Yesterday 15 year old Deezan Spence did what no other 15 year old rider has done in the 11 years of the Junior Cross Country Cycling Classic and that is win. Spence riding for “Clear the Land” Club out rode 41 other riders to clinch the win in 3 hours, 43 minutes, and 31 seconds. He is the youngest rider ever to win the Junior Cross Country and he was elated.
Deezan Spence, Winner – Junior Cross Country
“Well my team mate is a stronger sprinter than me but he fell at the finish so I had to take his place and came in first.”
Mose Hyde,
“Can you tell us what happened with the spill?”
Deezan Spence,
“Well I didn’t see because I was right beside them and I didn’t know what happened. I just saw my team mate fell.”
Mose Hyde,
“How does it feel to be the Junior Cross Country Champion?”
Deezan Spence,
“It feels very good.”
Mose Hyde,
“Did you feel this morning you had a great chance of winning?”
Deezan Spence,
“Yes. One of my friends told me he dreamed that I would win and it
looked like his dream came true.”
And while it was the crowning achievement for Deezan Spence – it was the complete opposite for Austin Armstrong. He was last year’s champ and finished fifth. He spoke of his disappointment.
Austin Armstrong, 5th Place
“I feel very disappointed because I tried my best to win this race and for this to happen to me, I just feel so disappointed.”
Mose Hyde,
“What happened with the spill?”
Austin Armstrong,
“Well I was already coming and he swerved into my wheel and I couldn’t move so he just made me drop.”
Mose Hyde,
“Your teammate won, your team won, we know it must be very difficult to lose that way. What was the race like for you?”
Austin Armstrong,
“It was very easy because we prepared well for this race and I know my team was very strong and I just wanted to deliver for them but I am just happy my team mate won because one on our team win, it is the whole team win because everybody put in their part.”
Only 19 of the 42 riders who started the race – finished.
