team
Team
Returning athletes include:
Chris Stuart. Chris earned a Collegiate National Championship in 2007 while at Mesa State College, along with the Montana State Criterium Championship in 2008, and the Idaho State Road Championship in 2009. Stuart also is the longest standing team member, with 2010 being his 5th year working with the team.
Kevin Rowe. 2008 was Rowe’s first year with the team and he made an immediate splash with victories at Elkhorn Classic, The Creampuff 100, and a Top Ten finish at the Elite National Time Trial Championships. Although Kevin’s 2009 season was cut short by injury, he proved his talent once again by winning a stage at the Elkhorn Classic, and finishing 2nd in the General Classification.
Chris Hong. Chris may be one of the finest pure climbers in the country. He is scheduled to graduate from Harvard University next spring, and will be living in Boise during the season. Victories in three east coast hillclimbs, and a 21st place at the U-23 National Championships last year, earned his spot on the 2009 roster. Now with a full year of experience competing in the professional peloton, Hong is out to prove that he can climb with anyone.
Brandon Lynch. Lynch earned his roster spot with consistent demonstrations of grit and class while competing against Bob’s in 2008. Just like Hong, Brandon has now had a full year to compete in, and learn from, the professional peloton. Lynch showed the most improvement of any rider on the team in 2009, and his selfless contributions to the squad are a model example to all! As an added bonus, Brandon comes from a background of road motorcycle racing, and continuously amazes with his bike handling abilities; an intangible skill that many riders never learn.
Kai Applequist Kai has only been racing for two years now, and has completely destroyed all competition on his way through the categories. Victories in Utah, Oregon, and Idaho, as well as a Top 20 finish at the U.S. Elite National Time Trial Championships in 2009 have made Applequist one of the most consistent and dependable riders on the squad.
New Riders Include:
Ivailo Gabrovski. Ivailo is the reigning road champion of Bulgaria, with 9 years of professional experience on French, Belgian, Greek, and Bulgarian squads. His strength is stage racing, which makes for a natural fit with the Escalera schedule. This is reflected in his multiple Bulgarian TT championships, and victories in stage races across Europe over the last decade. Gabrovski will wear the white/green/red Tri-color of Bulgaria for Escalera this season.
Remi McManus is the 2001 USA Cycling National Elite Road Racing champion and has spent most of the last 10 years in the Domestic Professional Peloton. Remi comes to Team Exergy after racing with Team Jelly Belly, Team Subway, and completing the 2009 season as the team captain for the Kenda Professional Cycling Team. The young riders on Team Exergy will benefit from Remi’s mentorship and experience, and his finishing kick adds depth to an already potent line-up.
Austin Arguello. Austin is new to the team in 2010, but brings a wealth of promise. He has competed in Europe for the U.S. Junior National Team, and cut his teeth at the hands of U.S. cycling legend Butch Martin. Arguello owns a list of fine results, including a victory at the Sea Otter Classic in 2009, and a podium placing at the U.S. Junior National Criterium Championships.
Wes Stein. Wes also comes to Team Exergy via Butch Martin and his Hammer/CMG team. He earned his Cat 1 upgrade by competing against the Oregon Pro/1/2 field as a junior. Results of note include 2 victories in 2009, and a 2nd place in stage 1 of the Cascade Classic's Cat 2 race.
Together, Rowe, Stein, and Arguello give Team XRG an outstanding presence on the West Coast, and allow the squad to race a much more diverse regional schedule in order to prepare for the difficulties of racing National events. Additionally, Hong, Stein, and Arguello form a formidable collection of U-23 racers that will compete for the young rider competitions at NRC stage races, and also the U-23 championships at Bend, Or in June.