Tim ReinhartDiary of a U23 Rider
in Europe
The Espoir National Team is made up of the top U.S. riders from all over the country, ages 19-22, with a passion for the sport and developing talent. These skilled athletes are chosen by the national team coaching staff to live at the team house in Izegem, Belgium, while training and racing on the European scene. The program provides an opportunity for up-and-comers to compete against racers of similar age and ability on an international stage. Team members gain valuable racing experience on their way to becoming the next world and Olympic champions.
Squad members include: Rahsaan Bahati (Los Angeles), Nieko Biskner (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Michael Creed (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Walker Ferguson (Norwood, Colo.), Mark Fitzgerald (Norfolk, Va.), Will Frischkorn (Boulder, Colo.), John Hygelund (Los Gatos, Calif.), Dane Jankowiak (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Austin King (Phoenix), Sterling Magnell (Occidental, Calif.), Patrick McCarty (Allen, Texas), Basil Milsal (Oakland, Calif.), Saul Raisin (Dalton, Ga.), Timmy Reinhart (Macungie, Pa.), Jon Retseck (Doylestown, Pa.), Cory Steinbrecher (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Nathan Treto (Temecula, Calif.) and David Wenger (North Lima, Ohio).
There�s no shortage of accomplishment and talent in these riders. As a group, the team has experience on the international and domestic racing scenes, with a majority of individuals representing the United States at world championships past. Members hold more than 40 combined national titles at the junior, espoir, elite and collegiate levels in road, track and cyclo-cross disciplines.
The USA Cycling-U.S. Postal Service Espoir National Team is part of USA Cycling�s Athlete Development Program, which is designed to achieve success at the international and Olympic levels.
The squad kicks off international competition at the Loire Atlantique, March 23 in France. Mark Fitzgerald, John Hygelund, Sterling Magnell, Pat McCarty, Timmy Reinhart and Jon Retseck will be riding for the team.
LOIRE ATLANTIQUE FRANCE, (March23-24, 2002)--The USA Cycling-U.S. Postal Service Espoir National Team kicked off its international campaign March 23-24 in France. The group of Mark Fitzgerald, John Hygelund, Sterling Magnell, Patrick McCarty, Timmy Reinhart and Jon Retseck competed in the Classic Loire Atlantique Saturday, March 23.
The squad's next competition is the Grand Prix de Waregem, March 27 in Belgium.
WAREGEM, Belgium (March 27, 2002) -- The USA Cycling-U.S. Postal Service Espoir National Team is back in Belgium, their home away from home, for the next two weeks. But that doesn't mean they'll be sitting around watching Flemish soap operas. It just means they'll be racing a little closer to home.
The team gets two days of rest and then heads off to competition in Belgium's Harelbeke Saturday, March 30 and G.P. Momignies April 1.
BELGIUM (posted April 1, 2002) -- The USA Cycling-U.S. Postal Service Espoir National Team had a full weekend of racing, taking on the best riders Europe could throw its way. The squad competed in the Zesbergenprijs Harelbeke Saturday, March 30 and the G.P. Momignies Monday, April 1, both in Belgium.
BELGIUM (April 5-7, 2002) -- The USA Cycling-U.S. Postal Service Espoir National Team competed in Belgium's Le Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux April 5-7, with more than 140 European under-23 riders. The three-day, four-stage event included three road races and an individual time trial, combining for more than 460km. The U.S. squad was comprised of: Walker Ferguson (Norwood, Colo.), Mark Fitzgerald (Norfolk, Va.), John Hygelund (Los Gatos, Calif.), Sterling Magnell (Occidental, Calif.), Patrick McCarty (Allen, Texas), Timmy Reinhart (Macungie, Pa.) and Jon Retseck (Doylestown, Pa.). National teams from Belgium, Norway, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Holland were in attendance, along with trade teams.
The team has three days of rest until they travel to France to take on the Circuit des Ardennes, April 11-14.
FRANCE (April 10-14) -- After a very successful weekend racing at Belgium's Le Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux, the USA Cycling-U.S. Postal Service Espoir National Team is taking on Circuit des Ardennes, April 10-14 in France. The team is squaring off against more than 110 riders from all over Europe in the five-day, five-stage event of more than 600km. The six-man squad is made up of Michael Creed, Walker Ferguson, Mark Fitzgerald, Patrick McCarty, Timmy Reinhart and Jon Retseck.
copyright © 2002 by Everette Carr. All rights reserved.
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