Zach Valdez looks to build on his best U23 season yet, with five Pro wins in 2012 and a podium at XC Nationals(Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
The Whole Athlete / Specialized Team practices the revolved triangle pose in yoga.(Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
The team develops mobility, stability, alignment, and balance through yoga(Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
The Whole Athlete / Specialized team counterbalances the stress of hard training with yoga (Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
SRAM's Ryan Chondrashoff takes the riders through the new XX1 group (Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
Marcus Segedin shows off the team's training kit as he prepares to step up to the Junior 17/18 ranks(Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
After a strong first year as a 17/18 Junior, Lucas Newcomb looks to take it up a notch in 2013(Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
Kate Courtney aims high in 2013 with a World Cup focus(Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
The Whole Athlete / Specialized team enjoyed fantastic weather, camaraderie, and some of the best riding on the west coast(Image credit: Whole Athlete - Specialized Cycling Team)
Fourteen junior and U23 riders gathered the Whole Athlete Performance Center in Northern California last weekend for the Whole Athlete / Specialized Cycling Team's 2013 season kick-off camp. The young riders were treated to two full days of riding, sponsor introductions, product demos, organic food, yoga, and much more.
Having earned the distinction of USA Cycling's Mountain Bike Club of the Year for the second year running, the team looks to build upon its 2012 season success which included Kate Courtney's first-ever cross country World Cup win by a US junior woman and Marcus Segedin taking the junior 15-16 cross country national title.
For the 2013 season, the team's focus once again will be the US Pro XCT series and national championships, as well as select World Cups and the world championships.
Among the returning riders for 2013 are 2012 Junior 15-16 cross country national champion Marcus Segedin, 2012 World Championship Team members Lucas Newcomb, Kate Courtney, and Casey Williams, and 2012 Collegiate D2 cross country and short track national champ Cypress Gorry.