2019 an exceptional year for Brands Cuevas Junior Development

2019 has proven to be an exceptional year for Brands Cuevas Junior Development that is a reflection of the hard work of our athletes and support from our dedicated coaching staff and community.

We are fortunate to be coached by Olympian Jairo Diaz, CIS Training Systems David Lipscomb, Jon Figs and Lionel Senior. Diana Toback is the Team Manager and we are supported by Brands Cycle and Fitness and Giant Bicycles as well as many other local NY businesses.

Our focus is on the teenaged juniors who need the most support and have very few options. We have a unique combination of highly qualified professionals who train, practice and provide race strategy for our juniors.

This year is our 2nd full season of running the team after Fernando’s passing and our roster has grown to over 20 NY resident junior cyclists that we organically develop and support. In addition to team activities, we are proud to offer open Track and Road clinics at the Kissena Velodrome every Thursday night for 13+ year old athletes. These clinics are run by an Olympic and World level coach so it’s a great opportunity for our teenaged juniors in the community.

We believe in a balanced environment based on sportsmanship and effort rather than podiums. We are most proud of all the amazing efforts of all the athletes. Most of our athletes have been experiencing podium finishes at local road/mountain bike races and Wednesday nights at the Kissena Velodrome. Our newer racers have been working hard and are starting to pack finish midway through the season as we have planned! Some of the results are below and it’s worth noting the success from across the entire team.

  • 13/14
    • DJ Toback, Cat 3 Road
      • 5th Place Podium USAC Junior Nationals Road Race
      • 5th Place Podium USAC Junior Nationals Criterium
      • 3rd Place USAC Talent ID NE Regional Track Race
      • 1st Place Sommerville Criterium
      • 1st Place Chris Hinds USA Talent Criterium
    • Ben Lloyd
      • 11th Place USAC Junior Nationals Time Trial
      • Pack Finish USAC Junior Nationals Road Race
      • Pack Finish USAC Junior Nationals Criterium
      • NYS Junior Road Champion
      • NYS Junior TT Champion
      • 1st Place Bear Mountain Road Race
    • Max Russo
      • 3rd Place Orchard Beach Crit
      • 1st Place HopBrook MTB Race
      • 1st Place Grant’s Tomb B
    • Jake Russo
      • 2nd Place Grant’s Tomb B
    • Marvin Santos
      • Multiple in Wednesday Night Kissena Velo Jr Omniums
    • Gus Seidel
      • 3rd Place Grant’s Tomb B
      • 4th Place NYS TT
  • 15/16
    • David Waldvogel
      • 2nd Place Grant’s Tomb
      • Multiple in Wednesday Night Kissena Velo Omniums
    • Yorell Pachon
      • 3rd Grant’s Tomb
      • NYS TT Champion
      • Multiple in Wednesday Night Kissena Velo Omniums
    • Ben Huang
      • 2nd Place NYS TT Champion
      • Multiple in Wednesday Night Kissena Velo Omniums
      • 2nd Place Grant’s Tomb B
  • 17/18
    • Gabriella Vides-Barry
      • 1st Place Boundbrook
      • 3rd Place Sommerville Criterium
      • 2nd Place Grants Tomb
      • 1st Place Hopbrook MTB
    • Ben Halperin
      • 4th Place NE Regional Track Championship
      • 2nd Place Bear Mountain Road Race
      • Multiple in Wednesday Night Kissena Velo Omniums
    • Alex Kliukha
      • 2nd Place NYS TT

About Brands Cuevas

Doug Toback – Program Director

For any questions please contact us at BrandsCuevas@gmail.com or Instagram @BrandsCuevas

The team was started by Fernando Cuevas and is continuing in his honor.

We are the NY area’s team openly supporting all 13 and up riders – we offer scholarships for those who need them. The team coaches are Olympian Jairo Diaz, CIS Training Systems David Lipscomb, Jon Figs and Lionel Senior. We ride on the Track, Road, MTB, and CX. We believe kids need variety to be happy.

We have successes at every racing level and we are looking to equally support kids who want to try their hardest and be the best they can. We will make sure that every child has the same opportunity.

Posted in Rider Spotlight.