Young Heroes « Canyon HEROES Blog

Archive for the ‘Young Heroes’ Category

Young Heroes 2012: The next please…

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

The Young Heroes are an important investment in our future and very close to our CEO Roman Arnold’s heart. In his youth he was also a racing cyclist and knows just how important professional support is.

Today we’d like to introduce Mathias Norsgaard Jørgensen and Mikkel Honoré from Denmark.

Hello Mathias, we are happy to have you on board.

What does it mean to you to be part of the Young Heroes program?
For me it means that as a part of the Young Heroes I will have a great opportunity to meet a lot of interesting riders, pros and teams, race in Europe and have Erik Zabel the great sprinter as a mentor. Another great thing about being a part of Young Heroes is the support the team gets from Canyon.

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get interested in cycling?
My interest in cycling started in 2005 when I was watching the TDF on the television at my mom´s work. One of my Mom´s co-workers was former pro bike rider in the US and Denmark, he asked me if I was interested in cycling and if I was I could buy his old bike. I started in August that year and have been riding bike races ever since.

Which one of your successes to date are you particularly proud of?
One of my successes that I’m proud of is the title as Danish Champion in road racing in 2011. The competition was very tough due to all the excellent riders in Denmark that year. I had been the Danish Champion 4 times before but in 2011 I had to work very hard to achieve that goal again. Another thing that I’m proud of is my 119 victories in road races, time trails, track and cyclo cross events.

What are your main aims for the 2012 season?
My main aim is a place on the podium in the Danish Championship in road racing and in time trail. Another aim is to do my very best in all the races that I participate in and make my mark as a rider who can change the course of a race. I will do my very best to put Canyon on the top of the podium in 2012.

Where would you like to be in your cycling career in five years time?
I would like to ride on a pro-continental team and have my base in Italy or Belgium. Why I would like to ride for a pro-continental team and not a UCI team like SAXO Bank or Leopard, etc, is that my opportunities might be greater on the pro-continental team.

Thanks for talking to us and all the best for the 2012 season!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Mikkel,
Congratulations, you’re on the team!!

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get interested in cycling?
My name is Mikkel Honoré, I am 15 years old and from Denmark. I have been cycling for 8 years. 2011 was a big year for me. I was selected for the Danish national team.
Everything started in 2004. I got interested in cycling from my older brother. I started in the U-11 class and went to races every weekend with my father and brother. And we travelled throughout the country to the bike races.

What does it mean to you to be part of the Young Heroes program?
It means a lot to me. It is like a dream come true. I expect to gain a lot of experience with the staff and the Young Heroes. I am also very happy to get this nice equipment and the chance to achieve better results.

Which one of your successes to date are you particularly proud of?
I think it would be the victory in the Kids-Tour Berlin. On the 1st stage we rode along Königstraße and winning there was an amazing feeling.

What are your main aims for the 2012 season?
My goal is to have a good or maybe even better season than last year and get selected for the team to ASVÖ Radjugend-Tour in Austria

Dear Mikkel, have a great season and have fun on the Young Heroes Team!

Share|

Posted in Canyon Online Team, Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2012 - Join the Adventure | Comments Off

Curtain is raised on the Young Heroes 2012 – and on it goes

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Piles of applications have been read and evaluated – now we have the ten young talents who managed to secure one of the coveted places on the Canyon Young Heroes Team in 2012. Over the next few days we’ll be introducing you to all the riders in short interviews and asking them about their wishes and aims for the coming season as Canyon Young Heroes.

On we go Michael O‘ Loughlin from Ireland and Jonathan Cuanon from France.

Hi Michael,
Congratulations, you’re on the team!

What does it mean to you to be part of the Young Heroes program?
I am delighted to be part of the Canyon Young Heroes Team. I’m the first rider from Ireland to be picked, so that makes it extra special. I can’t wait to go to Tuscany and meet Erik Zabel and Andrea Tafi. And I get a great new Canyon bike!

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get interested in cycling?
I come from the home town of Sean Kelly. My Dad is a racer who was an Irish champion and manages the Irish cycling team. I started racing at the age of 10 and loved it straight away.

Which one of your successes to date are you particularly proud of?
It’s great to win a National Championship and I’ve been fortunate to win road race, time trial and criterium championships. It’s great to have the full set.

What are your main aims for the 2012 season?
For 2012, I hope to compete successfully in more international races with the Cycling Ireland Talent Team 2020. I hope to get stronger and faster and possibly win a medal in the 2013 EYOF in Utrecht.

Where would you like to be in your cycling career in five years time?
Hopefully in five years time, I’ll be riding for a continental team, and performing well enough to get a place on a World Tour team.

Thanks for talking to us and have a great season!

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello Jonathan,
Congratulations! It’s great to have you on board.

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get interested in cycling?
My name is Jonathan Couanon. I live in Cagnes sur Mer near Nice, in the south of France. I’ve been riding a bike since a very young age because my father and two brothers (17 and 20 years old) also cycle.

What does it mean to you to be part of the Young Heroes program?
I know several cyclists from my region who participated in the Young Heroes Program. I’m looking forward to being a part of this team and competing some big events. I hope being a part of this team is going to allow me to progress and to realize my goals.

Which one of your successes to date are you particularly proud of?
My best results last year were the general classification of the “Tour des Bouches du Rhône”, including 2 stage wins. I also got a second place at the “Trophée de France des Jeunes Cyclistes”.

What are your main aims for the 2012 season?
“My main aims for this year are:
– The French Championship
- The regional Championship
– The inter-regional South-East Championship ( 3 races ) ”

Where would you like to be in your cycling career in five years time?
I want to get a pro contract and have a successful pro career.

We are looking forward to an exciting season and wish you all the very best of luck!

Share|

Posted in Canyon Online Team, Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2012 - Join the Adventure | Comments Off

Curtain is raised on the Young Heroes 2012

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

We received innumerable applications from young riders for a place on the Young Heroes team. We read and evaluated piles of applications before we reached our decisions and that was no mean task because we only had 10 places available on the team.

We are now happy to be able to present the 10 young talents we selected for our Canyon Young Heroes program 2012.

So wird das neue Young Heroes Trikot aussehen!

The young stars will continue to ride for their own clubs and will receive a comprehensive package including bike equipment and professional support from former pro Erik Zabel. These are the perfect prerequisites for a successful season.

If this were on TV, now the third commercial break would just be starting and we’d have to put up with several minutes of waffle before the new riders are finally named and presented to the public. However, that’s not the way we do it.

Lights out and on comes the super trouper! Here are the Canyon Young Heroes 2012
Alex Mengoulas (13.07.1997)
Netherlands
Michael O‘ Loughlin (14.02.1997)
Ireland
Mathias Norsgaard Jørgensen (05.05.1997)
Denmark
Mikkel Frøhlich Honoré (21.01.1997)
Denmark
Mathieu Rigollot (08.01.1997)
France
Eva Maria Palm (07.11.1997)
Belgium
Manuel Porzner (25.02.1996)
Germany
Karl Burchardt (19.04.1997)
Germany
Marcus Kvist (07.11.1997)
Sweden
Jonathan Covanon (08.04.1997)
France

In the next few days we’ll be introducing you to the new riders in the blog individually.
Right, off we go with Alex Mengoulas

Hi Alex,
Congratulations, you got a place on the team!

[SinglePic not found]

What does it mean to you to be part of the Young Heroes program?
I’m very happy I have been selected for this Young Heroes program, where we will learn new techniques from people with a lot of experience in cycling like Erik Zabel. I’m also looking forward to meeting the boys and girls who have been selected by Canyon so we can learn to work together to achieve success.

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get interested in cycling?
I’m Alex Mengoulas from Holland. I was born in Almere on 13-07-1997. I come from a family with a Greek father and a Dutch mother.I go to a special school for children who like to do sports very much.Here we have the opportunity to do more training or to go to training camps elsewhere.
Soon after I learned to walk, I also learned to cycle and that’s because of my father.He is a very fanatical cyclist and so I was very young when I got the passion for cycling, too.

Which one of your successes to date are you particularly proud of?
I’m very proud of my second Dutch championship title, because I had to defend my first title, which I won for the first time in 2010. Also the trail was very difficult with a lot of climbs and the competition was very tough that season. At the end I finished well ahead of the second and third placed riders. This victory is one I will never forget, it felt great.

What are your main aims for the 2012 season?
For 2012 I want to ride many classics in Holland, Belgium, and Germany. The most important competitions for me this year are the TMP Tour, the Youth Tour Assen, the Dutch championship and Hamburg.

Where would you like to be in your cycling career in five years time?
About 5 years from now I would like to be placed in a successful international team. If I get the right guidance, I hope to be successful in the big classics and in the tours like the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta.

All the best,
Alex

Share|

Posted in Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2012 - Join the Adventure | Comments Off

Young Heroes 2012: The countdown has started

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

In just a few days we’ll be introducing you to the Young Heroes team 2012.

The response to our call for applications was immense. Innumerable applications from right across Europe landed on our desks here in Koblenz. We are really pleased about the response because since the program began in 2008 we have already managed to help many young talents take major steps forward in their cycling careers. One of the outstanding examples is Rick Zabel (son of our mentor Erik Zabel), who has now made it into the pro ranks and secured a pro contract for the coming season with the Dutch Rabobank team. Another rider with equally good prospects is Jan Brockhoff, who was selected for the national team 5 times in 2011 and enjoyed considerable success in numerous events and championships. These are just two examples of many.

Spoilt for choice – meet the jury
We consider the Young Heroes to be an investment in the future and the program is also something which is dear to Canyon CEO Roman Arnold’s heart. Roman was himself a successful racing cyclist in his youth and knows just how important it is to have professional support. It’s therefore only natural that he is also involved in the selection process of the young talents. Ex-pro Erik Zabel is also involved as Erik has been mentor of the Young Heroes since the very start. The other members of the jury include our Team and Event Coordinator Dominic Picquardt, who is the direct contact for the young riders during the season. Sebastian Jadczak, who is our Product Manager for road bikes, is also involved in our selection procedure. The jury is rounded off by the two experienced former Young Heroes and Friends of Canyon Jan Brockhoff and Lucas Liß.

The jury’s work is moving at full steam ahead with piles of applications which need to be read, analyzed, deliberated over and finally decided upon. This is no mean task because nearly all the candidates are talented and have already numerous victories under their belts. The riders who gain a place on the Young Heroes 15+ squad and the chance to ride like a pro for a whole year will be revealed in just a few days here in the blog.

Auswahl der Young Heroes 2012: Dominic Piquardt und Sebastian Jadczak im Gespräch

However, we can already let you in on a little secret…
Jérémy Defaye, Axelle Dubau-Prevot, Jesper Schultz, Jonas Bokeloh and Eric Alfaro Dufour – five successful riders from the 2011 Young Heroes team will be riding in the 17+ category for Canyon this year. We are really pleased we are able to accompany our Young Heroes one step further towards a pro career.

Looking ahead to the first training camp in Tuscany
In just a few weeks we’ll be off to our first training camp with the Young Heroes. From 23 to 26 February our new Young Heroes and mentor Erik Zabel will be flying to Italy with the entire crew to get ready for the new racing season. The riders will be accommodated on the country estate of cycling legend and Canyon brand ambassador Andrea Tafi in Tuscany. Together with the Italian junior squad Polisportiva Monsummanese (which is also supported by Canyon) the Young Heroes will do the necessary conditioning work for the coming season under the professional supervision of Andrea Tafi and Erik Zabel.

The agenda during the three-day training camp will include a getting -to-know-you session, a hand-over of equipment to the riders, training and theory sessions with Erik and Tafi and also a photo-shoot. We’ll keep you informed about how they all get on.

All other information on the Young Heroes program is available at: youngheroes.canyon.com

Share|

Posted in Canyon Online Team, Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2011, Young Heroes 2012 - Join the Adventure | Comments Off

Jérémy Defaye’s reflections on the 2011 season

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

I have just finished my first season with the Canyon Young Heroes team. I’m in the juveniles category (15 -16 years). I had a fantastic year with all the people involved with the Young Heroes.

My Canyon bike is an Ultimate CF SLX. I think it’s a superb bike because it’s not only lively and responsive to ride, but also comfortable.

My season began in March and I ended it with 10 wins on my account, culminating with victory last weekend in the “Chrono des Nations” in Vendee, western France. The event was the highlight of the year and the best French riders were lined up at the start. This was the first time that this event was open to my category. Although time-trial bikes were not allowed on the 17 km course, I was still able to produce a fast time as I was in great form. I did the 17 km in 24:16 minutes – that’s an average speed of 42.2 km /h. I therefore took my place on the podium alongside Elite men’s winner Tony Martin. This was a fantastic result for me and one which I’m extremely proud of.

The second big victory I achieved was in the regional championships and the event was organized by my own club. It was a long race of over 76 km. I attacked a lot during the event and all my efforts were worth it in the end. 3 laps before the finish I attacked once more and was able to enjoy my win to the full. That was a great feeling! In August I travelled to Assen in the Netherlands with the entire Young Heroes team. The event was a six-stage road race. Erik Zabel was with us and supervised us before, during and after the race. It was a great experience for us to have him close at hand. Next year my big targets are the “Marc Madiot Trophy” and the French National Championships. I’d really like to win that event and become French champion.

All the best,
Jérémy

Share|

Posted in Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2012 - Join the Adventure | Comments Off

Canyon Young Heroes – first team meeting in Koblenz

Monday, February 21st, 2011

The Canyon Young Heroes 2011 met for the first time in February. The Young Heroes spent a weekend together at the Canyon Headquarters in Koblenz and were able to check out their new bikes for the first time. But that wasn’t all: we also went into the forest with them and Canyon Hero Rob-J showed them a few riding techniques on the bike. The key focus was on having a good time even though the young riders were always looking towards the next challenge.

Share|

Posted in Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2011 | 1 Comment »

Introducing the Canyon Young Heroes: Jesper Schulz

Monday, February 14th, 2011

We met up with Canyon Young Hero Jesper Schulz from Denmark and spoke to him about his aims for 2011.

How did you get involved in cycling?
I was a Danish Duathlon champion, but running wasn’t as much fun as cycling. So I got more and more hooked on cycling and finally decided to devote all my time to it and hang up my running shoes.

How did you get to know about the Young Heroes?
I contacted Canyon Denmark regarding sponsorship. Carsten from Canyon Denmark suggested that I apply to get on the Canyon Young Heroes Team in 2011. This initiative sounded very exciting, so I immediately applied.

What was your biggest success to date?
This was when I won the Danish road championship in 2010. I have had many other victories, but this was by far the greatest.

What do you want to achieve in 2011?
I am hoping to be as successful as I was in 2010, and now when I get the support from Canyon, I hope to be even more successful.

What did it feel like when you read the letter that you had been accepted onto the team?
This was like a dream come true and a big relief. I never gave up hope and then it just happened!

What do you expect from the Canyon Young Heroes?
I hope to gain a lot of good race experience, make new friends and get a lot of input and valuable advice. I am just so glad to be riding this top equipment, and having the possibility to get even better results in 2011.

Share|

Posted in Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2011 | No Comments »

Introducing the Canyon Young Heroes: Eric Alfaro

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Hello Everyone,

My name is Eric Alfaro Dufour and I’m from the beautiful, sunny island of Mallorca and am very much looking forward to being a member of the Canyon Young Heroes in 2011. Before I started cycling I tried a few other sports including football, basketball, karate and also tennis. As my father is also a cyclist, it wasn’t difficult for me to find motivation for this sport. At the age of 11 I celebrated my first race win here on Mallorca.

eric-alfaro

How did I find out about the Young Heroes? My father trained with Erik Zabel a few times and told me that I should apply. No sooner said than done and I got the information that I had been included in the team. My greatest victory to date was in 2008 when I won the championship of the Balearic Islands.

2011 will surely be a difficult year for me. I’m now riding in an older age group and it will be tough for me to make my mark there. However, I’m already training hard and hope that I can keep up with the pace and ride a great season. I also hope that the professional help from the Canyon Young Heroes will help. We shall see…

See you soon,
Eric

Share|

Posted in Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2011 | No Comments »

Introducing the Canyon Young Heroes: Jérémy Defaye

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Hello readers,

My name is Jérémy Defaye and I come from Frejus in France. I’ll be 15 this year and have been riding races for almost two years now. I’ve been riding for Vélo Club Rochevillois in Le Cannet for some time now, too.

Everything started with my father, who was very interested in cycling from the outset. In time my interest also increased and it therefore transpired that we both started riding racing bikes at the same time. Shortly after I then started riding the first XC and CC events alongside road races in order to optimise my training.

I first became aware of the Young Heroes initiative through Fleur Flore, Thomas Coponi and Kevin Maldonado. We all grew up in the same region and I’ve therefore known them for quite some time now. In 2010 I then finally made it into the Young Heroes Team. It was an indescribable feeling when I got the letter with the confirmation that I’d been accepted onto the squad. I was over the moon and couldn’t wait to get started.

My biggest successes to date were in 2010 at the FSGT championship and the Tour Bouches du Rhône in France, where I finished 1st in both events. Of the 34 races I started I was able to capture a podium place 32 times. In 2011 I’d like to repeat my successes and build on them even further. This is why it’s my aim to win the Tour Bouches du Rhône again in my age group and also the French championship. In addition, I’d also like to ride this year’s Hamburg Classics event with the Young Heroes and of course do really well.

I’m looking forward to having a great time and experiencing a lot. I’m particularly looking forward to getting to know Erik Zabel and learning more about the racing scene from him. I am also hoping that I’ll make lots of new friends and of course be successful, too.

Share|

Posted in Young Heroes, Young Heroes 2011 | No Comments »

Introducing the Canyon Young Heroes: Axelle Dubau Prevot

Friday, January 28th, 2011

We recently did this interview with Axelle Dubau Prevot. We’ll soon be introducing the final Young Hero for the 2011 season. So you’ll all have to hang on for a couple of days longer…

How did you get involved in cycling?

One could call it a family tradition. My parents have been cycling since their childhood. My brother rides in the DN1 and my sister is the ladies mountain bike world champion.

How did you get to know about the Young Heroes?

I first became aware of the Canyon initiative at the Roc d´Azur Festival. In a chat with Fleur Faure my interest was aroused even further and one day later I popped the application in the post.

What was your biggest success to date?

My biggest successes to date were the French cyclo cross championships where I was able to take 3rd place and the Finals Etoile du P´Est where I finished 1st.

What do you want to achieve in 2011?

In 2011 I want to win the French championships and French Cup on the road and mountain bike.

What did it feel like when you read the letter that you had been accepted onto the team.?

It was an indescribable feeling when I held the letter in my hand.

What do you expect from the Canyon Young Heroes?

I’m looking forward to gaining a lot of knowledge with the Young Heroes in 2011. I also want to continue to build on my success even further. It will surely be a totally new experience to train with a pro like Erik Zabel and also to learn from him. In addition, it will be nice to get to know people who only have one thought in their minds which is to pursue bike sport at an extremely high level and have mega fun!