Roberts Places 10th at Waterfront; Denes Finishes 2nd in GSC Race

- Macon, GA -

An avid triathlete, Kevin Roberts likes to change up his training plans in the summer. Known for his climbing ability, Roberts' first love was actually three loves - triathlons. Taking a short hiatus from bike racing, Roberts trained for Chattanooga's Waterfront Olympic Triathlon, one of the largest races in the south that attracted over 1,400 contestants this year alone.

Waking up early, Roberts waited his turn at the swim start as officials permitted 3 second gaps between each contestant jumping into the Tennessee River. Finishing the 1500m swim in a little over 25 minutes, Roberts was extremely pleased with the first leg of his race.

"It felt great coming out of the water. Take away the current [downstream] and that was probably my best triathlon swim split ever," Roberts said.

He followed the strong swim with an even stronger bike leg, averaging over 23 mph on the 26 mile course along Highway 27. The bike course looped around downtown, starting near the Chattanooga Lookout's AT&T Field before heading out to Soddy Daisy for the turn-around.

"The bike course was certainly something I didn't expect. On the way back I passed a lady who said, 'Go on boy! Ride like you stole something!'," commented Roberts. He did ride considerably faster than most of the field, giving him an advantage when the 6.2 mile run along the Tennessee River started.

Fighting off the heat, Roberts averaged 7:44/mile during the final leg to final with a personal best 2:25:50. Placing 10th in the 25 man field, Roberts was estactic about his finish.

"Overall the race was put on extremely well and it was one of the nicest venues I have raced at and a lot of fun," the junior commented.

Denes Finishes 2nd in GSC Race


Continuing to race in the Georgia State Championship mountain bike series, Gabe Denes recently posted another podium finish, placing 2nd. The 10 mile race featured over 2,600 ft of climbing and the course was quite technical in nature, posing a big challenge for the field.

"I had been training for the hills for the past month and knew I was ready. My coach set me up with hill repeats twice a week and uber hilly endurance rides on the weekend," said Denes.

Denes would finish a minute behind the race winner, partly due to a wrong turn, but was pleased with the result. Denes finishes his GSC campaign on August 15th in Helen, GA.

MU Cycling Welcomes GU Energy Sponsorship

- Macon, GA -

After a wildly successful first season in the collegiate road cycling ranks, Mercer Cycling announces the addition of GU Energy as the team's official energy/food supplement partner for the 2010 season.

"I'm very happy to see GU Energy on board with our team's mission and I see this being a win-win for both MU Cycling and GU Energy," commented team racing director Andrew Lockwood.

GU Energy, based in Berkeley, CA, provides an assortment of sports nutritional supplements and energy products for athletes including GU Chomps, Electrolyte Brew, Recovery Brew, and Roctane. For more details on GU products, visit their website at: www.guenergy.com.

Lee Races to GA State Championship; Denes Making Strides

- Macon, GA -

Sophomore Gabriel Denes continues to make leaps and bounds in his young cycling career, most recently posting a 3rd place finish in the Georgia State Championship (#6) Race in Eatonton, Georgia. Currently, he sits in 4th place although he aspires to move up to the podium by the season’s end. After the June 27th event, Denes will next race in Elijay, Georgia on July 18th in the 7th race of the GSC series.

As for the lone lady on the squad, Elizabeth Lee also continues to enjoy the summer race schedule with Georgia State Road Race Championship, held in Augusta, Georgia. During the 60 mile race, heat was certainly a factor and with a shortage of shade, Lee took the first part of the race in stride. However, during the 2nd lap of the 15 mile course, Lee attempted an attack on the large field, but to no avail. Battling hot temperatures, dehydration, and a split field that included Category 1, 2, 3, and 4 women, Lee battled the field splits to win the Category 3 Georgia State Champion Jersey! Lee’s win is the first state champion jersey for Mercer Cycling, coming in the team’s first season.

Lee followed her championship run on the road with a 6th place finish in the Criterium race the next day. The following weekend, a 2nd place finish in the Rock Hawk Effigy and Trails Mountain Bike Race saw Lee move up to 3rd in her respective category in the Georgia State Championship standings.

Upcoming races for individuals representing the Mercer Cycling squad include the French Broad Classic (Asheville, NC), Gwinnet Bike Festival (Gwinnet, GA), and the Georgia State Championship Mountain Bike Racing Series.

*Check out Gabe Denes's performances via the new 'Performance' tab on the site*