A new Year, A new team!

2010-04-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

Just before Interbike we got the information that the Team Waste Management (WM)/racelab U23 will be history for 2010. So I was looking for a new team in 2010. It wasn’t an easy time for me to be patient and let the time to go by without any result. Who knows me: I’m living for the race scene! There is nothing better then working for a bunch of guys who give it all in the race and being part of the success is my main goal. Preparing them to only focus on riding and racing their bike is my main interest! Some see this as pampering the riders but for me it is being a professional in my field so they can be professional in theirs!

So, my best Christmas present was to get a call on December, 28th from Danny van Haute, Team Manager of Jelly Belly Pro Cycling presented by Kenda tires, with the question if I would be interested to come to their training’s camp and help them to build team bikes and set up for the upcoming season! What an coincidence that the Jelly Belly Team is riding a German product: bikes from FOCUS! We often look for presents and think about a nicely wrapped package of goodies! That’s not what it is all about in life! For me, that was the biggest present to receive with no price tag hanging on! Like I say so often: Life is good!!!

After a couple calls between Danny and me I got on the plane for camp! I had known that Danny signed a couple of new riders and some of them came from my old team WM. It was good to see some familiar faces! I also got the chance to finally work with John Sessa. Our first contact was in 2008 when he called me to give me a chance to work with him at Tour of Missouri and Rock Racing. The timing was bad and I couldn’t make time to go and that was it. In 2009 I started to work full time for WM and found John being the new full time mechanic for Jelly Belly. We talked a bit and stayed in contact over the season. It was a pleasure to work with him since we both had the same ideas how to get things done and also had no problem to communicate with each other. From that day on I felt wonderful, being part of a great team where amazing things started to grow.

After a couple calls between Danny and me I got on the plane for camp! I had known that Danny signed a couple of new riders and some of them came from my old team WM. It was good to see some familiar faces! I also got the chance to finally work with John Sessa. Our first contact was in 2008 when he called me to give me a chance to work with him at Tour of Missouri and Rock Racing. The timing was bad and I couldn’t make time to go and that was it. In 2009 I started to work full time for WM and found John being the new full time mechanic for Jelly Belly. We talked a bit and stayed in contact over the season. It was a pleasure to work with him since we both had the same ideas how to get things done and also had no problem to communicate with each other. From that day on I felt wonderful, being part of a great team where amazing things started to grow.

After a lot of bikes being built and riders being made happy with their different set ups I went home in a good spirit and knowing having some work and races secured for 2010.

I wasn’t planned for Redlands 2010 and was making sure over the next couple weeks that John is getting everything done in time for the race. We had known that there is a possibility that our race wheels are late or not coming on time for the race. After a couple phone calls we came down to the point that we have to use our old wheels from last year but no tires where glued yet and we had 8 riders to send off for the time trial and race on April 25th. John talked to Danny and the result was to get me down there and get the tires glued and TT bike built in time. Off I went on the 21st to Redlands and started another stretch of work with the team.

I had no idea at this time how successful the start would be!

My drive to Redlands was uneventful and after 6.5 hr. I arrived at our host house in Redlands. To my surprise the trailer was parked next to a barn direct in the dirt of the farm land. I found my way in to the main entrance and went down to the barn to meet John. I had my first meeting with the horse of the house and a couple chickens next to the barn! Can you imagine fresh eggs every morning hand picked!

I immediately got sucked in to work to finish up some race bikes and then went through the planning to get the tires glued and the TT bikes built. Building the race bikes is so easy in relation to setting up the TT bikes for every single rider to their own fit and needs. The right bar/extension combo with the right positioning and fit is the key to be fast and comfortable! Also we have to stay in the limits of the UCI rules especially for our tall guys. And then there is Carter Jones who is damn fast on a TT bike but don’t ask for his position on his extensions. I have no idea how he can get his arms so tight on the arm rest and still didn’t get cramped up? It was helping me that I had worked with him the last season at WM and had known where he would like to be. You will see: All that effort paid off!

What’s nice at the race in Redlands is that all the stages but one are starting and finishing close by and the riders can go to the start and come home by bike. It’s helping us mechanics a lot since the logistics for the bike transport is often difficult.

Thursday was the first race day starting with the TT. We got all the bikes built, set up and ready to go so that John and I packed all the wheels we needed in the truck and went early to the staging area to find a good spot and build up to be present for the first big NRC race of the season. We also packed a couple extra wheels and tires to finish the last gluing of tires in our spare time. We got set up and now it was time to wait for the riders to get ready for race time.

First off was Jonathan Chodroff. I went to the start line with a set of spare wheels and waited for each of our riders to come up and got the bike weight and measured. After that I had a chat with the riders and up they went the ramp to get started their race. Kiel came up to the start area with a disc and preferred to change to a Zipp 404 on the rear. He had big plans for the day and with a smile in his face off he went to set the fastest time off the day. After him came Carter Jones and his last years 10th place should have ring some bells for the competition for this year. He was prepared and ready!

A little bit later the announcement of the fastest time for Carter Jones made me feel happy to be part of a great begin to the 2010 season. By the end he ended up 2nd and Kiel got 3rd! Two podium spots at the first day: YES!

The mood back at the house was worth everything! We had hoped for that so badly.

Immediately back at the house we prepared the bikes for the next day! The only day with a transfer to the start.
After a short night and a coffee in the morning we went off to the first stage. All we had to do is pay attention and be prepared for the finish. An early front flat from Will Routley was taken care off quickly and the rest of the race was rolling along smooth. Before the last time up the hill Will’s hand came up again and his rear tire was flat too. Luckily we got that problem solved fast and Jonathan was there for him to bring him back to the pack and direct to the front. That what we call a team effort! Direct when he came to the front an attack went and he took the chance and went with them. 3 riders went to the line and Will waited for the right moment to go for the win. And he did! Second day, next podium! A win for the team effort and a lot off press for Team Jelly Belly.

Now we war sitting in 3rd, 4th and 5th in GC after 2 days of racing and more fun was to come. Next day was for our sprinters: The criterium and the chance for Brad Huff, Mike Friedman and Sean Mazich. It was fast and when it came down to the line, Mike had to settle down for 4th. A race with 170 starters and 4th is not too bad!

All we had to do now going in to the Sunset loop and try to make the impossible happen and play all the cards right. Kiel picked up some bonus seconds and coming in to the 5 loops in down town. He had to get 3rd to take over the GC and the win of the Redlands Classic. He was sitting in perfect position and in the 2nd last turn the rider in front of him slid a bit and opened a small gap. He managed to hold on to the front but finished 5th. He lost the race by 2.9sec and had to settle for 4th in GC.

At first it was a big disappointment but when we look back we had a great week and have shown that everybody have to watch out for us in 2010!

We had to rush back to the host house and pack the bikes for the next race: Tour of Thailand! Part of the team was starting their adventure to Thailand the same night we finished the race.

If we start off where we finished in Redlands we should have a lot of fun on the next couple races!

Stay tuned for the next report in a bit!

Ralf Medloff

tales from the road

A new Year, A new team!