno, Battley-Harley Davidson, a combination of the low speed and very rough pavement caused many crashes. Unfortunately a crash involving Ryan Bauman, Gavi Epstein, and myself left our team very disabled. Luckily Ryan was able to return to the race, but a trip to the hospital and a broken hip took Gavi out for some time. As the bunch sprinted for the finish Colivata's leadout train put their rider's first and second. Jake came through with a solid 7th place finish.<br /><br /><br />Ricola Twilight Grand Prix<br />Basking Ridge, NJ<br />Wednesday May 28th<br /><br />Seven ninety degree corners snake through sceneic downtown Basking Ridge New Jersey in a one kilometer long circuit. No, this isn't a joke, it's the Ricola Twilight Grand Prix, where every year the country's top professional cyclists throw themselves down the narrow streets of this quaint New Jersey suburb. After only five of the race's forty laps were through the field was chopped down from 120 riders to about 50, and those remaining were snaked around the course in a single file line. A late breakaway of Jeremy Powers(Jelly Belly) and Dabe Fuentes(Battley- Harley Davidson) almost robbed the sprinters, but they were caught with one lap to go. Jake came through in fifth place, there were only inches between the top five.<br /><br />All in all not a bad weekend for the Keough family.<br /><br />-Nickkeough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-71916299490946321642008-05-20T13:54:00.000-07:002008-12-31T09:47:42.376-08:002008 Speed Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXlNH0sSOtxLUhfEZnO2l1gImm4WpiUR4sM_Kp1jOEtpG4ztqrLkb_wjwJWxl1djEBhF5sOPSjvarj-xOUYoDtGJ1tXXrubMQNgukqZN1_wZdco4LW2suJi2ggWkcNRW12QnpwgQU2K8/s1600-h/jake+with+rashan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286011914588147730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXlNH0sSOtxLUhfEZnO2l1gImm4WpiUR4sM_Kp1jOEtpG4ztqrLkb_wjwJWxl1djEBhF5sOPSjvarj-xOUYoDtGJ1tXXrubMQNgukqZN1_wZdco4LW2suJi2ggWkcNRW12QnpwgQU2K8/s320/jake+with+rashan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Athens Twilight Criterium<br />Saturday April 26th<br /><br />Our team got to the venue 2 hours before the race which started at 8:45pm. We went to sign in and had to push our way through an enormous crowd of partying people along the finishing straight of the course. After a solid warm up we rolled to staging on the back half of the course.<br /><br />After much jockeying for position (moving from the back of the course to just behind the start line) two officials held us about 50 meters short of the start line. They proceded to start calling up numbers one at a time and wouldn't let you go unless your number was called. When I realized that they were going to go all the way down the start list I started to get frustrated because my number was 109. We had already been staging now for 30min and there was nothing I could do to get closer to the front.<br /><br />Finally we got on the start line and BANG!! $250 dollar prime first lap! I go to get clipped in and some dude crashes in front of me, I have to track stand for a minute and then go, I was dead last going into the first corner. From there I held it full gas and drilled it through every corner passing 5 to 10 guys on each one. By lap 5 I was safely at the front. I chilled out there feeling super comfortable despite the big effort I had made to get there. I was involved in a crash about 25 laps in and had to bunny-hop someone in front of me. I came off the bike but stayed mostly upright. I took a free lap, a few deep breaths, and a gel, and jumped back in the ring for round 2.<br /><br />The most insane aspect of this race is by far the spectators. This was a Saturday night in a college town, with school about to end, and at 9:00-midnight downtown! The crowd was so loud you couldn't hear crashes just around the corner, the only way to know you were going to pile into a crash was the ooooohhh! the crowd made! The entire course was a tunnel of noise, from the 30,000 spectators.<br /><br />I got to the front again and stayed there. With 10 to go I was cramping a bit do to the heat but managed to hold it at bay until the sprint. Just one more gel would have done the trick to combat the electrolyte loss. On the last lap I couldn't quite get to where I needed to be because of the cramping, I needed to be, maybe 2 wheels up. Coming out of the last corner I was probably positioned 10th wheel, and did a good sprint despite cramping the entire drag to the line. I did a decent sprint and finished 7th and 2nd best Young Rider. After the race I was treated like a celebrity by the 30,000 drunk screaming fans.<br /><br />Tuesday April 29th<br />Beufort Memorial Cycling Classic<br /><br />After staying at a mountain house in NC Sunday night we drove to Walterboro SC on Monday and grabbed a hotel. We drove to the race and got signed in for the night. Tonight's race was not quite as crazy, crowd wise, as Athens but the racing did prove to be insane.<br /><br />After a good warm up I rolled up to staging, but this time for a "call up". I was sitting sixth in the series and the top 15 riders get called up to the start line on the first and second row. Tonight this would prove to be crucial.<br /><br />Again the race started with the sound of a gun followed by "$250 dollar prime!" I rode the first few laps in the top 5 then settled back to the top 10. The course was super narrow with the second straight only being two or three riders wide. A big break got away early with everyone but Symmetrics represented. They quickly gained time, but Symmetrics got on the front and TTTed for like 30laps. At one point the break was only 20 seconds from lapping the field. As they started to fade the pace got faster in the field. Meanwhile I was sitting just behind the Symmetrics train feeling comfortable and hoping the break would come back. Finally the gap was down to 5sec and we could see the break. In another 3 laps we came upon the break on the finishing straight, I am still siting top 10 when I see about 40 riders directly in front of us. I didn't have much time to think but as a was flying by all these riders I saw Nick for a split second. Once things strung back out and I was back at the front of the field I tried to put together what all that was about. I realized that we had been going pretty fast to bring the break back and it made sense when I found out that half of what was left of the field got lapped by a group of 20!<br /><br />With 2 laps to go I was too far back and knew it. With no team mates to get me to the front I had to rely on my dare devil style of riding to get up to the front(The story of my week). On the last lap I had Hilton Clarke's wheel(our directors pick for the win, good pick!) I lost it when another rider started pushing with his hands off the bars. Unfortunately this kind of thing does happen in Pro bike races, but that rider will push the wrong person and will be put into the barriers, too bad I had more important things to do tonight! No worries though, I came out of the last corner and had awesome legs but was just a touch too far back. It seems that once I get open road in front of me at the finish or these races I can really open up my sprint and close a huge amount of distance before the finish. I ended up 5th. Slightly frustrated at the foul play but happy with the result none the less.<br /><br />Wednesday April 30th<br />Downtown Walterboro Criterium<br /><br />This morning we rode down to the race course from our hotel to see tonight's course. It is super wide open, unlike last night, and only has one tight corner coming onto the finish straight.<br /><br />Tonight I rolled up to staging with the number 4 on my back, and got another sweet call up. Tonight's race was really tame with the only mayhem really coming from the back side of the course which was terribly lit, I mean pitch black. You couldn't even see where you were going. Racing in the dark really doesn't bother me at all, it just adds another element to the race where bike handelng and confidence reigns king. Tonight the sweet spot was slightly further back than it has been due to the wide course. I was in a few moves one of which went on the half way prime and quickly gained a large advantage. I looked back and couldn't see the field. I talked to a few guys and we started to drill it but before we could really get up to speed the field was on us again(fine with me) Going into the second to last corner I drilled it up the out side and slotted into the corner just off of Alex Candelario's wheel, who let me say had his Kelly train doing a super fast lead out for the last few laps. Each night it ends up being Colavita and Kelly drag racing on the front, with a few vultures like myself, Hilton Clarke, and Rahshaan Bahati, fighting for position. Tonight I came up just short of the podium finishing 4th, however I beat the Best Young Rider leader and I became the new Best Young Rider, and did the podium after the race! Happy with the result and knowing that I can win these races I fell asleep.<br /><br />Thursday, May 1st<br />Uptown Greenwood P<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhP1JOIFWblt-AbgrrqBcHp1kJlZ1vB6-ZhNqhUffBC9bR2YbkjkKpMFQyzd6uTqRYabOH855BOhN8Wok_JszMYr2RneepH4AG5ORit6BH4z_o-rh9DSt3xTYC0Q0L6XCIb3-crM9V0M/s1600-h/jake+greenwood+podium.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202891806446214018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhP1JOIFWblt-AbgrrqBcHp1kJlZ1vB6-ZhNqhUffBC9bR2YbkjkKpMFQyzd6uTqRYabOH855BOhN8Wok_JszMYr2RneepH4AG5ORit6BH4z_o-rh9DSt3xTYC0Q0L6XCIb3-crM9V0M/s320/jake+greenwood+podium.jpg" border="0" /></a>ro Cycling Challenge<br /><br /><br />We drove from Walterboro and checked into our hotel in Greenwood. After making some cold cut sandwiches in our hotel we headed to the race. My director Matt went to sign in as we got ready. Nick decided to sit tonight out as his back has really been bugging him. We made the decision that it would be better to sit out tonight and try to salvage the rest of the week rather than hurting his back even more. When Matt came back with the numbers I found out that I was leading the series,#1. Tonight I got the last call up indicating that I was the series leader. The course was super fun with some sweeping rights and a fast tight chicane to down hill. The sprint was slightly uphill but fast, and suited my sprint. With 3 to go I again had to do some "BMX skill" riding to get to the front but made it there again with no team mates in sight. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilj_7WM6FOia0LiesBJno-6gAmyAzuyRqr26o-n64lV0GaLC2hZb-o9j2Du7FS9xk1c0G9mel57Ho4gwhBm91OnphCEwMApDBKfNQm1jXpgfPTJdVfkt1X6rgvi1yy1rJ1zG256bU8Lrs/s1600-h/jake+greenwood.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286011733603428674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 183px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilj_7WM6FOia0LiesBJno-6gAmyAzuyRqr26o-n64lV0GaLC2hZb-o9j2Du7FS9xk1c0G9mel57Ho4gwhBm91OnphCEwMApDBKfNQm1jXpgfPTJdVfkt1X6rgvi1yy1rJ1zG256bU8Lrs/s320/jake+greenwood.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Going into the second to last corner I was in the perfect position on Adam Myerson's wheel, when he easily, too easily, slid inside Bahati. I thought to my self that Bahati was positioning himself for the sprint putting myself in an even better position! However coming out of the last corner he sat up, by the time I reacted there was a huge gap to Adam with about 250 meters to go, I killed it and passed everyone but Candelario who was just out of reach for the distance I had to work with. Just before the line a Jittery Joes rider passed me for 2nd. After the race he told me he saw the gap that I had to close and he felt bad for coming by. No worries. 3rd was a big result and finally landed me on the podium also opening my lead in both the Overall and U25. That's a good day at the office!<br /><br />Friday May 2nd<br />Steadman Hawkins Cycling Classic<br /><br />May Day after May Day! Tonight was rough. After getting signed in and getting a good warm up it was time to get to staging for the nights event. Tonights course was super easy. Wide ope with four right hand 90's that you didn't even have to break for. I was still very comfortably leading the series overall and best young rider and so got called up in the poll position again, with AC DC Hells Bells blaring and the crowd screaming. I was slightly nervous for tonights race because some of the bigger teams had left to go to the NRC's this weekend. This meant that the racing was going to be much slower and more dangerous. My worries were not needless. The average race speed was 5 mph slower than every night this week, and consequently there were guys who have been getting dropped in the first 10 laps no diving into corners at the front of the race. The race was a crash fest and with 7 to go some dude came flying past me up against the outside curb going into turn 3 which was a downhill right. just as he got by me he crashed and I had no where to go. From there everything gets spotty. I know I hit my head hard because my helmet is smashed to bits. I remember getting up and grabbing my bike only to realize that it was in two pieces and the wheels were no longer round. I knew I had to get back in the race because I was leading the series, but it was inside the free lap and I was on the opposite side of the course. Somehow in the dark I saw Nick, I asked him if he was ok and he told me to take his bike and finish. Couldn't argue with that! I jumped on his bike and started to chase. I chased for a few laps and got into a group that had been split off during another crash. All this time I am on Nicks bike which is almost identical to mine but has only the remains of his seat (rails with a broken body) due to the crash!! I finished in the front of that group in 55th place. I retained my lead overall and did my best not to get the podium jerseys all bloody. After the race there was some confusion with the results because I crossed the finish line on Nicks bike with his timing sensor on. Once I got that taken care of we went back to the hotel. After a quick shower Nick said that his side was swollen and he thought he should go to the hospital. We rushed him to the hospital and spent the next 2 hours making sure that he had no internal bleeding. Matt and Adam Branfman graciously went to a Wal Mart to get supplies to bandage me up. Imagine that, I'm in a hospital bleeding out of my elbow hip and knees, with a grade 3 concussion, and the nurses won't give me advil or anything to clean up with! Anyway by the time we found out that Nick was going to be alright it was already well past midnight and we hadn't eaten anything since 4 in the afternoon, were starving. We met Matt and Adam back at the hotel, and ate crappy Papa Johns Pizza. We finally fell asleep at almost 3 in the morning with blood and pizza boxes all over the hotel room. Just another day at work!<br /><br />Saturday May 2<br />Dilworth Criterium<br /><br />Today we had to drive about 3 hours to get to the race in Charlotte NC, which is the first race that was in the afternoon rather than twilight. We left early and I felt like crap. I can't lift my arm up off my side, my hip is badly bruised swollen and still bleeding and my head is pounding. We got to the race our usual 2 hours ahead of time but today I could barely warm up. It is nice to have a routine when you get to a race because with out it I would have been a mess today. I am still way out of it and did not get enough sleep at all last night. During the race I rode in the top 15 and just cruised around. With 3 laps to go I got to the front and just hung on. I just gritted my teeth through a tremendous amount of pain from my shoulder and hip, and sprinted in for 6th. With a little more help from the team I may have been at the front going for the win. Regardless I conserved enough to keep the lead in the series for another day, or so I thought.....<br /><br />Sunday May 4th<br />Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge<br /><br />This morning I found out that I was now in second in the series by a few points. What was really screwed up was that yesterday I was leading my 184 points and rode well, getting 6th. I couldn't figure out how Mark Hekman gained all of those points. After much discussing with my dad on the phone we figured out that the previous points tally was wrong and I only had a slender lead going into yesterday over Hekman. Had I known that I would have raced yesterday only to beat him and focused on the series overall. Also there were points for the overall on every lap and with halfway to go that I was never told about. Regardless Matt went to bat for me against the officials(which I really appreciate) and got it so that Mark and I were tied for points starting the race and whoever raced better on the day would take the overall. Although I was pissed about the point confusion which was to cost me the race, and the fact that I was beat to crap after pumbeling myself friday night, I put on my game face and got ready for the battle royale which was about to go down. The course was super fun with and uphill finish and pretty mush the rest of the course downhill fast corners. I got a call up again, and rode the first few laps second wheel. I dropped back onto Hekman's wheel and began to follow him. I knew I just needed to get points on him before the finish. He jumped for a sprint lap and I followed. With my new knowledge of these pointed laps, I easily came around him to get 1 point. That left the score me 1 Mark 0. I continued to follow him, until a break of 5 went up the road. This was the ideal scenario for me because they took the 5 deep midway points away from Mark and I so there was no contesting them. With 5 to go Tosiba got on the front and started their leadout for Mark. I was getting pushed around by some of the other teams up there because I was on my own. I fought back hard with the usual banging of bars and headbutts, but when you are fighting by yourself you need to balance energy used fighting for wheels and energy saved by giving up wheels. With one to go I was on Jeff Hopkins of Inferno racing who was behind Adam Myerson of Time who was behind the Toshiba leadout of Hekman. Going into the second to last corner Hopkins dove inside Adam, and I couldn't get by. In the last corner I got inside and lit up my sprint coming by Hopkins and closing in on a fading Hekman who had jumped just before the last corner when I was stuck behind Jeff and Adam. I lunged at the line and he was just a few centimeters ahead. he gained 5 points on me for his 8th place over my 9th. That put the final score at Mark 5 Me 1. Overall the racing was a great experience and I feel like with a little more experience, OR a few leadout riders helping me in the finish I will be winning these big Crits.<br /><br />Next on the calender is the Bike Jam, Somerville, Ricola Weekend with a podium at Somerville being one of my season's objectives!<br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div>keough7http://www.blogger.com/profile/08161590872711916623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-58566630482570388122008-05-19T05:48:00.001-07:002008-05-19T06:12:42.756-07:00Friends of Synergy - Nick Keough, Cyclist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKnhLoluOkxbpdoXMkwX2IJyOCxP5iF2yze9eYWJtRSk2uFvgce-ya3q6kdLo9AzSq9pmwH6_8V73jyTJLBLpJpSdXMmzX25NKWM2A89ohG3FvbS-t4Fct1kc6MY8YSoS3626FdCc63s/s1600-h/fos_nickk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202070165610272434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKnhLoluOkxbpdoXMkwX2IJyOCxP5iF2yze9eYWJtRSk2uFvgce-ya3q6kdLo9AzSq9pmwH6_8V73jyTJLBLpJpSdXMmzX25NKWM2A89ohG3FvbS-t4Fct1kc6MY8YSoS3626FdCc63s/s320/fos_nickk.jpg" border="0" /></a> “Winning tough races is always exciting, and competing against great athletes always keeps things interesting,” Nick said. “But my highlights are definitely both times when I was selected to go over to Europe and race at the highest level.”<br /><br />It’s easy to see why Nick was chosen to represent the United States in those international races. <strong>The race podium is this 18-year-old’s second home, having been there dozens of times throughout his racing years</strong>. All of Nick’s hard work seems to be paying off, but he is the first to concede that racing at such high levels takes a major toll on your body. This makes good nutrition crucial to success.<br /><br />“When you’re training hard and racing hard you need to fuel your body properly. I’m constantly monitoring what I’m taking in and trying to get all the nutrition I need. Everything little thing counts and any extra edge you can get is huge,” Nick explained.<br /><br />He looked for nutritional products to supplement his rigorous training and tried a few different nutritional supplements without success. Then, Nick finally found his extra edge in Synergy’s V3 products after being introduced to Mistica at a coffee shop.<br /><br />“I started using Mistica and noticed a huge difference in my recovery,” he said. “Pretty soon I started using Core Greens because Mistica worked so well. All of those nutrients in Core Greens are really helpful, so I stuck with it. I recently started using ProArgi-9 Plus, too, and it’s awesome. I feel so much healthier with all three products and have so much more energy when I race.”<br /><br />Nick continues to enjoy great success in his racing career and hopes to be able to stick with it for a long time.<br /><br />“Racing in the world championships was an incredible experience,” he explained. “I’d like to race in Europe a little more and get more experience that way. I’d love to make a living racing bikes—that’s my biggest goal right now.”<br /><br />And will Synergy’s V3 products be along for the ride? “Absolutely.”<br /><br />Highlights:•<br />1st Place—Pro 1-2 Men, Chris Hinds Memorial Criterium•<br />1st Place—Pro 1-2 Men, Rick Newhouse Memorial Criterium•<br />1st Place—Junior Men, Rick Newhouse Memorial Criterium•<br />1st Place—Junior Men, Jiminy Peak Classic Road Race•<br />1st Place—Junior Men, Myles Standish Road Race•<br />1st Place—Junior Men, Silver City Flyer Criterium•<br />2nd Place—Junior Men Circuit Race, Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic Stage Race•<br />5th Place—Junior Men, USAC National Cyclo-Cross Championships•<br />30th Place—Junior Men, 2006/2007 World Cyclo-Cross Championships – Hooglede-Gits, BelgiumUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-5660430731796513372008-05-19T05:20:00.000-07:002008-05-19T06:01:11.045-07:00Friends of Synergy - Jake Keough, Cyclist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtrJsVep1zO_5H7vRQO6eO_l18TmORg3JpNM3pqZV4FAdGWztPhfkiFc_75p-1p9EHQ-2dHlQZLIsOx-cQpp-VuhZ5uMhb1cyxpOpaq-lj81ybll8BSyqptdH6IMZbfmAEh9oKRQeux8/s1600-h/fos_jakek.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202072725410780866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtrJsVep1zO_5H7vRQO6eO_l18TmORg3JpNM3pqZV4FAdGWztPhfkiFc_75p-1p9EHQ-2dHlQZLIsOx-cQpp-VuhZ5uMhb1cyxpOpaq-lj81ybll8BSyqptdH6IMZbfmAEh9oKRQeux8/s320/fos_jakek.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Jake would know. At 20-years-old, <strong>he is one of the best young riders in the country, placing third at the U.S. Cycling National Championships U23 Criterium last year</strong>. Success against such prestigious competition requires an intense training schedule as well as a fully booked racing calendar, so a few years ago Jake began searching for nutritional supplements that could aid his recovery.</div><br /><div></div><div>“Recovery is crucial because that’s when you make all of your progress and gains,” he said. “We looked around for awhile before finding Mistica and felt like once we started using it, our recovery was boosted greatly.”</div><div></div><br /><div>His positive experience with Mistica prompted him to look into Synergy’s other products. Soon, Jake added Core Greens and ProArgi-9 Plus to his regimen and was pleased with those results, as well.</div><div></div><br /><div>“The great thing about Synergy’s V3 products is they work really well together to provide the nutrition I need both before and after racing. Core Greens gives me the base I need, ProArgi-9 Plus helps my endurance and Mistica helps boost my recovery and my immune system, too.”</div><div></div><br /><div>Jake used V3 products en route to many victories as well as top 10 finishes against some of the best riders in the world. Following his stellar racing season last year, Jake fielded multiple contracts from professional teams before deciding to stay amateur for one more year.“</div><div></div><br /><div>I have a goal of winning the elite criterium national championships in Chicago this year,” he explained.</div><br /><div></div><div>After that, Jake plans on joining one of the top-tier professional teams in America and competing internationally. He said Synergy’s V3 products will play an important role in his racing future.</div><div></div><br /><div>“I think that the further I go, the more I’ll rely on the products to supplement my hard work. So far, the products have helped me an incredible amount and I definitely hope to continue using them for as long as I possibly can.”</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Highlights:• </div><div>1st Place—Tour of Somerville•</div><div>1st Place—Grant’s Tomb Criterium•</div><div>1st Place—Exeter Criterium• </div><div>1st Place—Silver City Flyer• </div><div>1st Place—Myles Standish Road Race• </div><div>1st Place—Sturbridge Road Race• </div><div>2nd Place—Chris Hinds Memorial Criterium• </div><div>2nd Place—Nutmeg Classic Criterium• </div><div>3rd Place—USA Cycling National Championships</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-44314189504732575552008-05-19T04:59:00.000-07:002008-05-19T06:10:17.208-07:00Friends of Synergy - CL Noonan Junior Cycling Team<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLOVeIqZHfWWDF2bmq9o05Uz-mRgtWApnzL_N76-kVtlo4Wgn-hMfoNo5fmzAcxPKn0fQt5Ah7koOmn0Zqb148XS-dw9rP5KZMg3BtQ_uxM4M3DCwWLs-xxKo6ZKSTbMkJm6shQ_RZ6s/s1600-h/CL+Noonan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202057731679950434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="150" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLOVeIqZHfWWDF2bmq9o05Uz-mRgtWApnzL_N76-kVtlo4Wgn-hMfoNo5fmzAcxPKn0fQt5Ah7koOmn0Zqb148XS-dw9rP5KZMg3BtQ_uxM4M3DCwWLs-xxKo6ZKSTbMkJm6shQ_RZ6s/s200/CL+Noonan.jpg" width="126" border="0" /></a>Bicycle racing is one of the most grueling sports in the world. It requires staggering amounts of training and a profound commitment to physical fitness. Bicycle racers are topflight athletes who carefully follow strict nutritional guidelines and are incredibly sensitive to the state of their bodies.<br /><br /><strong>No one knows this better than Michael Keough, whose five sons are all involved in different kinds of bike racing, from BMX to road to cylo-cross.</strong> Three of Michael’s sons (Luke, Jesse and Ian) belong to the CLNoonan Coast to Coast KAM Racing team based in Massachusetts. Under the auspices of the United States Cycling Federation, this team has raced all over New England, the United States and even the Bahamas, Belgium and Canada.<br /><br />Bicycle racers are always looking for a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEkW72hZP-K7f91rn6vZFbObk7tMb91F6qMsDHajXbUVBnTYwy5zBm6bL5yH5Nhks0rubxrCRv1_xuDlnTFecPrS0vAQTET58BxNMeTtftSTTGdu1veUjUWII1YyRJYfafnl7o7otkLU/s1600-h/CL+Noonan+all.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202060531998627474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="165" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEkW72hZP-K7f91rn6vZFbObk7tMb91F6qMsDHajXbUVBnTYwy5zBm6bL5yH5Nhks0rubxrCRv1_xuDlnTFecPrS0vAQTET58BxNMeTtftSTTGdu1veUjUWII1YyRJYfafnl7o7otkLU/s320/CL+Noonan+all.jpg" width="308" border="0" /></a>competitive edge. For the CLNoonan team, that edge is Synergy’s revolutionary nutritional beverage Mistica and the V3 System.<br /><br />“<strong>These bikers are some of the best racers in New England.</strong> They train 20 to 30 hours a week and taking two ounces of Mistica a day really helps in their recovery from workouts and races,” Michael explained. “Bicycle racing is brutal on the body, so anything you can take to help repair it is a good thing.”<br /><br />Now all of the Keoughs take Mistica, including Michael. They go through six bottles a month, and they all vouch for its ability to help them recover more quickly from the rigors of the sport.<br /><br />According to Michael, “Mistica is the best recovery drink we’ve found.”<br /><br />To learn about all of the Friends of Synergy <a href="http://www.synergyworldwide.com/synergycorp/Content.aspx?PageID=14296">http://www.synergyworldwide.com/synergycorp/Content.aspx?PageID=14296</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-60076550705290364572008-03-27T16:30:00.000-07:002008-03-27T16:56:07.192-07:00Jacob Wins First Race of 2008 for Sakonnet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgcyCeeo9VG8-juPZ6VXnq-hfUqTY12E4biKvi4Pp5Cujt2Oy2VUhNu747d9rx9wOvQ-5wvOND-KYBm6i7iq3aPOwt8-NzHdpSjR60miL1hqmmSBc0EcADyS5URBG-Qsflke6Ht_n9fM/s1600-h/Nick+%40+Grant%27s+Tomb.jpg"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFGSUKxKY9PkIKmhQX89E6OMyI5IaURF0fR_WzbcKhetyAwI-9vORJ3NTovddJFGnpa0W3znE3UFowlahsGRCpHnxiQKNlkQoC7XBS1_fZ212gvd1HpsEom3zqF18j_05k7rhsdqD2gk/s1600-h/Jake+%40+Grant%27s+Tomb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182572161921009042" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFGSUKxKY9PkIKmhQX89E6OMyI5IaURF0fR_WzbcKhetyAwI-9vORJ3NTovddJFGnpa0W3znE3UFowlahsGRCpHnxiQKNlkQoC7XBS1_fZ212gvd1HpsEom3zqF18j_05k7rhsdqD2gk/s200/Jake+%40+Grant%27s+Tomb.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Recent News<br />March 16, 2008<br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Orange Crush at Grant's Tomb!</span><br /></strong><br />3/15 Grant's Tomb Criterium (New York, NY)<br /><a href="http://www.speechaid.com/skntcycling/2008/photos.html"></a><br />Sakonnet rides like a young pro team<a href="http://www.speechaid.com/skntcycling/2008/images/races/grants_tomb/grants_tomb_finish.jpg" target="race"></a> A full Sakonnet team including Road Manager <span style="font-size:0;">Matt Koschara</span> took to the line at the first big race on the northeast racing calendar the Grants Tomb Criterium. It was a special occasion for the team as both Eric Min (Sakonnet CEO) and Alarik Myrin (Sakonnet CTO) where in the crowd to cheer on the team. Most of the event was played out with small breaks taking minor leads, it became obvious in the last five laps that the race was going to come down to a field sprint.<br /><br />Having practiced lead outs for a month at the teams warm weather spring house in Chapel Hill, NC the guys where ready to roll and they organized themselves like a seasoned professional team. With two laps to go the train was in place and it was Matt channeling his days as Julian Dean’s last lead out man on Navigators who started the fireworks by taking a full lap pull. <a href="http://www.speechaid.com/skntcycling/2008/team/nicholas_keough.html">Nick</a> took the reigns after Matt and brought the field to the last corner where <span style="font-size:0;">Gavi </span>opened up the sprint. Trailing Gavi was a duo of Rite Aid professionals Bobby Lea and Bill Elliston, behind them where three Sakonnet sprinters! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ8hIWN-FRZe1PC18MpvrKRyuEjPuIV64QMxKiqYWuYlgQHNkvlGDIgfL-ncTNnjxH_3JlJKxaJ5xKWeG2bWrW2GXYybIX8QbfqL22PHtK7cKE9K4IJLskpifROYMq8V96YyZG8NyTuw/s1600-h/Nick+%40+Grant%27s+Tomb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182573892792829362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ8hIWN-FRZe1PC18MpvrKRyuEjPuIV64QMxKiqYWuYlgQHNkvlGDIgfL-ncTNnjxH_3JlJKxaJ5xKWeG2bWrW2GXYybIX8QbfqL22PHtK7cKE9K4IJLskpifROYMq8V96YyZG8NyTuw/s200/Nick+%40+Grant%27s+Tomb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the drag race to the finish it was <a href="http://www.speechaid.com/skntcycling/2008/team/jacob_keough.html">Jake</a> who over took Leah for a brilliant win in the teams home town and in front of the sponsors!More pictures are found here: <a href="http://www.velocitynation.com/" target="VeloCityNation">http://www.velocitynation.com/</a><br /><br />1st <a href="http://www.speechaid.com/skntcycling/2008/team/jacob_keough.html">Jake Keough</a> (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25)<br />2nd Bobby Leah (Rite Aid Professional Cycling Team)<br />3rd Wilson Vasquez (G.S Mengoni USA)<br />4th <a href="http://www.speechaid.com/skntcycling/2008/team/daniel_estevez_jr.html">Danny Estevez</a> (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25)<br />5th <a href="http://www.speechaid.com/skntcycling/2008/team/cheyne_hoag.html">Cheyne Hoag</a> (CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25)</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-67447336967705647932008-03-12T10:50:00.000-07:002008-05-19T06:42:40.157-07:00Luke Keough - World Championships Cyclocross - Treviso (ITA): Junior Men<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVF7lWl1Aj-xd6ykFd05I1VPXFV4n9FjxBCllvFyVG4msKlhDZOcwCUtD-t0LZQ-O-tkwOVjJjzF8wHnK3GKSG4XTB8EPIYl1gbY2GPM-iBbIq7zSbhtdAAoKFPkdjR8tQPvHrqSD4rE/s1600-h/Mercer%2520Cup%2520064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176917358328196994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVF7lWl1Aj-xd6ykFd05I1VPXFV4n9FjxBCllvFyVG4msKlhDZOcwCUtD-t0LZQ-O-tkwOVjJjzF8wHnK3GKSG4XTB8EPIYl1gbY2GPM-iBbIq7zSbhtdAAoKFPkdjR8tQPvHrqSD4rE/s200/Mercer%2520Cup%2520064.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The youngest guns open the Worlds in Treviso - France's Arnaud Jouffroy leads Sagan and Petrus to the podium. Keough tenth.</strong> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#3333ff;">World Cyclocross Championships in Treviso (Italy) January 26 & 27, 2008</span> </div><br /><div><br />The junior-men opened the World Championships with their race of about 40 minutes. The big favorites for the world title were Arnaud Jouffroy (France), Marek Konwa (Poland), Lubomir Petrus (Czech Republic), Peter Sagan (Slovakia) and some others, like Italy's Elia Silvestri, Swiss Matthias Rupp, Belgians Sean de Bie and Stef Boden and Dutch rider Tijmen Eising.</div><div><br />After the second lap Petrus, who dropped Konwa, had a gap of 4 seconds on Jouffroy, 14 seconds on Sagan and 30 seconds on the first chasing group led by Elia Silvestri. Also Luke Keough from the USA was in this group and still had a chance to finish in the top 5.</div><div><br /><strong>The best American rider in the race was Luke Keough (10th at 1.12). He rode a very solid race</strong> as he was one of the riders in the chasing group behind the leaders. The other American riders who finished the Championships are Gavin Mannion (32nd at 3.09), Steve Fisher (40th at 3.38), Zach Mc Donald (42nd at 3.40) and Eric Emsky (53rd at 5.49).</div><div></div><br /><div><strong>World Cyclocross Championship 2008 Top Ten Junior Results</strong></div><br /><div></div><div>1 Arnaud Jouffroy (France) 40.30</div><div>2 Peter Sagan (Slovakia) 0.01</div><div>3 Lubomir Petrus (Czech Republic) 0.04</div><div>4 Elia Silvestri (Italy) 0.54</div><div>5 Matthias Rupp (Switzerland) 0.55</div><div>6 Pierre Garson (France) 1.07</div><div>7 Stef Boden (Belgium) 1.08</div><div>8 Sean De Bie (Belgium) 1.11</div><div>9 Jonathan Cessot (France) </div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;">10 Luke Keough (United States Of America) 1.12</span></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000000;">Excerpted from an article By Bart HazenDate: 1/26/2008 For the full story: </span><a href="http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=12109"><span style="color:#000000;">http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=12109</span></a> </span></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-40313223379049711362008-03-12T10:36:00.000-07:002008-03-12T10:46:13.654-07:00Keough Wins Juniors At 2007 CycloCross Nationals<div>Luke Keough showed why he's one to watch for the future of American cross winning the junior 17 - 18 national championship on another cold, muddy day in Kansas City at the 2007 U.S. Cyclocross National Championships.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Keough has a closet full of champion's jerseys. Last year's winner of the 15-16 Jr Mens Nationals, followed that up with a win of the Jr Men 17-18 US Grand Prix of Cyclocross and capped it off with a 2007 National's win in the Jr Men 17-18 race this year. <strong>Keough has punished his competition this year and is further proof why America has become one of the best nations in the world when it comes to 'cross.</strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwADItG9HLYcTauJGaclOrQAegxf0JBEZep3eTPxaY38EcgnGAaIdqxuDcOoCTg8pva7vjCzBNXWZ0XKgu2Va13AwrkscXhe2g5-IFP9fqyeTdu2hKm7WjqnDB3Rg9zMNahYPjkAexZCY/s1600-h/muddyone.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176912389051035506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwADItG9HLYcTauJGaclOrQAegxf0JBEZep3eTPxaY38EcgnGAaIdqxuDcOoCTg8pva7vjCzBNXWZ0XKgu2Va13AwrkscXhe2g5-IFP9fqyeTdu2hKm7WjqnDB3Rg9zMNahYPjkAexZCY/s320/muddyone.jpg" border="0" /></a>Luke Keough post race, "Yeah it was a muddy one."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For the full story: <a href="http://rodale.typepad.com/bi_audio_blog/2007/12/the-latest-fr-1.html">http://rodale.typepad.com/bi_audio_blog/2007/12/the-latest-fr-1.html</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421861283313618179.post-38541932033798848562008-03-12T09:25:00.000-07:002008-03-12T10:33:04.100-07:00For Sandwich's Keoughs, Dream a Constant Reality<div>Cape Cod Times<br />By ADAM SMARTSCHAN<br />CAPE COD TIMES STAFF WRITER<br />February 10, 2008 </div><div><br /><div><br />SANDWICH — The red betta fish lives on an island in the kitchen, past the garage littered with a dozen-odd <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWechJOdpsMawX4utJ7pHD7Hn5VfVI-ue76il3aPvQI1Bcw_skvRnnAyVxLlsQDWvcRzvHw1QttB0wa3_t1pfRhDBr-6LY_AZmpTN8lH1-JklBo5x4DdDD49R3ZQsc_gyFVK18BeA_Xv0/s1600-h/Keoughfamily.jpg"></a>bicycles and across the room from the salt and pepper shakers made from bike wheel hubs. He (she?) surely has something of an identity crisis. The fish's name (Tom, Lance, Mario, Eddy ... or something else, depending on the calendar) is about the only thing that changes from day to day in the Keough house. </div><br /><div><strong>For the five boys in one of the most athletically accomplished families on the Cape, life is about single-minded focus on their sport — cycling</strong>. For Jake, Nick, Luke, Jesse and Ian Keough, it's a constant, a reason to leave Sandwich High for home-schooling, to go to bed and wake up early, to skip the movies-and-the-mall teenage weekend.</div><br /><div>Wash, rinse, ride, talk about riding, think about riding, dream about riding, repeat. </div><br /><div>And from it all stems what seems to be the one unpredictably in the house near Holly Ridge Golf Club: The name of the red betta fish on the island in the kitchen. "We have this calendar," said Nick, 18, a stud in the under-23 road racing scene in New England. "It's a VeloNews (bicycle magazine) calendar, with every pro's birthday. We couldn't think of a new name for him, so we decided whoever's birthday it was, we would call him that for the day. You never know." </div><div><br />Here's what you know about the Keough boys: Right now, they're probably doing something related to bicycles. Here's what you don't know: the name of their fish today. But, of course, that deals with bikes, too. </div><div><br /><strong>But that's what it takes to have a soon-to-be senior pro (Jake, 20), a scary successful road U-23 (Nick), a two-time junior national cyclocross champion (Luke, 16), one of the top young 'cross riders of his age (Jesse, 15) and a talented youngster (Ian, 10).</strong> </div><div><br />"It's a great thing, because they're so disciplined," mom Linda said. "There's no place for drinking, smoking, even girls. I don't know if I'll ever have any daughters-in-law, unless they can ride a bike." (Linda, for the record, can and does ride a bike.) </div><br /><div><strong>Jake</strong> started racing BMX (tiny bike, dirt tracks, lots of jumps) at age 6. His brothers soon joined him, and even dad Michael got in on the sport ... at 40. <strong>Luke</strong> was ranked second in the country by 10, and, in true Keough fashion, <strong>Michael</strong> even reached the top three in his age group.<br /></div><div>The kids were technically skilled and addicted to BMX, but didn't have the muscular build most top-end riders possess. A friend told Michael that cyclocross — a winter mountain bike/road hybrid featuring muddy courses and carry-the-bike-and-run obstacles — would increase their strength, so they tried it. They loved <strong>cyclocross</strong>. (It's on a bicycle. Of course they loved it.) Soon, BMX was out, and road biking — Lance Armstong's sport — was in, the better to increase stamina for 'cross. </div><br /><div>Success was quick. After throwing themselves into the sports to the tune of hundreds a miles of week of training and thousands of miles of travel to events, <strong>Luke was a national champion, Nick was a U.S. national team member at the cyclocross junior world championships, Jake was fielding offers from professional teams on the road and Jesse and Ian were winning junior races of their own. </strong></div><strong><br /><div></strong>If they played basketball, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski would be beating down their door. If they plied their trade on the gridiron, USC football coach Pete Carroll would have their cell numbers. Instead, it's cycling — morning, noon and night. </div><div><br />"The commitment is getting up early, going to bed early, no video games. They don't mess around instant messaging anyone," Michael said. "The friends they have are themselves, my wife and me, and the people from the cycling community. They don't hang around at the mall. "They're kind of an odd group that way. They're not like regular kids, kids you usually see at high school." </div><br /><div>You won't see <strong>Luke</strong> — who admits it's a bit scary that racers as young as he have to face drug tests after major races — at a high school at all. A national 'cross champion in the 17-18 age group this year and <strong>the runaway winner of the six-race U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross series</strong>, he switched to an online home-schooling program last month to better fit his racing schedule. </div><br /><div><strong>Jesse</strong> is still at Sandwich High School, but didn't rule out home schooling in the future — depending on how next year's 'cross season turns out. </div><div><br /><strong>Luke</strong>, who <strong>placed 10th at the junior world 'cross championships in Italy on Jan. 26,</strong> isn't worried about the change affecting his social life. "Most of my friends are bike racers," he said. Other racers, each other ... what else would they need? </div><br /><div>"It's definitely a lifestyle," said <strong>Nick</strong>, a live-at-home Cape Cod Community College student. "That's one thing I think is part of our success. It's all we want to do — not that we feel like we're forced to do this. It's what we love to do ... I really don't feel like it's a hindrance. I hang out with friends when I have time. But it's definitely not a priority." </div><div><br /><strong>Jake</strong>, the oldest, doesn't race 'cross anymore — ankle problems have kept him on the road.<br />He could have turned pro for the coming spring/summer season, but said he wanted to stay an amateur to take another crack at the <strong>U-23 criterium national championship race, in which he placed third last year. </strong></div><strong><div><br /></strong>An exercise physiology student at CCCC, he trains his brothers in cycling. Even at 20, they're unabashedly his best friends. "Ever since we started racing BMX, we've traveled the country together," Jake said. "To be in the car 20 hours at a time, all together, it's a blast. </div><br /><div>"The five of us all have the same mind-set. We're all really determined. Basically, <strong>we're each other's best friends.</strong> We ride constantly, and when we're not riding, we're talking about riding or training." </div><br /><div>In the Keough house, that's just the way it is. If Jake, Nick, Luke, Jesse and Ian are awake, it's bike racing. You can set your watch by it — and a fish's name, too, depending on which pro racer has a birthday. </div><div><br />"They talk about bike racing from the minute they get up to the minute they go to bed," mom Linda said. "They pick up where they left off." </div><div><br />Staff writer Adam Smartschan can be reached at <a href="mailto:asmartschan@capecodonline.com">asmartschan@capecodonline.com</a>.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2