In 2004, his last year as a junior, he was selected to compete with the Junior National Team in France and Holland and later in the season helped his PA Team decisively win the National Team Pursuit Championship to gain selection for the Junior Worlds at the new indoor velodrome in Los Angeles where he rode both team pursuit and madison. Michael is a freshman at Bucknell University, looks forward to a strong intercollegiate spring and a full schedule of U23 racing with Sakonnet Technologies including as much competition in Europe as possible.
Q: What do you hope to do with your cycling career over the next few years?
A: At some point after I graduate college my main goal is to become a professional on the road. I grew up wanting to do the big pro races all over the world and my dream hasn’t changed. I also have ambitions in track racing, hopefully to ride in the Olympics. Throughout college I want to stay focused on work and train hard at the same time. In the summers I will be able to travel a lot for racing to gain more experience. I’m glad to have joined a team like Sakonnet Technology to help me develop into a better and more mature rider.
Q: How do you feel about attending college while seriously racing and training? Do you find it difficult to put the miles in with a lot of schoolwork?
A: I think going to school and training are a perfect combination. A lot of other kids my age opt to skip college and focus on cycling as their number one priority. Although I do put school first, I don’t think it takes away from riding at all. In fact I think it is a great complement to it. Going to class motivates me to ride more, and riding motivates me to study and have a good time at school more. At this age, it’s a perfect time for me to have fun with cycling by racing the collegiate circuit and then traveling with the Sakonnet Team in the summer.
Q: Being a Freshman in college, how do you like the Collegiate Racing scene so far?
A: We had our first race this past weekend for Bucknell and I absolutely loved it. It’s a new feeling for me to travel to a race as a team and be around people my own age. It was really nice to have 10 guys on the side of the road cheering for you, all from your own school.
Q: What people have made the most impact on your cycling?
A: There are a lot of people that have helped me along the way in cycling. My Dad was the one who really sparked my enthusiasm for the sport because I grew up watching the races he either rode in or organized. Both of my parents have been to almost every race I’ve ridden in and continue to be the biggest supporters of mine. It’s nice to have someone close to you involved in the sport you love. I have been able to make a lot of connections with big names in cycling from my Dad’s business, which has been extremely beneficial for me. My coach, Brian Walton, is one of those people. He has really helped me improve over the last 3 years. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to move through the rankings so quickly and learn the sport as well as I have.
Q: Why did you join the Sakonnet Technology Cycling Team?
A: When I transitioned from the junior category to espoir, I was looking for a strong team of riders around my age with a solid sponsor. It is a perfect fit for me because most of the other guys on the team are in the same situation: attending college and racing at school until the summer. At that point we will all be able to ride together at the big races.
Q: How do you like the team so far?
A: After the training camp in Tucson, the whole team bonded really well together. We all instantly made friends and from how everyone was riding out there we should be a big force to reckon with this season. I am really looking forward to racing with the guys and learning as much as possible.
"Michael's a great bike racer and a great student. A better combination you could not ask for." - Editor
Report provided by: CRCA/Sakonnet Technology Cycling Team