Mid-season Check In With BCS / YogaGlo Team Rider Grant Ellwood - November 2015

How old are you and what is your racing category?

I’m 19 years old. I typically race in the Elite Mens category, but I am categorized as a U23 (under 23 years old) and I race U23 at bigger UCI races like World Cups and National Championships.

Where are you from originally?

Boulder, Colorado. I’m a native!

How long have you been racing cyclocross?

This is my third full season racing cyclocross, but I have been racing mountain bikes for about eight years now. I got my start mountain biking with the SIMBA junior program and I developed my racing with Boulder Junior Cycling. My coach is Pete Webber, and he’s really helped me out along the way.

What is it like going to college full time and racing at an elite level?

I’m a sophomore at the CU Engineering School and it’s really all I have time for. I’m either training, at one of my classes or doing homework.

You are on your way to Belgium for a week and a half of important races. How many times have you been to Belgium?

I’ve been three times, so this will be my fourth trip. Racing in Belgium is hard but it has helped me become a better rider each year.

What is your race schedule for this trip?

The first weekend (Nov. 22) we race a World Cup in Koksijde, Belgium and the following weekend I’ll be racing in Netherlands at Valkenswaard and then the next day a B-Post race at Hamme.

How do you take a 12 day racing trip like this and keep up with the demand of being an engineering student?

Typically I can read lecture notes on-line, but some classes I need to talk with my professors and make up the work. I actually need to take an exam while I am in Belgium. It will be proctored by one of the USA Cycling staff people. Kinda strange but that’s the way I gotta do it to stay on top of everything!

So, you’’ll be staying at the USA Cycling house on this trip?

Yes, in Sittard, Netherlands. It’s nice because it is has a nice living space and we each get our own room. Plus, it is relatively close to all the races and there are several awesome staff members that take care of all the logistics.

After you return from this trip what are your end of year plans?

I have the school semester to finish up, I’ll race in Colorado, and I hope to get selected for the USA Cycling trip back to Belgium for the Christmas period, which is the biggest and most competitive block in the European season. Then I’ll race at US Nationals after than, then hopefully finish the season at the World Championships at the beginning of February.

The Boulder Cycle Sport / YogaGlo Cyclocross Team is graciously supported by these fine sponsors:

YogaGlo

Focus Bikes

Sram

Zipp

Clement

Bell Helmets

Castelli

Mavic

Pedros

Anthem Branding

Cyclocross