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(NCVC) > Elite > Elite Team Bios
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Elite Team Bios
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 | Andrew Shaw
(Cat 1 with 13 Years Racing Experience)
Previous Sports:
Ran Track and Cross Country throughout high school and college
How did you get started in cycling?
After college, I ran road races (5k, 10k) for several years. In search of some added excitement, I competed in triathlons for two years. A training partner convinced me to try bicycle racing. I finished 2nd in my first road race, 5th in my first crit, and was hooked.
Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling:
Counsel of Sports International Military (CISM), world military cycling championships, Netherlands, 2006. This is the fastest race I have done, including numerous NRC criteriums. The course was a flat 4km circuit that we covered 30 times. Unfortunately for us, many European nations have a professional cycling team in their military and very little air conditioning. These factors and the hottest Dutch summer in ages, led to my being dropped, but not before rubbing shoulders with the likes of Janis Brajkovic, Robert Bengsch, and Robert Bartko. The biggest thrill was representing the USA in Europe.
Cycling Strengths:
Tenacity, Breakaways |  | Greg Abbott
(Cat 2 with 15 Years Racing Experience)
Previous Sports:
None - I'm a "trueblood"
How did you get started in cycling?
My dad was a cyclist, so I guess I was born into the sport. I started racing mountain bikes at 12, and eventually tried just about every discipline. I didn’t train seriously until I started racing in college.
Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling:
I will always remember the first race I won. It was my sophomore year in college, on a course that didn’t suit me well. I found myself in an early breakaway, which was not a strength of mine. We were caught in the last 10 miles. I managed to recover before the final sprint and took the win by a few bike lengths. I remember that one best because my parents were at the finish line to see it.
Cycling Strengths:
Bunch Sprints, Criteriums, Track Racing
|  | Gregoire Faber
(Cat 2 with 3 Years Racing Experience)
Previous Sports:
Snowboarding, Triathlon
How did you get started in cycling?
After college I spent 4 months bumming around France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain on my touring bike with 80 pounds of luggage. Then when I moved to NYC I met some racers who convinced me to start racing.
Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling:
Tour of Lancaster County 2009. On a hot and muggy day I bridged up to a first lap break and spent the subsequent 5 laps driving the break to a successful finish. I was unfortunately out-sprinted at the line when my lack of hydration probably caused my legs to cramp but was happy with 2nd place in a day-long breakaway.
Cycling Strengths:
Breakaways |  | Rob Kelly
(Cat 2 with 9 Years Racing Experience)
Previous Sports:
High School and Collegiate Swimmer
How did you get started in cycling?
After my swimming eligibility expired in college I picked up a bike to stay in shape. A few weeks later I met up with some guys for a group ride and became best friends with them. The rest has been a good history.
Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling:
2002 North Central Collegiate District Championships. 35 degrees, raining and a 30 mph wind in April in Minnesota. Two teammates and I got into a 4-man breakaway about 20 miles into a 60-mile road race. In the final sprint my hands were so cold that I could not work my shifters. I ended up second place behind one of my teammates. Despite being miserable conditions it was some of the best suffering I have ever gone through.
Cycling Strengths:
Going Uphill |  |
Steven Kendall
(Cat 2 with 3 Years Racing Experience)
Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling:
The 2009 Reston Town Center 1/2/3 race. I’ve never learned more about cycling from a single race.
Cycling Strengths:
Classics
|  | Eric Obergfell
(Cat 1 with 16 Years Racing Experience)
Previous Sports:
Football and Soccer
How did you get started in cycling?
After college I started riding my bike to work in Austin, TX, which quickly led to mountain bike racing. When the Air Force moved me to Los Angeles, CA I found a passion for racing on the road.
Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling:
100K handicap racing in New Zealand. When I moved to Christchurch, I found an excellent cycling community. I showed up for my first race, which started at a pub, and they gave me a huge leather number with a thick cord you tie around your waist. Since I was new and had an international race license they put me in the scratch group. There were about eight groups of 10 to 15 racers which were sent off in two minute intervals. The scratch group was sent off last with a 16 minute handicap to make up over the 100K course to catch the first group to win the race. So from the gun it was full throttle, team time trial for 100K! No doubt, there is no sitting in when you’re racing with the Kiwis!
Cycling Strengths:
Sprinting |  | Paul Lengermann
(Cat 2 with 5 Years Racing Experience)
Previous Sports:
Football, Wrestling, and Lacrosse throughout high school. Football for some of college.
How did you get started in cycling?
A grad-school professor challenged me to join him for several days of riding down in Shenandoah and on Skyline Drive. The prospect of being dropped by someone who had made school so challenging served as sufficient motivation to start training. I found I enjoyed cycling and started joining local group rides. After that I was hooked and started racing with NCVC the following year.
Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling:
There are a lot of great memories but no one in particular stands out above the rest. I’ve been fortunate to have raced with an ever-evolving but always great group at NCVC and have had a blast racing all the MABRA events and all around the country. Working hard to get better and contributing to my teammates’ success has been extremely rewarding.
Cycling Strengths:
Time Trials, Breakaways, Persistence |
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