Short course sections make for some friendly competition. © Tom Robertson
HELENA, MONTANA – Geoff Proctor—organizer of the US ‘cross camp that takes place in Belgium each winter—and USA Cycling teamed up for the third consecutive summer to give 17 aspiring athletes a chance to participate in a cyclocross-specific summer training camp in Helena, Montana, in late July.
Proctor explains, “Living in a big country, a big challenge in athletics is talent dispersion. Part of the vision here is to bring together many of the top kids within an age category and provide them an opportunity to learn from each other. And, once again the emphasis is on moving them forward with their training, their motivation, and their focus. Two riders (Lombardo and Chance) raced the junior worlds race in Louisville. Four campers raced in Europe with me last December. Many of these riders witnessed first-hand the Louisville experience, so they know the power of this sport. And, it’s important to keep looking at the younger riders coming up. I’m appreciative of USAC for the opportunity to direct this camp.”
The camp, spread over four days, included four sessions a day: early morning conditioning, late morning specific cyclocross training, afternoon rides up in the mountains, and evening classroom sessions with video analysis of European cyclocross races and segments of motivational footage as well.
“By design, the camp is non-competitive in the sense that it’s an out-of-season camp.” Proctor explained. “As a result, we really focus on, reinforce, and digest the multitude of skills required for cyclocross. I also like to tightly plan everything—maximize the experience with very little down-time. The riders go home pretty fatigued, but it’s a good tired, a motivated tired. The seeds are planted and everything is positioned such that they can work towards having a super cyclocross season.”
Proctor will also continue the talent refinement process with his eleventh EuroCrossCamp this December and culmination to the season with the world championships in late January in Hoogerheide, Netherlands.
Camp Gallery from Tom Robertson:
2013 Camp Roster:
- David Lombardo – Chicago, IL
- Anders Nystrom – Boise, ID
- Josey Weik – Wrenshall, MN
- Maxx Chance – Boulder, CO
- Nolan Brady – Steilacoom, WA
- Garrett Gerchar – Boulder, CO
- David O’Brien – Olympia, WA
- Cooper Willsey – Hinesburg, VT
- Gavin Haley – Louisville, KY
- Brannan Fix – Fort Collins, CO
- Liam Dunn – Denver, CO
- Sam Rosenberg – Eugene, OR
- Lance Haidet – Bend, OR
- Jake Thompson – Arlington, VA
- Spencer Petrov – Mason, OH
- Cameron Beard – Bend, OR
- Jordan Lewis – Jonesborough, TN
