The Amy D. Foundation is pleased to name seven riders to it’s second annual Altitude camp. The camp, in Golden, Colorado will allow riders to participate in the iconic Mt. Evans Hill Climb, organized by camp co-sponsor, Team Evergreen Cycling. On top of racing the iconic hill climb, riders will receive daily instruction on team tactics, descending, riding in pace lines, sprints and other necessary skills to be successful and safe in the peloton.
Additionally, riders will receive support from a panel of experts in nutrition and sports psychology. Each rider will receive personalized assessments and a team presentation from Sports Psychologist, Dr. Erin Ayala of Premier Sport Psychology Group. This will be a wonderful opportunity for riders to to learn more about themselves and reach greater athletic heights with the right mental attitude. Nutritionist Kristen Arnold will provide guidance to each rider on hydration, recovery and nutrition with meal plans and personalized team plan for success during altitude camp and Green Mountain Stage Race. Arnold and Ayala’s expertise in such critical areas that help develop successful long term athletes is an exciting part of the Amy D. Foundation programming.
Without further ado please welcome our seven Amy D. Foundation Altitude camp and Green Mountain Stage Race team:
We are pleased to announce that Karina Esqueda will ride with the team for a second time this year. Esqueda originally rode with the team at Tour of the Gila. Esqueda played a critical role in the team’s success. Her positive attitude, passion and tenacity are vital to the continued success of the foundation. This is why we have named Esqueda team captain. She will take on the role as team leader for the squad at camp and Green Mountain stage race this year. In her own words “I have been competing in cycling for 5 years. This year I have been able to race tour of Tucson, Redlands and Tour of the Gila, among other races. My biggest achievement is a 4th place at the National Time Trail Championships last year. I really like cycling because being on the bike allows me to get to know places with beautiful landscapes, meet people from other places with the same passion, same goals. I like cycling because it challenges me to always give my best in each training session and competition, I like to challenge myself to go for more.” We can’t wait to see Esqueda continue to excel!
Welcome Rachel Parker to the team! Parker is a multi-disciplinary cyclist living in Northern California. She enjoys commanding her bike with panache and is eager to develop her racecraft. She aspires to build her own women’s program that is competitive in crits, road and gravel and can’t wait to see who will be a part of it! Prior to racing Parker swam competitively for years. At the Tour of America’s Dairyland Parker took second overall in the omnium and was hooked. In addition to racing many of the criteriums on the calendar she also took part in gravel races like BWR and the Last Best Ride. This year she continues to find success and just came off of taking the overall series win at Tulsa Tough in the 2/3 field. Parker and her team displayed well timed team tactics to take day 1 and place second on day 2 at the grueling Cry Baby Hill. We are excited to help Parker continue on her upward trajectory through the cycling ranks.
Welcome Clara Brown to the team! Brown is a Paralympian and current US Paracycling National Team member. She is a two time World Champion on the track and two time World Championship medalist on the road. Despite partial paralysis from an incomplete spinal cord injury, she is a formidable competitor in both Para and able-bodied racing alike. She aims to bridge the gap between the two realms of cycling by demonstrating the immense capabilities of athletes with physical impairments and bringing more exposure to the Paralympic movement. We are excited to play a small part in helping Brown continue to grow into an even more exceptional athlete!
One of our youngest riders selected is Kala García Arrache. García Arrache is just 19 years old and already has more years on the bike than people ten years her senior. Born in Mexico City to parents that are avid mountain bikes, they García Arrache riding by age 8. She transitioned to track and road cycling and then began racing on the national level. She currently trains often with her mom and sometimes her dad as she focuses on her second year in the U23 ranks. She loves cycling and is currently studying graphic design. Arrache will also be busy this summer contesting UCI track races in Trexlertown. We are looking forward to bringing this multi-talented rider into our fold.
Next up is Galen Bolard. Originally from Californias SF Bay Area , Bolard grew up with cycling as a family activity. With both parents and her older brother that had raced, it was only a matter of time that she’d catch the bug to race. After perusing classical ballet her adolescence, she now uses the balance and elegance on the pedals to propel in cycling. Currently based in NYC, she somehow continues to manage to log big miles which have already helped propel her to success at Green Mountain Stage race where in 2021 she found herself taking home third in the GC. We are excited to surround Bolard with team support and watch her continue to excel.
Please help us welcome all seven of these exceptionally athletes to the Amy D. Foundation family.