Blue ambassador Michael Sabrin

Memorial Day Austin Texas at the Cap Tex Tri Michael took first place in his age group posting a super fast bike leg on the Triad Elite. In Michael’s words:

Blue,
Thank you again for all your help. I had my first race on the new frame yesterday here in Austin at the Cap Tex Tri and got 1st in my age group! Got compliments on the bike and crushed the urban technical bike leg at 22.7 mph average. Y’all are awesome and I love riding your bikes.

Thanks Michael for sending the photos! Glad to have you as part of the family.

More from Maddie Fisher’s European World Cup Campaign

As I followed the wheels of my teammates blindly through the Zolder pre-ride, I nearly

rode into the drop-in of the sand hill with a nasty unpredictable rut. My teammates rode down it

unstably and blindly, just managing to stay upright. Locking sight with the descent from the back

of the group took me by surprise. I stopped just in time to catch myself, just before I would have

to commit. I moved to the side thinking I was lucky to have caught myself. My coach and

teammates looked for me at the bottom, but I was still stuck at the top. I told myself I was ready

and everything would be fine, but my body was frozen. I was scared of it, the possibility of a bad

wreck, the rut, the crowd judging me. “I can’t do it,” I motioned down to my coach.

Having no choice but to ride it, I blinked away nervous tears. I heard a voice next to me,

“it's okay to be scared, you can do it.” I looked over to see a stern looking spectator motioning to

me. “But you have to commit from back there,” he pointed up the hill. “Once you get your wheel

over the edge, you commit.” I looked at him with a nervous expression. “You just have to get

your wheel over the edge,” he said gently to me. “Now go.” I thanked him and walked my bike

up the hill. Taking a deep breath, I knew I had to accept the fear and then let it go. Taking a deep

breath, I clipped in, and approached the long, steep rut. I Inhaled. I peered over the edge from my

bike. I Exhaled. I decided to commit. “Now let go,” the spectator whispered to me as I crossed

the edge. With one foot out, I made it. Though it wasn't the smoothest, I laughed it off and took a

deep breath. “That wasn't so bad.”

Experiencing the kerstperiode was just like hitting the rut, committing and letting go of

your fear. We raced many technical courses all of which had extremes. Some courses you dove

headfirst into deep sand and others you trudged through thick cowfield mud. At Mol, our sand

skills were put to the test. Just trying to keep your momentum was a challenge in itself, though

being hunted down by Lucinda Brand was terrifying. Then we had Loenhout, which was the

exact opposite of Mol, racing through knee deep mud and running about half of the course. After

that came Hulst, again, completely different. Sharp, steep downhills. I remember wrecking into a

post so hard I almost broke a few fingers and landed myself in a Belgian hospital for hours. We

ended the block with Baal, a sketchy, rutted permanent course. After each race I took away the

same thing, you need to commit. Whether it was sand hills, mud bogs, or steep descents, you

needed to commit and ride it like you owned it.

Seven races, fourteen days. Ten athletes in one house. One washer and dryer machine.

Racing everyday or every other day was completely mind bending. I was told to keep everything

organized and in order. I quickly realized my coach was right. This made racing seem like “the

easy part.” After racing and organizing over and over again, I established and perfected my pre

and post race routine which was half the battle of having a successful race. Walking away from

this block, I subconsciously created many healthy habits that I continue to keep doing even after

this racing block ended. The kerstperiode was fast and furious. Just like riding the rut, you didn’t

have time to think. You were already committed, looked forward, and rolled from race to race,

doing what needed to get done with the least amount of stress possible.

Overall, if I had to describe the racing during the kerstperiode I would say it was gnarly,

humbling, inspiring, and just plain out hard. While reflecting on this block, I realized what it

takes to be a cyclocross racer: having courage, having a willingness to suffer, having a curious

and open mindset, being organized, being humble and having gratitude. I've realized that

European racing is just like riding a rut, picking the line, hitting it with confidence that it will

take you where you need, and exiting with more speed and a smooth line. Even though this kind

of racing was extremely difficult and taxing, its true to say that I miss it already. I am eagerly

looking forward to the next season of cyclocross.

The team continues the winning streak! More from NC CX!

The team was amazing - 3 riders driving the Cat 2/3 races  & 1 winning Cat 3/4 both days.  Lots of Blue's on the Podium this weekend!!

Cat 2/3 - Hadley (16) won Saturday in a 3 way podium battle with Masters Pro Jane Burlew & team mate Camille (14).  They book-ended Jane much of the race, pushing pace to keep her in check & matched each move she made.  Great team effort results with Hadley P1, Camille P3.    On day 2, another top US Jr  rider, Ada Watson (16), joined the field & we had 5 strong riders at the front.  Ada managed to get a gap off the front late in Lap 2 and it stuck.  Ava Shipman (15/MidWest Devo) was having an inspired day - that left 4 (Hadley, Camille, Jane, Ava) slugging it out over 5 laps for 2nd & 3rd.  Hadley broke away and built about a10s gap late in the race to claim 2nd.  Camille lost contact with Jane and Ava on the last lap as they kept attacking, eventually the 3rd podium spot came down to sprint and bike throw for Jane at the line, Camille 4th.  Super exciting racing both days.

Hazel (15) had her best weekend in her first year of focused racing, winning Cat 3/4  both days against a solid field.  She is ready to cat-up IMO!

We are stoked for Nationals...not far away!

Pam Am Cyclocross 2023

Maddie Fisher

Pan American Championships


As we drove into the venue of this race course, Pan Ams, I settled into the feeling of a crisp, damp morning. Nobody had arrived at the course yet, just a few crew members taping up the finishing pieces. The course remained untouched by racered since the prior evening. The unpredictable Montana weather had in store for us a slippery, technical race. 

As I headed out on my first recon lap I noticed that despite how packed the dirt looked, it was slick underneath. I quickly learned my limits on the bike within the first turn. As I continued I also realized mid’s were not the move on this terrain when wet. As I headed into the most technical part of the course, the off camber, I hit the rut as planned. After slipping out I decided to walk the rest for a safe call. Then, I unexpectedly slipped and slammed my eye to my hoods. I couldn't see much, just some tears.  I then made my way off the course to call that lap a day.


After a really rough pre-ride, resulting in a nasty black eye, I continued to not lose all hope. I started warming up with a hopeful but worried mind. I thought about it and knew that I could probably predict how the race went down, but instead I wanted to be more. I wanted to be extraordinary. Besides the slips on the course, everything was set up for me. I was a guest in the Team Stampede tent with an amazing set up and my mechanics and coaches were here for me. I knew I could make this day memorable. 


Lining up in the second row as a result of a weird start to the season, I thought I chose the right spot. The whistle blows and the pack goes but suddenly I slam into the back of a racer's wheel. As soon as I manage to untangle myself I prepare to fight when I realize the pack has already mostly gone. I sprint my way to the pinch spot and take a risky fast line. It pays off. All I had in my head was “fight.”

The next thing I know I'm sitting mid pack behind a small group of drafting girls. I hear Coach Geoff yell, “win your group!” I knew that's what I would do. We approached the off-camber for the second to last time. The group took the upper line running in a pace line through the feature. I took the lower line and booked it. I passed all of them and attacked as soon as I got back on the bike. I knew it was a risky move and I was scared to do it. But I wanted to be extraordinary. I found that finding the limits of your bike and yourself on the course was necessary. 

I finished strong with seventh place. I was proud of myself. Proud of not giving up and staying resilient and having tenacity. I believed in myself and never stopped racing, that was enough. I took away what I could from the race while down beneath I was still wanting more. I am excited to now head overseas to Troyes and Dublin to see what I can do on my bike. I am proud of myself for racing like I wanted, with tenacity. I think Pan Ams was an amazing course and beautiful place. There was no better place to be with great company. I look forward to next week and to race this again next year.

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