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Team Rapha-FOCUS 2012

"For all of us, there's gonna be some moving and shaking this season."
- Jeremy Powers

Team Rapha-FOCUS begin their third season with all riders returning plus the addition of two new racers, bringing the Men-to-Women and American-to-European ratios into balance. Cyclocross is booming in popularity the world over, with events ranging from the all-out racing of UCI World Cups to festival style courses where costumes and creativity rule the day. Despite its many forms, cyclocross speaks the universal language of competition and revelry as the cycling seasons begin to change.

A look at the new team roster reveals additions and updates as fresh as the newly designed team kit. With the women's squad now equal to the men's, we can not wait to see the distinctive Team Rapha-FOCUS colors being flown at the front of the field.

Jeremy Powers | @jeremypowers
_{Lives: Massachsetts, USA}

J-Pow made the most of his first season with Rapha-FOCUS in 2011/2012 capturing 11 UCI wins, standing atop 18 UCI podiums and winning the U.S. Cyclocross National Championship. VeloNews named Jeremy their 2011 North American Cyclocross Rider of the Year. Jeremy is a fan favorite because of his attacking style and impressive bicycle-handling skills but mostly because his Behind the Barriers web-documentary-series gives an intimate look at the life of a professional cyclocross athlete. Jeremy names Louisville as his favorite race course.

Zach McDonald | @zachmcdonald
_{Lives: Washington, USA}

Zach won the 2012 US Cyclocross U23 Championship in convincing style, capping it off with a signature wheelie. The University of Washington student has a year remaining in the U23 ranks but will certainly contest for the win against the full Elite field. Zach excels on technical courses, is always looking for more new music, and is the team night owl. Funny then that he volunteered for the earliest slot on team photo-shoot day. Perhaps he's just that eager to ride his bike. Wheelies at dawn? Just make certain that there's coffee…

Chris Jones | @cjonez
_{Lives: California, USA}

Nicknames like CoJones, Jonesy, or even just Chris do not seem appropriate for a man of Christopher Ryan Jones's character. Which is not to say that Chris is all-the-time serious or a fuddy-duddy. He's a professional racing cyclist for nearly the entire year, emphasis on "racing", who carries the responsibility of team support without fail. Following a lengthy road season, Chris comes alive on the CX course, free from the constraints of the peloton and chores of supporting a GC leader on the road. He is a power rider with a smooth style on the bike and looks to early season events such as Cross Vegas to make a statement.

Julie Krasniak | @krasniakjulie
_{Lives: Metz, France}

A fourth-generation bicycler racer and 12-time French National Champion with titles in just about every cycling discipline, Julie is entering her second-season with Team Rapha-FOCUS. She brings a classic, focused approach to bicycle racing but balances it with a flair for fashion and culture. She raced the 2011 season while completing her Masters in Business Law from the Universite Nancy 2. For 2012 she has her full focus on training and the support of two teammates on course. Julie will race a full calendar of United States events this season.

Gabby Day | @Gabby_Day
_{Lives: Sleaford, UK}

Gabby starts her races with a self-described 'aggressive style' and, like teammate Jeremy Powers, likes to lead early on. As the reigning Welsh Mountain Bike Champion, Gabby uses the technical sections of challenging courses, like Koksijde (9th place at 2011 World Cup) and Koppenberg, to gain an advantage. Gabby uses her time off the bike to promote bicycling skills and increased access to cycling for women and children. She is well-known for bringing a feminine flair to the race course and challenges the notion that women racers should behave like men to appear just as strong.

Sabrina Schweizer
_{Lives: Wangen, Germany}

Sabrina is a rising star in Germany and on the World Cup circuit. Just as with her Rapha-FOCUS teammates, she competes in road and mountain bike disciplines, posting impressive results in each. She is quiet off the bike but on course she takes to the front of the race in a style reminiscent of her appreciation of fast cars. Intensely competitive, Sabrina has her goals set on reaching a World Cup podium. Cyclocross popularity is on the rise in Germany and we anticipate Sabrina piloting her German-designed FOCUS Mares to the cheers of success this season.

Early Season Schedule

September 19 | Cross Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)
September 22-23 | US Grand Prix Cyclocross 1 & 2 (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, USA)
September 26 | Gateway Cup (St. Louis, Missouri, USA)
September 29-30 | Grand Prix of Gloucester, (Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA)
October 6-7 | Providence Cyclocross Festival (Providence, Rhode Island, USA)
October 13-14 | US Grand Prix Cyclocross 3 & 4 (Fort Collins, Colorado, USA)
October 21 | World Cup Plzen (Plzen, Czech Republic)
October 23 | Nacht Van Woerden (Netherlands)
October 28 | World Cup Tabor (Tabor Czech Republic)

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