A few phonetos (photos from my phone)!

I have been in Europe for almost one month and am slowly getting aquatinted with the French lifestyle. Annika and I have been working towards setting up our life here on the French Riviera which is easier said than done. Trying to get anything done around the holidays is always difficult, so in the meantime while the French take a little siesta, we have been enjoying our time here as well. Below are a few photos I have snapped from my phone while out riding or roaming the streets.

El Rancho Bronco Atop Col de Vence.

                                         The Alps are always looking over the sea!

Cote d' Azur. 

                                            Some hidden roads in the mountains.

                                                       Ferris wheel ride!!

                                                    Another setting sun.

                                           Sunrise, what goes down must come up right...

Looking forward to starting 2013 and my season with Team Sky.

Home

“Living on the road my friend Was gonna keep you free and clean Now you wear your skin like iron Your breath's as hard as kerosene You weren't your mama's only boy But her favorite one it seems She began to cry when you said goodbye And sank into your dreams” -Townes Van Zandt 

             On the 6th of December I will set off on my next adventure, only this time I will be going for an extended stay. For the past three years I have been a roaming man, often stetting up my life wherever the racing/training has taken me. I have split the majority of my time over the last few years between Bend, Chico and Europe, but now I will be a full time European resident. I am very excited to be moving to Nice, France to race with Team Sky for the next three years, and I am also a little shocked at how quickly this has all come to fruition. Since Sky will not likely be racing in the USA in 2013 I will be spending the entire year in Europe, so now instead of coming home to visit family and friends they will have to come and visit me in my new home. I now have only a few days left in Santa Rosa, after which I will make a quick stop in Chico to say hello to some friends, and then off to Bend for my final farewell. On December 1st SunnySide Sports will be hosting a going away party from 6-8pm. Hope to see you all soon and if not come visit me in  Nice!!! 

Salute, 

Ian

Goal Reached, New Goals Set.

And so begins a new chapter in my life as a cyclist. In September I signed a contract with Team Sky Profesional Cycling, marking my entry into the ProTour and a new way of living. This December I will be moving to Nice, France, to begin preparing for the coming year- I'm very excited to be going to such an international city with such a rich history in the sport. My good friend Joe Dombrowski will also be joining me in this adventure, as well as my girlfriend and our pet seal Siltcoos.

Meanwhile, I am living in Santa Rosa, California to train for the month of November. The riding here is fantastic, and the weather is much, much better than the snowbound wasteland from which I hail (also known as Bend, Oregon). There is so much here to see and enjoy- in one ride you can see towering redwoods, grand valley oaks, and the ocean. I intend to keep this blog well updated from here on out, with training updates, race reports, and general ramblings about where I am and what I am doing. I hope you will come back to check it out again soon!

Ian Boswell

Team Camp Austin.

First Beer with Axel Merckx on my 21st, party held at Lance Armstrong's



Lances Unity Trek Bikes in Mellow Johnny's




I am spending the next few days in the Redwoods of Northern California with Annika before I head out to my next team camp on the 19th.

Ian

Bontrager-LIVESTRONG Team Camp

This week I am in Austin, Tx with my team at our first team camp of 2012. It feels great to be back with the boys out training and bonding towards a big season to come. I am missing out on the legendary Paskenta (a race/ride) in Chico, however I'm sure we will get plenty of miles in while here.

Here are a few photos thus far. More to come!

A Man Among Boys.

During the month of April 2010, I was at the U23 house in Izegem, Belgium, passing the days like most cyclists. Hanging out with the boys in Europe is always full of good times and lots of joking, but that year, one of those jokes turned into a serious life changing experience. Connor O'Leary was experiencing some pain where the sun don't shine, but pain in this area is common for cyclists, especially during wet Belgian races. At one point during the ongoing joke about Connors jewels, I remember someone setting out a banana with a grape as one testicle and an apple as the other- at the time it was hilarious. Two months later while back in the US, we all received the information that the joke involving fruit on the table had become a reality. Connor was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 19, and I was shocked that such a thing could happen to such a young, healthy and positive kid. However, those attributes are what got Connor through his battle with the disease. Now cancer free, Connor will be joining his friends and teammates on Trek-LIVESTRONG for 2012. Connors experience is just one more lesson that shows us cancer knows no boundaries and can affect anyone at anytime. I am honored to have Connor joining the team for this season, as he is one of our countries promising up-and-coming climbers and is the most genuine, kind man I have come across in cycling.

1.) The BozBlog: When did you first start racing bikes, how did you get into this sport?
Connor O'Leary:I got into road cycling when I was nine years old. My Dad wanted to do a ride called RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa), a 7 day 550 mile ride across the state. I really wanted to go with him, so I trained on an old mountain bike, and right before the ride I got my first road bike, a little steel framed Bianchi. Once I swung my leg over the top tube I was hooked. I completed the 550 miles that year, and rode RAGBRAI for the next 4 consecutive years. After a few years of just riding, I was ready for something different, and wanted to train for more than just a ride. When I was 13 I decided I wanted to race, and Nationals happened to be in Utah. I showed up having no clue what I was doing, getting dropped hard in the crit that first year. I trained the next year, still really not knowing what I was doing, showed up for Nationals again and remember standing on the podium with none other than “The Boz” himself in the Juniors 13-14 TT.
2.) BB: What was your first reaction when you heard you had testicular cancer?
CO:Shocked. I remember going into the doctor, he felt me up, and within about 2 seconds he said we need to get you in to have an ultrasound. He said “I’m 90% sure that’s cancer”. I immediately got the ultrasound, and sure enough it was Cancer. My dad just started bawling, I felt distant. It was a lot to take in. I went from being in great form, and planning to leave for Nationals the next day, to scheduling surgery and seeing more doctors. I was beginning what would become the most important race of my life.
3.) BB: Do you remember the fruit diagram on the table in Izegem? What did you think then, and post diagnosis?
CO: Ha-ha I sure do remember that diagram! I’m pretty sure we were all on the floor crying we were laughing so hard. Ah that brings back some good memories. At the time, I honestly didn’t think it could be anything as serious as Cancer, it did cross my mind a few times, but I thought nah, I’m healthy, young, racing my bike on the National team, there is no way! It was just a good joke! Post diagnosis hindsight is 20/20 right? It definitely was something more serious than we all thought; nonetheless the fruit diagram still cracks me up.
4.) BB: I know that most of the Americans on LIVESTRONG rode in honor of you in 2011. How does it feel to now be part of this team?
CO: I can’t tell you how much having you guys ride in my honor meant to me and my family. I was Skyping with Nate and a few others, and I just remember them saying “We are riding for you at Nationals”. Not being able to participate really crushed my morale, but knowing that you guys genuinely cared, and were riding for me gave me strength to do what needed to be done. Having Ben King win the Road Race, and then dedicate the win to me, brought tears to my eyes. Being part of the team for 2012 is surreal. I’m looking forward to riding with a great group of guys, on behalf of other cancer patients, and hope to help raise cancer awareness. It is a cause that is very personal to me.
5.) BB: LIVESTRONG is a cancer foundation that provides resources for people with cancer around the world, what support/help did you receive from LIVESTRONG?
CO: The LIVESTRONG foundation was the first resource my family turned to for answers. Our first experience with cancer was when my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. My sister ordered a book from LIVESTRONG that helped to answer many of our questions, and helped comfort our family. Then, when I was diagnosed, we again turned to LIVESTRONG for answers. Lance Armstrong learned of my diagnosis and took the time to send me an email. I ended up flying back to Indiana to meet with his doctor Lawrence Einhorn who worked with Huntsman Cancer Institute to direct my care.
6.) BB: Did you continue to ride during your cancer treatment? Did your desire to race help keep your head up through such a life changing event?
CO: I tried riding for the first few cycles of my treatment, but it beat me down pretty bad. I remember wanting to be active even though I felt poorly, so I went to the community pool with all the senior citizens. I was doing some light walking in the water, and remember getting lapped by an 80 year old man (mind you, he was a fit 80 year old man), but nonetheless, I was distraught. I had gone from competitive cyclist to getting lapped in a pool by someone 4 times my age. I can honestly say cycling saved my life, a few months before finishing my chemo I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Embolisms (Blood Clots) in both lungs and in my heart. The doctor looked at me and said this would kill the majority of people; you’re alive because your heart is so strong. As you know, cycling is just as tough mentally as it is physically, so that mental toughness I used on the bike really helped me to get through my string of health problems.
7.) BB: What are your goals for the 2012 season?
CO: I’m really looking forward to the 2012 season; I’m healthy, and ready to race. I couldn’t ask to ride for a better bunch of guys to ride with, and hope to help the team in whatever way, shape or form I can. Riding for a team that promotes cancer awareness is huge! A major goal for me is to help my fellow cancer patients and survivors to LIVESTRONG!

Thank you so much Connor for your time, you have and will remain an inspiration for all of us on LIVESTRONG.
The photos is courtesy of Connor, from way back in the day. Nationals podium from 13-14 nationals in Park City UT. (Connor is the second from the left)


Ian

The Road Ahead.

2012 is well under way for myself and most of my cycling friends and teammates. Many of us are living in warmer climates, helping us log long miles in preparation for another season of traveling and racing. Training is becoming more specific as the excitement of racing looms. My season will start with a team camp in Austin, Texas the first week of February. Camp will mark my second season on the Trek-LIVESTRONG U23 team and my third season in the professional ranks.

Trek will be the first team that I have done back to back seasons with since I was fifteen, racing for a local Bend bike shop. Returning for a second year provides added comfort, knowing how the team is run and where I fit in on the roster. As the oldest rider on LIVESTRONG and a "vet" of many European races, I hope to take on more of a leadership roll this year. Coming into the season with a high level of fitness I am ready to lead, whether it be by riding for personal results or by riding in support of the team.

Here are my goals for 2012- they are not specific races. However, if I can accomplish these I will satisfy myself and results are sure to come:

-Climb with Joe Dombrowski
-Time Trial as fast as Nate Brown and Lawson Craddock
-Lead a team as well as Alex Howes
-Be as positive and up beat as Rob Bush
-Try and suffer half as much as Ben King
-Do all this while looking as good as Taylor Phinney

Bon Voyage
Ian

Ask a Teammate....Or Three.

I sent out a short list of five questions to three of my LIVESTRONG teammates. Each of these riders are phenomenal and specialize in different areas of cycling. The three riders are; Joe Dombrowski-Super climber, Lawson Craddock- Fastest man on the aero bike, and Gavin Mannion-The crazy one for the fast sprints.

The Boz Blog1.) How many years have you been racing (total, and with Trek-Livestrong)?
JD: This will be my second full season racing with Trek-Livestrong, though I did ride with the team as a stagiaire at the Tour of Utah in 2010.
LC: I've been on Trek-Livestrong since 2011, so this will be my second year racing with the team.
GM: This will be my third season with Trek-Livestrong(now Bontrager-Livestrong)
BB2.) Where are you living, how is the training there?
JD: I live in Virginia. The training is great. I can turn one way out my door and hit big climbs, and go the other way and ride pancake flat roads. Most importantly, I have some great people to train with, too!
LC: I live in Austin, TX. The training is amazing here with great weather during the winter. My coach, David Wenger, also lives here as well as TLS teammates Gavin Mannion and Nathan Brown.
GM:I'm living in Austin, Texas right now and the training is great. The weather is consistent and warm. With two other Livestronger's here, as well as a selection of other strong riders there is always a good group to roll with.
BB3.) What are your goals for 2012?
JD: I'd like to round myself out as a rider. Last year I had some strong results in climbing-heavy races. This year I'd like to improve my time trial, and to become more of a factor in races that are flatter or rolling terrain. In addition, I want to continue learning, and help my teammates achieve their goals along the way.
LC: My goals for 2012 are to survive the death rides that my coach is currently putting me through. If I can do that then I hope to perform well at the Spring classics in Europe as well as Nationals.
GM:I'd like to continue to improve all round and step my results up to the next level. Last year I was consistent and had numerous top 10 placings, and would like to turn those into podiums and victories.
BB4.) What is the best piece of advise Axel Merckx (team director) has given you?
JD: Don't over think it, and ride at the front!
LC: "You sure you want to eat that?"
GM: The biggest thing I've learned from Axel is that everyone develops at their own pace and, not to rush into things before your body is ready for it.
BB5.) Joe you can climb better than me, Lawson you can time trial better than me and Gavin you can sprint better than me. So why am I on the team, and how can I won day (play on words) challenge you in your respected area of talent?
JD: Ian, you are better than me at leading myself into a climb, or leading out Gavin into a congested sprint. You seem to be very (re)focused for 2012 - I am expecting big things from you, and maybe a role reversal on this.
LC: You're on the team because you're Ian Boswell. When you put you're mind to it you're one of the best riders in the peleton. Can't wait to see what you have for the world in 2012!
GM: I was wondering the same thing... Just kidding, I'd say it's because of your ability to help the team and those altitude climbs. Ahh... stop riding and hit the gym or sprint me to the top of a mountain.

Back in California!

After a wonderful week at home for the holiday, I am back in Chico and back to training! The weather forecast here in Chico is 65 and sunny all week, a great start to 2012. Stay tuned for more, and in the mean time here is a link to Annika's blog which has some great photos of our Christmas tree hunt!

Ian

Speaking to a Crowd

Last night I had a wonderful opportunity to speak at the Chico Velo Annual Holiday Party, this was my first event of this type, and boy did I learn a lot. Some people would say I am a talker, and I usually never have a problem speaking with people, but public speaking is an entirely different beast. I had time to prepare my speech and think about what I was going to say, and most of my rides leading up to the evening were spent pondering stories and adventure I could share. I managed to make it through the talk with wondering stories, and transitioned to the Q&A, which was a much easier and enjoyable process. As the speech went on I became more comfortable and got into a flow. If I were speak again at an event, I would prepare a powerpoint to help keep me on track and bring a better rhythm to the presentation. I would like to thank Chico Velo and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company for having me and giving me this valuable experience.

Only a few more days in sunny Chico before heading home for the holidays and a little break from the bike. Looking back at the past two months of training I see that I am leagues ahead of where I was last year at this time, for that I would like to thank: my coach (Hunter Allen and peakscoachinggroup.com) my gym (In Motion Fitness), my Chico training buddies, and of course my wonderful girlfriend (check the link for some awesome photos!), who has been so supportive, making my training and living so much easier.

Thank you and I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season,
Ian

Boswell Refocused For 2012 Trek-Livestrong Season | Cyclingnews.com

Boswell Refocused For 2012 Trek-Livestrong Season | Cyclingnews.com

Pro Training Day with Paul Mach

Following a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner in Paradise, Ca at the home of Jeff Galland, Paul Mach drove up from Sactown to ride with me for a real "Pro training day" as Paul would say. With an awesome route planned, we hit the road like the old days on Bissell and tapped out a big day in the mountains.

Paul and Ian's PRO Training Tips:
- Ride by 10am.
-Ride in a small group or alone.
-Always train in leg warmers when its below 70 degrees.
-Make short and quick stops, no hanging around- this is a job.
-Don't coast on downhills.
-Get behind, get left behind.
-Don't bonk, but eating is cheating.
-Train hard, rest hard.
-Don't race down wet descents during training.
-Pro rides always need a TwitPic!

Now go train!
Le Boz

The Artsy Side!

Check out Annika's new blog. Damn I wish I had the photo eye that she does!

http://annikacat.blogspot.com

Ain't Nobody!

Last spring, I was riding with my friend and fellow Oregon racer Quinn Keogh, and being the funny man that he is he shared some entertaining youtube videos with me. Typically if someone wants to show me a video online I refuse, for I feel it is a waste of time. Quinn however, got me to check out a video about a body builder named Ronnie Coleman, and in awe of the shear size of this man I continued to watch the video. As he prepared to squat an unfathomable amount of weight he said something that has stuck with me ever since, "Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, ain't no body want to lift this heavy ass weight!". What he said was true- we all want to look like this or live like that, but many people don't want to do the work required to achieve these desires. During these past three weeks in Chico, I have been pleasured by good weather and great rides, but with winter and rain looming in the coming months I will keep Ronnie in mind, with my own added twist.

Everybody wants to be a pro bike racer, ain't nobody want to do this hard ass training!

Happy Thanksgiving
Ian
Here is a link to a short video of his:

What do the Ladies Have to Say?

Recently inspired to begin blogging again, I have been thinking up new ideas for fun and entertaining posts. One of these ideas was to create a series of interviews with various people both about cycling and about life. While riding today, I thought it would be interesting to do a little Q&A with the ladies behind the scene, who often play a very important role supporting the pro cycling careers of their partners . These women endure a great deal with partners who are often on the road and away from home, and I wanted to hear straight from the source what they think of the whole spectacle. The three wonderful women participating in this interview are; Sara Mach, Kate Fox and Annika Johannesen.

Sara Mach: Sarah is the wife of my long time blog rival and Paskenta buddy, Paul Mach. I have known Sara and Paul since 2010, when Paul and I shared a year racing together on BISSELL Pro Cycling. A school teacher in California, she loves her dog Jens and enjoys spray-painting the streets of Nevada City. Next year Paul will be racing for Kenda-5Hour Energy, with Sara cheering and supporting him all the way.

Kate Fox: The smiling and lively girlfriend of America's next superstar Andrew Talansky, she enjoys spending her time competing in adventure races and half marathons. Kate is now living in historic Lucca, Italy where she and Andrew have embraced the cappuccino sipping, pizza eating, gelato licking Italian lifestyle. 2012 will be Andrews second ProTour year and he will be racing for Garmin-Cervelo.

Annika Johannesen: What should I say about Annika . . . ? Annika is my beautiful Swedish-American girlfriend of over half a year now. Often pushing my endurance on hikes, runs and in the gym, she loves to exercise. Annika enlightens me in so many ways and always brings a smile to my face when she rocks out on her Ibanez electric guitar. We are now both living in Chico, Ca for the winter while I prepare for the upcoming season with Trek-LIVESTRONG.



BozBlog 1.) How long have you and your partner been together? Where did you meet and did cycling have anything to do with your first encounter?
Sara Mach: Paul and I have been officially been together since Valentine's Day of 2004. He made me a breakfast burrito and asked me if I'd be his girlfriend. At the time, he was a runner, not a cyclist at all.
Kate Fox: Andrew and I have been together for 2.5 years. We met in Lake Tahoe at a local bike race called "Tour De Nez", I was living in Truckee at the time and had a friend who was racing in the same race. Andrew first caught my eye while receiving the 'Best Young Riders' jersey up on the podium. We were later introduced by mutual friends
Annika Johannesen: The author of this here blog and I have been together for about 6 months. And yes to the second question- we met on a small group ride last fall.

BB 2.) I know you partner is often away traveling and racing, how do you stay in touch with each other during the time apart?
SM: Paul and I use Google chat a lot. He makes sure to contact me after every race so that I know he's OK and alive. We talk on the phone too but he's usually pretty tired so texting and chatting is convenient.
KF: While Andrew is racing we usually use BBM or Skype to stay in touch. Skype (for obvious reasons) is the way to go, especially when he's gone for longer than a week!!!
AJ: We stay in touch primarily through e-mail and the occasional phone call when time-zones and circumstance allow.

BB 3.) Cycling is a hard sport to be successful at, what do you do to try and keep your traveling solider grounded and calm?
SM: Paul is pretty good at staying grounded and calm on his own, but I try to always look on the positive side if he's bothered by something. I also try to come up with jokes for his blog which makes him happy.
KF: I've learned that cycling is a very demanding sport...so to help keep Andrew grounded and calm during the year, I usually try to make sure everything at home is taken care of (ie: cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc.) so that all he needs to worry about is training/racing.
AJ: Encourage him when he needs it and point out how great of a lifestyle cycling allows for. I try to be supportive and positive in as many ways as I can.

BB 4.) Assuming your man is a true cyclist, he shaves his legs. Do you like shaved legs, and have you ever helped him do it?
SM: I like Paul's legs no matter what their hairy situation is. In the spring and summer they are shaved and in the fall and winter they aren't, so I get to experience both. No complaints here.
KF: I never thought in a million years that I would date a man who not only wore spandex, but who also shaved his legs... That was until I met Andrew Now I cringe at the sight of hairy legs! Do I help him? Haha, no he can handle that business on his own! It only gets weird when his legs happen to be softer than mine...that's not ok
AJ: I definitely don’t mind them; they feel nice I guess. I’ve never helped, but maybe he’s trying to give me some kind of hint with this question . . .

BB5.) Nutrition and a wholesome diet are very critical for an endurance athlete. Who does the cooking or do you spend all that big salary on eating out?
SM: We both cook about the same, although we aren't chefs. Spaghetti is a popular meal, along with scrambled eggs, and our own version of the burrito bowl. We're pretty good about going out to eat only once or twice a week.
KF: Nutrition is really important to Andrew and I, especially during the race season. Luckily, we both love cooking and enjoy spending most of our nights in making awesome meals together. I must say, we totally enjoy going out a couple nights a week to our favorite restaurants (this is also a great way to avoid doing dishes)
AJ: We spend a good amount of time preparing meals, cooking together, cooking for each other, eating together . . . its something we connect about and enjoy a lot. Eating out usually only happens on special occasions.

BB 6.) Traveling is a large part of a cyclists life, so when your partner returns home do ever do your own adventures or do you like to spend that cherished time at home?
SM: We're homebodies. We're all about staycations.
KF: I cherish every moment I get to spend with Andrew and generally spend most of my time with him when he is home, however I never hesitate to go on my own adventures when the opportunity presents itself...even if Andrew is home. Being a runner, I have many of my own races (during his off season) and am so grateful when Andrew can be there to support me.
AJ: A little bit of both. Its nice to be mellow and spend some time being a homebody, but little trips and adventures are great and usually lots of fun.

BB7.) What are some of the perks of being with a professional athlete?
SM: One perk of being with a professional cyclist is that his schedule is fairly flexible so we get to spend a lot of time together doing little things, like grocery shopping or walking the dog. He also keeps a pretty bangin' body so he's always looking good.
KF: One of the perks of being with a professional athlete for me is always having someone by your side who inspires you on a daily basis. Additionally, I get the opportunity to travel places I could have never dreamed of I should also mention, it's Great to have a man who's always in amazing physical shape haha.
AJ: I get to ride his motorscooter around town when he doesn’t need it for motorpacing, and he doesn’t need it for motorpacing very often . . .

BB 8.) Do you yourself ever ride with your partner, or is that mixing work with personal life?
SM: I ride with Paul during the off season when he just needs to do an easy coffee ride. Those are the only ones I'll go on with him, otherwise I'm too slow.
KF: N/A. (I know however, that she would sure beat him in a run).
AJ: We ride together frequently, and if Ian has some kind of workout to do or wants to ride faster than me I am fine with getting left behind- I just do my training like I would anyway.

BB 9.) Most cyclist get regular massage, do you ever rub legs? The real question is do they ever return the favor?
SM: I would massage Paul more if he wasn't so ticklish. And Paul sucks at giving massages.
KF: Andrew is a lucky man considering he met a woman who is a massage therapist so yes, I do massage his legs...as far as the favor being returned, let's just say he may not 'rub my legs', but he makes up for it in other ways!
AJ: I do, he does.

BB 10.) I was humiliated and beat by my girlfriend in an arm wrestling match. If there was a showdown who would win?
SM: Paul would win. His T-rex arms are surprisingly strong.
KF: There's no question when it comes to arm wrestling...of course I will take Andrew down!!! Haha, sorry babe.
AJ: There was no contest.

Thank you again ladies for your time and I wish both you and your partner a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous season ahead.
Hope you enjoyed,
Le Boz

New Blog Coming Soon!

This past week in Chico has been one of the best weeks of my year! Sun, riding, food, coffee and time with my girlfriend have made the first ten days here in California rewarding and splendid. I have a fun blog coming in the next few days, so stay tuned!

A little poem I wrote:

You and Me

You and me, how can this be?
Our love so deep it breaks us free.
The way I feel you can not see,
but now, honey, its just you and me.

Le Boz

A Season in Review

I did not keep my blog up to date last season, and for that I am sorry. The Boz Blog, like many things in 2011, were a bit scattered. My winter training started much later than in years past for a multitude of reasons. After a quick two winter months in Chico, Ca, I headed to Europe for my first block of racing with the US National Team. Due to the fact that I was a year older, I was naturally stronger, but my fitness level was not where it could of been. This was something I struggled with for the rest of the season.

European racing provided some much needed experience and development, but while traveling I found out that my mother had been re-diagnosed with breast cancer, adding extra weight to an already fatigued mind and body. By the end of two months I was ready to come home and spend some valuable time with my mother. With a clear head and refreshed body I began to build up for the second half of the season, targeting races such as Nevada City, the Cascade Cycling Classic, and the Tour of Utah. I worked hard to build up my fitness, but without consistent mileage and hours over the winter, I felt like I was always trying to make up for lost time.


Nevada City was my first targeted race following Mt. Hood, which was used as a training race. The hours leading up to my start were rather eventful- I ripped the right mirror off my car by backing into a fence post. Additionally, my girlfriend's race number was the mark of the devil- 666. She then proceeded to crash on a fast 180 degree downhill lefthand sweeper, returning to me bleeding and crying. Despite the chaos, I had a beautiful day of racing and won my second consecutive Nevada City Classic, which I was happy to share with my dad (it was fathers day), uncle Craig, and my wounded yet smiling Annika. Next on the list was US Nationals, in sunny, southern, hotter than hell Augusta Georgia. Although I did not produce any spectacular results, my few of my longtime friends and Trek-LIVESTRONG teammates Nate Brown and Lawson Craddock landed spots on the podium, finishing first and second, respectively.

On my flight back to Oregon I began to focus on my hometown race, the Cascade Cycling Classic,. This Classic is a race I know well, taking place on all my favorite roads, giving me a distinct advantage. I rode well, taking 4th and 5th in two stages and 6th in the general classification. Finishing in the top ten was rewarding, but I had yet to reach the level of fitness I knew I could achieve. During this week I was surprised to find out that the team would not be racing the Tour of Utah or the Tour of Colorado due our affiliation with Team RadioShack. I was let down by this information- I had hoped to recreate my success of the 2010 Utah race. However, I accepted it as part of bike racing and turned my focus towards heading back to Europe with the national team.

First up was the Olympic Test Race in London, taking place on the planned course of the 2012 Olympic Games and containing a field full of top level ProTour riders. The test event was a riot (those crazy Brits), and the 250,000 supporters out on the streets were rewarded when their countryman, Mark Cavendish, won the race. Riding at the front in support of Tyler Farrar, I got a taste of what its like to race in the ProTour. This was when I realized that the high level of riding on display was within reach for me if I continued to work hard. Following London I went to Lucca, Italy for a mini training camp with the US team under the guidance of our new Swiss director, Marcello Albasini. The training camp was a prep for the Giro de Valley Aosta, an enormously mountainous race in the Italian Alps, as well as being prep for Le Tour de L'Avenir, the Tour de France for riders under 23.

Aosta is a very prestigious race in Italy, but our team approached it as a training race. We were there to ride and take opportunities presented to us, but we would not dig too deep to create opportunities for ourselves- we were to save ourselves for L'Avenir. Fortunately and unfortunately we did very well at Aosta- on stage one I came within 300 meters of winning the stage after a long solo breakaway (below I posted a report and video from that stage). My Trek teammate Joe Dombrowski showed that he is one of the worlds top young climbers by winning a stage and finishing 2nd on GC. With positive vibes following Aosta we were all excited and confident for Avenir, but none of us could guess the extent to which our hard and rewarding ride in Italy would doom us in France the following week.

In last years Avenir I had the pleasure of riding in support of Andrew Talansky, who took 2nd overall with an outstanding ride resulting from the work of a stellar, dedicated professional team. This year the US team was expecting a similar ride, but we left empty handed. Not once did we get a rider in the top 10 and the only podium we saw was at the team presentation as well as myself wearing the Green Number for most environmentally friendly rider (It was more of a joke- they just felt bad for me because I crashed). We left France greatly disappointed, but learned a valuable lesson about racing and preparation for key events- when you are targeting a race, you need to save all your energy for said race, even if it means letting other opportunities pass.

With the emptiness of Avenir fresh in our minds, we went back to Belgium for a one day race to keep our legs fast for Worlds in Copenhagen. Our team again experienced misfortune and produced poor results at the one day race, with four out of five crashing on the wet cobblestones, including all of our sprinters. Worlds was no more of a success- wounded and tired, we employed the tactics we needed to, but just didn't have the zest and energy to walk away with the win.

Writing this blog I realize that my season was a bit of a roller coaster. Like any other season, I had some great days and some bad days, but overall I feel that I never reached my full potential. I wouldn't say that I am disappointed by this, but I would say I am unsatisfied. I went to all the big races, but I was riding in support of others instead of contesting the races at the front like I know I can. This season I learned that in the world of cycling, if you let up for a second you are out of it for a year. I have big goals for 2012 and with the knowledge I have acquired this year I plan on once again racing to win. Unlike last year I have already started my winter base training, and with the help of my coach Hunter Allen (peakscoachinggroup.com) I plan to hit the 2012 racing season fit and ready to win.

Thanks for reading and see you out on the road!
Ian


Valle d"Aosta Stage 1 Report and Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlDQPyzaDLw)


"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat"-Theodore Roosevelt. This is what my roommate Rob Squire read to me before the stage today. So with this in mind Rob and I went out to race our bikes with passion and panache. Soon after the start Rob and I both made a large break of 20+ riders, we gained time over the pack quickly and had five minutes before the first climb 25km into the race.
Motivated from Teddy's quote, Rob told me he wanted to win the stage and I told him I wanted to win the KOM jersey(King of the Mountains). As we neared the top of the first climb I went for the KOM sprint and took 3rd. After some amazing and scenic roads through the French Alps we hit the second climb, 90km from the finish. The break stopped working together, so I decided to mix things up. I went to the front and rode a harder pace and soon found myself off the front. I first told myself I would ride to the top of the climb, get the KOM points and see what kind of gap I had. By the top I had over 1'30" on the break so I decided to ride and see if I could pick up the next KOM 20km from the summit of the 2nd climb. Not killing myself I rode steady and hit the next climb with the same gap. I summited the 3rd climb and now had 2' over the break. At this point out team director came up to me and told me to continue but not burn all my fuel, so continued on and rode within self.
By the time I reached the last climb 30km from the finish my gap was still at 2', and Marcello told me to ride for the win. Riding off the front also hoped Rob who was in the group behind, as he did not have to work with the others who were chasing. I summited the final climb 25km from the finish with 1'30" over the chasing group which was now down to just 10 riders. After a technical decent I put my head down and rode for the win. The last 25km was a mostly flat route with a hard 1km finishing climb that we had scouted out this morning. I gave it all I had and still had a 40" gap over the chase group with 5km togo. At this point I thought I could win, all I had to do was make it up the final climb which was over 15%.
With 2km togo I still had 20" over the chase. As the climb approaching I got goosebumps just thinking of the win, and kept the power driving on. I hit the 15% pitch and had pain in my legs like I have never experienced before, but with the finish line just 600 meters away I gave it all I had. The fans on the road where cheering, but all I could hear were my legs telling me to stop. With 500 meters to go I looked back and still didn't see anyone, however my speed was starting to slow. By the time I hit 300 meter from the finish I was probably going under 5km/h, it was at this point I was passed by the chasers. Too knackered to feel emotion, I looked up to see Rob and the others come by at a much higher speed. The last 200 meters were the longest of my life, and I then realized I did what I could and came up just 300 meters short. I have seen riders come up short a hundred times on TV, being caught in the final, but never has it happened to me. After crossing the line I had no regrets, I gave 100% and thats all I can do.
Rob finished 3rd on the stage, which is a great result. I won the KOM jersey and most aggressive rider for the day, however there is still a lot of climbing to be done before this race is over. Following the stage I gave a few interviews in my broken French trying to win the hearts of the French fans. Tomorrow is a huge day with three cat 1 climbs, so I will recover to my best and give the race what I have tomorrow.

Back on the blog

My off season is almost over and I am getting geared up for 2012. For next season I will be moving back to Chico in November with my girl friend and racing again with Trek-LIVESTRONG. Check back soon for more!!

Le Boz

Georgia Camping

11 states and over 20 hours in the van with 1,000 miles traveled I made it to team camp. The week started with a flight across the country to Boston where I reunited with the boss (Toby). My first day out east was like the third Christmas of the year, picking up a new sparkling white Cervelo S2, and seeing the new boxes packed with bars that we got from our cereal and bar sponsor. I rode the bike for the first time that day in what was the best day in New England for the last few months, a mild 70 degrees, and a brisk wind made all just about perfect. All was great, even though I got lost trying to find my way back to the house it was alright because the proper white houses with groomed yards, and the old brick buildings is like nothing we have in Oregon so it kept things interesting. On top of that the different types of mouth watering granola bars that we got from our new sponsor were like chocolate peanut butter rocket fuel. As this day came to an end the reality of two straight days of driving appeared. Thank god for a big van which I could spread out and sleep, regardless it was long, but long does not mean bad. I thought it was gong to be worse luckily I was in good company. We picked up my new teammate, and great guy Paul Lynch two hours into the drive and from there it was smooth rolling… for about an hour until we hit heavy New York traffic, however here the highlight of the drive occurred. Gabriella had her eyes fixed out the windows looking at all the trash and debris that lay on the side of the dirty worn road in hopes of seeing something valuable. For a moment she looked away, and when she did there it was staring right back at me, an ancient well used and weathered five dollar bill. After double checking it was alright to hop out of the van in bumper to bumper traffic I was on it faster then a cat on a mouse. America is just like they said money is just lying on the ground. After another day of driving we arrived atop beautiful Charlie Mountain in Northern Georgia. The first ride of camp was spectacular with the whole team rolling on new bikes through the stunning rolling hills and back woods of the Georgia Mountains. As we approached the end of the ride all there was to do was ride up the drive way, more like race up. A little over a mile long and steeper than anybody wants it stung; actually more than stung it made my legs throbbed; they felt like there were on the verge of exploding. For the rest of the week we will enjoy all the great roads, rides and weather that Georgia has to offer. It’s good to be back in the Dirty South.

The New Year

For the first post of 2011 and for the first time I (Ian’s little brother), will write some updates for the blog. Being a newcomer to the sport last year I knew little of what to expect, even getting into the sport was a chance of luck so I gave it a try. But this year should be something different, I know what to expect and understand what it is like to be racing at this level. So far the 2011 season has been all and more of what I could want. On January tenth I flew down to L.A. for a team pursuit camp with the national team. Riding the track for the first time was nothing short of crazy. Trying to describe this to non cyclist it is hard to explain, but it is a 250 meter wooden track with similar shape to a running track except the bends are between 40-43% gradient so the first day I as terrified coming into every corner, and the G forces would pull you down to the bars. Soon enough though I got the hang of it and was having a great time. The whole camp was a blast, from watching a couple ghetto girls get into a fight outside Wal-Mart, to go-carting it was great. Also riding in the 70 degree weather was pretty nice. The track was something completely new but I’m glad I got to go and give it a try, always good to try new things.
From the heat of L.A I got to go to not only a warmer place, but a prettier one too. Lucky me, this year Team Hottubes did the Tour of Bahamas, the hot sun, crystal clear water, and white sandy beaches made this a great first team trip of the year, but a hard one to top. Never once did anything but a smile fill the faces of our team, and how could it when you knew it was going to be another day with beautiful sights, warm sun, and spectacular foods. We stayed on the 11th floor of a beachfront resort and were treated every night to a phenomenal sunset before heading out to some of the best restaurants of my life. Oh yea and the main reason we were there the bike race, almost forgot. The race as a two day, three stage races with the first day have a short 3 mile time trial, followed by a 46 mile circuit race. The First day went about as planned with our whole team finishing around mid pack in both races, but what was not planned was the nice red burn that I got on every art of me that touched the sun. The following morning we had a 76 mile road race. Although we did not get the results we hoped for it was a good race, and I got into several good breaks with my new teammate Paul Lynch. Once again we ended the race all around mid pack; however the day did not end then. After the race we rode about three miles from the finish to a private resort owned by Tiger Woods, and Ernie Els. The week was awesome but this was the perfect end to it all. Delicious food, water slides and lounging in the sun, my last day before I had to return to reality and the below freezing temperatures of Bend, and home cooked meals.
It did not take long to realize that Bend was not going to be the ideal place to train for the winter. So off to Chico, California it was. My brother rents a one bedroom back house which fits the two of us nicely. Chico has a long history with our family, my dad, uncle, and two aunts all went to school at Chico State. Now my brother, and I are both following along the same path, and I know why everyone loved it here. Chico is home to beautiful Bidwell Park, and some of the best road riding I have experienced, combine that with the mild to warm temperatures and it is a great place to be for the time. So for now my brother and I will try to log miles on the bike in preparation for the year ahead. We both have some big goals, and expectations to meet for the 2011 season which I hope turns out to be a good one.
-Austin