VOLUME ISSUE NOVEMBER , P25
we started with Antti, everything
has been taken to a whole new
level, and I feel like this was a
fitting way to cap off my career. I
feel really good on the bike right
now, the terrain here is really
similar to [where I live and train]
in Arizona, and this is a good
opportunity to finish on a good
note, something I can look back
on and be proud of."
As a veteran Six Days rider
who's last one was here in
2014, Jeff Fredette has seen
an army of riders participate.
Asked how he expected Robert's
retirement to affect the team,
Fredette replied, "It shouldn't
affect anything. I think [the rid
-
ers] come over to do the job,
and it shouldn't change the way
they ride, with it being his last
one. There was a team before
he came along, and there'll be a
team after he's gone—everything
goes in cycles.
"As far as it affecting how
hard they'll push or whatever, I
think it'll be the same [effort]—it
should be the same; they should
give it 100 percent [all the time]."
Of the U.S. Junior World Trophy
(JWT) team of three, Mateo
Oliveira is the sole
returnee from
last year, joined
in Argentina by
AMA NGPC Pro
II standout Kai
Aiello and GNCC
XC2 star Grant
Davis, who is the
only one without
previous Six Days
experience.
While Italy has
won the last two
JWT competitions, the American
trio of riders under 23 years old
has a good chance to win for
the first time since 2014, the last
time the U.S. hoisted the trophy.
In the Women's World Trophy
(WWT), Great Britain is the cur
-
rent champ, but they'll be tested
by America's Rachel Gutish, Bran-
dy Richards and Korie Steede.
Australia also figures to be a
strong contender with a proven
lineup including GNCC and Sprint
Enduro star Tayla Jones, its team
aiming to add to its record of six
triumphs in a row.
Among the Club teams, the
U.S. has seven teams, so 21 in
-
dividual riders—the second most
behind host Argentina with 33
teams plus three riders who are
part of two Latin America teams.
In numerical order, they are XC
Gear (Austin Serpa, Ryan Surratt,
Josh Toth), GTBN (Jaden Dahn-
ers, Thorn Devlin, Nate Ferderer),
Missouri Mudders (Cade Hender-
son, Trevor Maley, Jhak Walker),
Braaptastic.com (Preston Camp-
bell, Axel Pearson, Zachary Toth),
Steve Hatch Racing POTM (Chase
Bright, Jackson Davis, Hunter
Smith), Eric Cleveland Memorial
(Nolan Cate, Ava Silvestri, Kyle
Tichenor) and Elizabeth Scott
Community (John Beal, Rick Em
-
erson, Jeremy Shoning).
Mark Kariya
The 31 U.S. riders are supported by a small army of
technicians, managers, chase riders and pit personnel,
each one vital to getting each rider to the finish.
What does it take to
keep 31 Americans in
air filters for six days
of Argentine dust and
silt? Does this help you
visualize the answer?
