Ten years ago, Douglas Tobin founded a Treasure Valley youth cycling club known as the Boise Young Riders Development Squad to provide kids an outlet to explore the sport.
In June, B.Y.R.D.S. came up big as Kristo Jorgenson, Grace Alexander, Ethan Reynolds and Matteo Jorgenson won individual titles at the USA Cycling National Championships in Augusta, Ga.
Jorgenson and Alexander also qualified for the 2011 UCI World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September and will spend parts of this summer training with the U.S. national team.
Reynolds is scheduled to compete in the Twilight Criterium in Downtown Boise on Saturday.
Tobin, a former amateur racer, had a vision when he started the club 10 years ago, and now that vision seems to be paying off. B.Y.R.D.S. produced 10 national champions in the past four years, but this year’s four titles are the most in one year.
“This club is our local community. These are all kids from the Treasure Valley that ride, train and race together,’’ Tobin said. “Together they are working real hard and performing, matching up nationally and internationally.’’
Although the B.Y.R.D.S. creator never raced professionally, he’s been a cycling enthusiast for decades and uses his passion to foster positive opportunities for the young racers.
“One of the most important things to me is to share that opportunity and offer developing riders that experience, as well as support, in the sport,” Tobin said.
Alexander gained valuable experience leading up to her national championship ride. Her trip to Georgia was in serious jeopardy after she suffered injuries in a crash in May. While competing in a criterium against adult men at the Expo Idaho fairgrounds, she crashed and hurtled headfirst into a fence at about 25 miles an hour. She broke her left arm near the shoulder and jaw in three places, requiring her mouth to be wired shut for about five weeks.
“It wasn’t a good day for me, but stuff like that is going to happen in the sport,” Alexander said.
With only 10 days remaining before nationals, she was cleared to race.
“With the help of my family, friends, coaches and teammates, I was able to refocus and in the end, it was a motivator and made me work hard,” Alexander said.
The same kinship that helped Alexander recover is what many racers claim to be their favorite part of the B.Y.R.D.S. organization.
Boisean Will Barta, 15, who will be in Belgium later this year for USA Cycling’s European development camp, agrees. “(It’s) being with everyone around and riding with my friends every day,’’ he said.
Young and old riders train together in a club that includes about 150 riders. The cohesiveness adds to the group and is a special aspect for Kristo and Matteo Jorgenson, who are brothers.
“When I was little, there was always an 18-year-old I was looking up to, chasing up the hills. Now I hope I can be that guy that the younger ones try to chase,” Kristo said.
“(Kristo) helps me a lot, gives me motivation in the races and strategies,” Matteo said.
Reynolds, who will compete in the men’s Cat 3/Masters race at the Twilight Criterium at 6 p.m. Saturday, thrives on the encouragement he receives through the squad. That feeling may not quite match the one crossing the finish line ahead of his competitors, though.
“It was pretty sweet, I like that feeling. I got all tingly,” Reynolds said of winning his national championship.
Tobin hopes the B.Y.R.D.S. will continue to fine-tune local cyclists and develop national champions for years to come.
“Our goal is to be an accessible club for kids who are interested in cycling to come out and participate, ride and race with kids their own age, learn about the sport, challenge themselves, and have a great support mechanism that helps them develop in the sport.
“There’s so many things for juniors to work on in order to improve on the sport as well as racing and training together,’’ Tobin said, “and I enjoy doing that.’’
Alex Calinsky: 672-6761
