I know it has been a while since I’ve written and I do apologize about that.  I got busy and forgot to pen my experiences and thoughts to paper.

A lot has gone on since I last wrote.  I completed  4 NRC stage races, U/23 Nationals, several races in Europe and a couple local races.  As I write this I am sitting on a plane heading back over to Europe for the fall campaign with the USA U/23 National Team.  I’ll be racing in a six day stage race in Italy and the Tour de Avenir, which is 7 days and is considered the Tour de France for U/23.  So, I’m excited about that, and I might be heading to Worlds in Australia as well at the end of September. 

What have I been up to since I last wrote.  I raced the Olympias Tour an Elite stage race in Holland, which my teammate Taylor Phinney won.  My role there was to be a teammate for Phinney.  It was one of the hardest jobs I’ve had.  Then we went on to the U/23 Paris Roubaix, again my teammate Taylor Phinney won.  I can honestly say I have no desire to race the cobbles again.  The exciting thing this year is I did every major Spring Classic.  I did Tour Flanders, Leige Bastone Leige, and Paris-Roubaix.  Finishing well in two of the three, and helping my teammate win one.

Then I came back to the USA and did Nature Valley, placing well in the TT and going on to ride fairly well.  Then I went right out to U/23 Nationals and had a great week.  Placing 4th in the TT and then helping my teammate win both the Crit and RR. 

After Nationals I flew right out to Fitchburg and did Fitchburg.  Placing 19th on GC .  I took a week off the bike and traveled to NYC and down to Charlotte N.C. for a couple days.  Then I came home for a week.  Then off to Cascade I went.  We rode in support of Ben King who had the young riders jersey.  I felt good and felt I rode well.  I came home for a couple weeks so we decided to run up and do the Tour of Elk Grove.  A race with a lot of money, but not made for me.  I had a mechanical in the TT which put me out of GC and it is a race that is way to hard to move up unless you’re a sprinter and have a team.  But, still was a good time.

As I wrote earlier I’m on my way over to Italy for a short training camp with the National team before the Italian stage race.  I will try and do better writing to let everyone know how my races are going.  Again thanks for reading.

Nathan Brown