USA Cycling MTB Champ - Rachel Throop

Calling all cyclists & cycling supporters!

18-year-old, Rachel Throop, achieved a life-long goal this month by winning the USA Cycling’s National Championship in the 18-under Junior Expert category. This is a huge accomplishment! The Throop’s have been long time members and supporters of the Nova family. Rachel has been racing mountain bikes since she was 10 years old and has climbed up to the pinnacle of the sport. By winning the US Championship, she also has been selected to the US National MTB Team and will represent our country next month in the MTB Worlds in New Zealand. For more on Rachel’s racing results, go to http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?compid=174132&all=1 .

USA Cycling will be paying for a portion of the associated travel and expenses for Rachel, but not all of them. It is very expensive to support an athlete at this level and get her to this event. This is where we can use your help. We have started a “Rachel Travel Fund” to assist her and her family with the expenses to get her to the World Championships. Donations in ANY amount would be greatly help with her quest. If you would like to make a donation, there are a few ways that you can do it…

1 - Send funds via Paypal to my username: mcoplea@cox.net and just reference "Rachel Travel Fund" in the notes.

2 – Send a check to me along with a note or card to Rachel if you like. I will be collecting the donations and sending them all directly to her family. Your name (or company name) will be sent along to Rachel showing your support. Please send by 8/11/2006, make checks payable to Marty Coplea. Email me at mcoplea@cox.net for mailing address and complete details.

3 – If you prefer to make a tax deductible donations, please send your check to me and make if out to the Nova Youth Cycling Foundation. Be sure and include your return address and we will mail you a receipt for your taxes. Your name (or company name) will be sent along to Rachel showing your support. All donations will go directly supporting Rachel at the Worlds. Email me at mcoplea@cox.net for mailing address and complete details.


If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 602-751-8388 or email me at mcoplea@cox.net. Thanks in advance for your consideration and ANY assistance that you can offer. Feel free to forward this on to anyone that may be interested in supporting youth cycling.

US Cycling MTB National Championships

I was able to get a flight out to Sonoma, CA to meet up with Tyler, the Edwards and the Throops for the USA Cycling National MTB Championships. I am so glad that I was able to be there for this one! I could write a whole book on the weekend but at the rate that I type, that would take me a few days. So here is the short but sweet version... (More pictures can be found HERE)



Ty lined up for the start of the 11-12 Boys race along with 9 other racers. The course was a very hilly 7.7 mile course and they went out at full speed from the start of the event. The course had a 1 1/2 mile climb shortly after the start line and Ty and 4 other boys crested the climb toghether. The rest of the group was spread out over the climb trying to catch the leaders. The 5 of them stayed together for a bit until the next long climb. By the top of the 2nd climb, the group was down to just 2 riders, Tyler & racer from Texas. The 2 stayed together for a bit until Ty dropped his chain going into a short-steep climb and he lost about 20 seconds to the kid from Texas. Ty chased hard all the way down the hill to the finish, but he could not make up the lost time and took 2nd place, (12 secs behind the winner). An awesome ride by Tyler and an awesome result. He definately did not leave anything in the tank when he crossed the finish line. I could not be more proud of him!




Tyler's buddy and teammate, Zach Edwards, also had a great race in the 10 and under category and finished 2nd on the day too. Congrats Zach! Thanks again to Zach and his father, Scott, for looking after Ty on the trip. Thanks also to the Throop's for letting us use their trailer area at the venue. Tyler's other buddy, Rachel Throop, won the Woman's Junior Expert National Championship. This has been a long time goal of Rachel's and she also has made the US National MTB team. She will represent the USA in the World MTB Championships on Aug. 24, 2006 in Rotorua, New Zealand. We are starting a "Rachel Travel Fund" to help her get her to the event. If you are interested is contributing ANY amount, please contact me at mcoplea@cox.net and I can provide you the details.

Arizona's own pro mountain bikers had a great weeked, too! Dara Marks-Marino had a great race and finished 4th in the Pro Women's XC and 2nd in the Short Track event. Mellisa Buhl took 2nd in the Women's Pro DH and 4th in the Mountain Cross event.


Jason, Ty, Gary Fisher & Zach

Park City NORBA National

Tyler raced last weekend in NORBA National at Park City, UT. I could not make this trip due to some work commitments. A special thanks to Kristen Hayden for giving Ty a ride up there! A special thanks also to Scott Edwards for letting him stay with them and being the "Team Manager" for the week. Also, thanks to the Throop's for their help and support.

It sounds like Ty had a great race. The course was very hilly with a long climb right at the start of the race. Ty was able to get to the top first and was flying down the hills. Ty was flying a little too fast when he reached a blind turn and went a little wide and went down. He injured is wrist in the fall, but jumped back on his bike and rode through the pain to hold off the rest of the field for the win. It is killing me not being there!!!

I went online today to Velonews to read up on the weekend's event. I found this picture of Shonny winning the XC event and guess who I see in the background!!?? Look for the little man in the red/silver helmet. Too funny!


They are all traveling to Sonoma this week for the NORBA National Championships. Along the way, they are stopping in Truckee, UT to have a little fun and do some riding with Luna Chix rider, Katerina Nash. Lucky dogs!!!