Team Skyline – It takes us all
Coming off my first event with Team Skyline at the Intelligentisa Cup in Chicago, I could not be happier with how everything played out for us. The hard work of the team throughout the week saw Wolfgang Brandl finish third place in the omnium, a result all of us were very proud of! Along the way, I learned not only plenty of tips about professional racing but also got to see first hand what it takes to keep the entire green machine rolling.
Wolfgang Brandl on the final podium
What does it take to keep a professional cycling team running?
Volunteers
None of the success in our races would be possible without the gracious support of host housing. We were fortunate that three families allowed us to stay in their homes during the nine days of racing. Maureen and Mark (the hosts of the “main house”) even went the extra mile to prepare a home-cooked, team dinner for us on our rest day which was delicious!
Staff
The work of our team staff doesn’t go unnoticed either. Team founder Ryan DeWald was there during the week to help keep all the riders organized and supported before and after the races but also jumped in the Pro field himself to serve as a road captain for the team. Team director Micheal Tacci was also always on the sidelines letting the riders know vital information about the race over the radios but also was attentively monitoring Ryan’s blood sugar levels remotely. This allowed Ryan to focus on the racing while Tacci could give instruction on how to optimally manage his diabetes. Lastly, team mechanic Randy Villanueva made sure all of our Basso bikes were up and rolling to perfection each and every night. Randy was also there in neutral support helping not only our riders, but the entire field, fix their mechanicals so they could quickly get back into the race.
Teammates
It goes without saying, but the selflessness of all the riders on the team allowed us to perform the way we did. On a personal note, the team environment could not have been more helpful for me. This being not only my first race with Team Skyline but also my first time racing criteriums with a field of this caliber. My experienced teammates like Wolfgang, Tim Rugg and Parker Kyzer passed along lots of tips every night so I could help the team to the best of my abilities!
Me on the front of the South Chicago Kermesse with 1 lap to go. Teammate Parker yelling instructions behind me.
What’s next?
Now that I’m back home, I’m preparing for a few stage races to round off the end of the season: Gran Prix Charlevoux and Quebec Provincials in Baie Comeau where ill hopefully be racing with Joseph lupien, Ryan DeWald, and Adam Carr as well. With nine days of racing under our belts and improved team chemistry, I’m looking forward to the next event with Team Skyline and excited to continue to show everyone what this team is capable of!
Nick Kleban
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