Big D Cycling Powers Into 2016 KBCXT Season

With the first weekend of the 2016 Cyclocross season in the books, one thing is certain: Big D Cycling has made it clear they intend to defend the KBCXT Masters Champion title.
Steve Van Nieuwenhuyse is off to a quick start!
Steve Van Nieuwenhuyse is off to a quick start!
The two-day Prologue Cyclocross Cup, held at the Blue Valley Park venue in Kansas City, Mo, kicked off the KBCXT season, and it offered racers a great mix of terrain variations, appealing to a wide variety of racer skills.
Captain Clevenger navigates his way around the Cx course.
Paul Aldeguer navigates his way around the Cx course, with his trademark socks up to his knees!

Mother Nature is always up for a good time when it comes to Cx racing and was nice enough to soften things up with a soaking rain the days before the event, then turning up the steamy heat on race day. The precipitation, along with a heavy morning dew on Saturday, had all racers scrambling for the right tire set-up and pressures to meet the slick grass and soggy conditions. Staying upright was key to a successful race, and several members of the Keen Wealth Advisors Masters 50 division made the right call on their set-ups.

Team Cyclocross Captain Jim ‘Clev’ Clevenger, long-time Big D Cycling member Paul Fancher and the newest addition of the Masters 50’s mix, Steve Van Nieuwenhuyse, went 2nd, 3rd and 4th on both days of racing. The trio mixed up their respective finishes each day, but, one thing was clear: there’s a new Masters spark this season.

Paul Aldeguer grabbed valuable points in the Masters 40’s, while Chip Zimmer and Amy Van Nieuwenhuyse each stood atop the silver podium spots in their respective divisions both days.

Chip Zimmer chippin' his way to a strong finish.
Chip Zimmer chippin’ his way to a strong finish.
KCA 2015 Rider of the Year, Nigel Vaught, wasted no time racking up two more Junior wins in the 12-14 division and was joined in sharing the Junior glory, with Peter Whalen taking gold in the Junior 15-18 class. Vaught has taken the next step in what is sure to be a great racing career and is racing double-duty this season in the Cat-5 division, where he placed respectably in two large Cat-5 fields.
It is a long Cx season, and the team relies on great products from Chamois Butt’r to help with those practice days, where barrier re-mounts are on the training schedule.
Special thanks to Roger Harrison of Lanterne Rouge for spending countless hours to take great photos of all racers!