Fish Trails Criterium (State Championships), Whitefish, MT June 6th 2009

The 4th event in the Montana Cup. Team MJCF Fielded 5 riders. At least it wasn't pouring rain this year. Too bad the Star Meadows RR was not on the calendar, it would have made the trip more affordable for the program.

• Nate Weston - GAS - Cat 3 - 3th
• Wyatt Hatch - CMJC - Cat 4 - 10th
• Juniors - 3rd
• Nate Hoiness - GAS - Cat 5 - 4th
• Clayton O'Leary - CMJC - Cat 5 - 6th
• Juniors - 1st
• Walker Hopkins - CMJC - Cat 5 - 7th
• Juniors - 4th

Cow Country Classic, Wolf Creek, MT
May 31st 2009

The 3rd event in the Montana Cup. Team MJCF fielded 6 riders. What can you say about this race, it is the toughest single day event in the State. Normally wind to go with the hills, did not change this year.

• Nate Weston - GAS - Cat 3 - DNF
• Eijai Oxford - CMJC - Cat 4 - 6th
• Lucca Scariano - 5VV - Cat 4 - 13th
• Wyatt Hatch - CMJC - Cat 4 - 14th
• Clayton O'Leary - CMJC - Cat 5 - 11th
• Walker Hopkins - CMJC - Juniors - 1st

Wenatchee Omnium - Wenatchee, WA
May 16th & 17th 2009

For the 2nd out of State event Team MJCF traveled west to Wenatchee. After leaving Montana on Friday they were ready to roll early Saturday morning for the first stage, a 9 mile ITT. Then after a very short rest period the the 2nd stage was a downtown Criterium. Sunday morning was the final event, the Road Race.

4 Riders were in attendance for the weekend of racing, Nate Weston in Cat 3, Eijai Oxford & Wyatt Hatch in Cat 4 & Clayton O'Leary in Juniors.

Nate Weston - Cat 3

• 22nd in the ITT
• 25th in the Crit
• 28th in the RR

Eijai Oxford - Cat 4

• 25th in the ITT
• DNF in the Crit
• 17th in the RR

Wyatt Hatch - Cat 4

• 29th in the ITT
• DNF in the Crit
• 31st in the RR

Clayton O'Leary - Juniors

• 3rd in the ITT
• 5th in the Crit
• 6th in the RR

Belt Creek Omnium - Highwood, MT

Second MBRA Series race of the season. This time of the year the weather can be interesting, we got lucky, the weather held out. For a number of years this race has started in Centerville & Belt, this year we thought to try something different. Both the TT & RR started in Highwood, from the recently remodeled community park.

The MJCF had 6 riders in attendance.

Nate Weston (Gas rider) raced Cat 3

• 6th in the Time Trial
• 7th in the Road Race
• 7th overall in the GC

Lucca Scariano (5 Valley Velo rider) raced Cat 4

• 1st in the Time Trial
• 7th in the Road Race
• 2nd overall in the GC

Joel Kramer (5 Valley Velo rider) raced Cat 4

• 14th in the Time Trial
• 12th in the Road Race
• 15th overall in the GC

Wyatt Hatch (CMJC rider) raced Cat 4

• 10th in the Time Trial
• 13th in the Road Race
• 13th overall in the GC

Eijai Oxford (CMJC Rider) raced Cat 4

• 8th in the Time Trial
• 9th in the Road Race
• 9th overall in the GC

Clayton O'Leary (CMJC Rider) raced Cat 5

• 15th in the Time Trial
• 20th in the Road Race
• 20th overall in the GC

The next race of the year is the Wenatchee Omnium, May 16th & 17th.

Rocky Mountain Roubaix - Frenchtown, MT

First MBRA Series race of the season, ALWAYS a big turn out, this year didn't disappoint. The MJCF had 4 riders in attendance.

• Nate Weston (Gas rider) raced Cat 3 and after a couple flats, failed to finish.
• Lucca Scariano (5 Valley Velo rider) raced Cat 4 and finished a strong 5th place.
• Joel Kramer (5 Valley Velo rider) raced Cat 4 and finished 10th in his first race of the year.
• Wyatt Hatch (CMJC rider) raced in the Jr Field, due to never racing on gravel, finished 3rd.

The next race of the year is the Belt Creek Road Race in Highwood May 9th.

NRO put on a very well run event, and from what I hear from everyone, it is always this great. Mother Nature could have been a little more friendly, she threw some rain, snow, sleet and wind at the riders, but they still found a way to get it done.

2009 Frozen Flatlands Omnium

Frozen Flatlands Omnium - Spokane, WA

What a weekend. After all the crappy weather here in Montana, it was nice to spend a couple days in Washington. The MJCF was represented by 4 riders this past weekend. The 2 day, 3 stage omnium was the first race of the season. All team riders gave it their all and finished every stage. Too bad it was not a stage race, their GC results would have better. Omniums reward a single effort rather then a COMPLETE effort, that's why Stage Racing is where it's at.

Cat 3 rider Nate W started the weekend with a flat in the Individual Time Trial but still managed to finish.

• 19th in the Time Trial
• 13th in the Road Race
• 10th in the Circuit Race
  
  

Cat 4 rider Wyatt H raced in his 1st Cat 4 race after upgrading after last year, and finished the circuit in a 55 rider pack finish

• 46th in The Time Trial
• 59th in The Road Race
• 45th in the Circuit Race

Cat 4 rider Eijai O raced in his 1st Cat 4 race after upgrading after last year, and finished the circuit in a 55 rider pack finish

• 26th in The Time Trial
• 35th in The Road Race
• 44th in the Circuit Race

Cat 5 rider Nate H raced in his first race, and new to the sport, finished strong in every event over the weekend

• 43rd in The Time Trial
• 23rd in The Road Race
• 42nd in the Circuit Race

The newest member of the MJCF Team is Cat 1 rider Coach Dan. He had a really good showing this weekend after returning to Montana from Arizona.

• 3rd in the Time Trial
• 9th in the Road Race
• 9th in the Circuit Race

Training Race #1, Clinton MT

Today was the first outing of the year, a 30-ish mile training race. The MJCF had 3 of the team riders in attendance, Eijai (CMJC), Lucca (5 Valley Velo), & Wyatt (CMJC).

All 3 riders rode in the "B" group, which looked to be 20-30 riders strong.

Lucca had an early flat, but after getting a spare wheel from Wyatt he was able to get back into the group as they passed on lap 2. After that he showed that he is a going to make some more waves this year.

Wyatt & Eijai spent the race learning to work together as well as learning to work with the rest of the Cat 4 riders. Eijai got suckered into following an illegal and extremely dangerous pass over the yellow line. After the race he received some extra "Coaching" from the Queen of the Peloton herself, Tamara. I believe that is something that we will not see again from Eijai. After moving from the Junior field to Cat 4 this year, they both seemed to be up to the challenge. Drawing the short straw before the race, Eijai led Wyatt to a near perfect sprint at the end. But since they got derailed by a crash right before the finish, it was more for practice then actual results.

3 weeks to go until the first out of State race, The Frozen Flatlands in Spokane. Riders need to let the Road Director (juniors@montanacycling.net) know your intentions if you have not already done so. The MJCF cut-off date is March 20th, otherwise you will have to pay your own way and apply for reimbursement when we get home.

As the uniforms are not going to be in for Spokane, we will be wearing the 2008 Hammer kit.

The Hammer Van & trailer will be leaving from Missoula @ 4pm on April 3rd, returning Sunday evening. I will know what the rider's portion for the trip will be by March 27th.

Jersey Design has been chosen for 2009, Here it is.

Welcome onboard to our new Co- Team title sponsor Mexitana tortillias.

Hammer nutrition shorts will round out the uniform.

Final paperwork and team fees need to be turned in ASAP, If not you may not have a uniform, and you will not be able to race.

March 21st & 28th are the dates for the MJCF sponsored training races. These training races help fund our racing throughout the season, and as such we will need help from riders families. Family members are asked to attend, as we will need corner marshalls, traffic control and wheel cars.

March 21st is a 32 mile race, with 4 laps on an 8 mile loop.
March 28th is a 40 mile race, with 5 laps on an 8 mile loop.

All riders need to submit paperwork and team membership fee prior to the first race.

• Junior team riders fee is $25.00
• U23 team fee is $50.00
• fee includes 1st jersey & shorts

Out of state racing will start with the Frozen Flatlands on April 4th & 5th in Spokane, WA. We will be leaving from Missoula at 4pm on April 3rd. Return will be after the final race in which our riders compete, we will stay for rider awards as necessary.

Riders will need to sign up with the Road operations manager (juniors@montanacycling.net) prior to MARCH 20th if you are going to attend. (See team handbook for rules reguarding sign up for out of state racing).

MANDATORY Team Training Camp

May 2nd & 3rd - Highwood, MT

All MJCF team riders need to make plans to attend. First ride of the weekend will go off at 8am SHARP. If you want to come up the night before just let Dean know, he will get you a place to stay.

The plan is to ride Sat am & pm, Sun am as well as other training events on Sat.

Lodging will be arrainged for all riders. Meals also provided. Parents are welcome to attend and ride along.

The 2009 Racing schedule has been posted on the right of this blog.

Scheduled are 11 in State events 9 of which are part of the Montana Cup Series.

4 out of state events which are part of the NW LAJORS Team Racing Series.

National Championship events also, hopefully we will have a number of representitives.

I am pleased to report that the U23 team this year will have 4 riders to start the season. The following riders have been offered positions on the team.

• Nate Hoiness - Billings, MT
• Chris Lapp - Bozeman, MT
• Conor O'Leary - Belt, MT
• Nate Weston - Billings, MT

These riders have already started their training and should be ready to roll for the 1st Training Race March 21st in Missoula, MT

It is time to get the 2009 Team paperwork submitted.

New for 2009 The MJCF is expanding the program to include a U23 team. All interested riders should contact the Road Operations Director at juniors@montanacycling.net ASAP. The 2009 U22 Team has 6 available slots, with priority given to previous MJCF junior riders.

Out of State Races being considered for the 2009 calendar are:

• Sea Otter Classic, Monterey California
• Tour of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Washington
• Wenatchee Stage Race, Wenatchee Washington
• Gate City Grind Stage Race, Pocatello Idaho
• Tour of the Depot, Salt Lake City Utah
• Cascade Classic, Bend Oregon
• Frozen Flatlands Omnium, Spokane Washington
• Tour of Idaho, Boise Idaho

What races do you wish to attend? Let the Road Operations Director know at juniors@montanacycling.net ASAP. The calendar will be set by Feb 15th, 2009.