In the years since he raced for the now-defunct Rapha-Focus team, Zach McDonald hasn’t had much luck securing a long-term bike sponsor.
So far this season, McDonald has not had a bike partner, but that is changing with the announcement that McDonald will be aboard Alchemy Bicycles’ Bailus model for the remainder of the 2015-16 ‘cross season. McDonald was connected with the Denver-based custom builder recently and will begin riding the new bike soon.
File photo of Zach McDonald at Cross Vegas in 2014. After a few team changes, he’ll now be partnering with Alchemy Bikes and riding their Bailus model. © MikeAlbright.com / Cyclocross Magazine
The road to sponsorship for McDonald has been filled with twists and turns. After his time with Rapha-Focus, McDonald signed with KCCX in the summer of 2014 and rode Ridley’s then flagship X-Night bike.
And just a few short months later, McDonald was back on his Focus bikes, which he had kept, and was riding for Texas-based Team Cyclocross Project 2015. It was with that squad that he defended his Cyclocross Tokyo title back in February.
McDonald has shown glimpses of his old form this season, recently winning day two of the Rapha Super Cross Nobeyama in Japan, coming from way back in the start grid to take the win.
At the time of publication, McDonald has not preregistered for 2016 Cyclocross Nationals in Asheville, NC, but we can hope with his new partnership with Alchemy, we’ll see him on the start line.
Stay tuned for additional information.
