Danny Summerhill’s secret 2012 cross sauce
Danny Summerhill leads Ben Berden early in the CO Cross Classic
If Danny Summerhill (Chipotle-First Solar) entered a local Colorado non-UCI men’s open cyclocross race in 2011, he won it. At UCI races he reached the podium once and ended the season with a collection of top 15 results*.
Fast forward to 2012 and Summerhill’s still winning every local non-UCI race he enters. What’s different is he’s consistently doing better at UCI races.
| 2012 | 2011 | ||
| USGP Smartwool | day 1 | 4 | |
| day 2 | 4 | ||
| USGP Deschutes | day 1 | 3 | |
| day 2 | 14 | ||
| USGP Derby Cup | day 1 | 5 | |
| day 2 | 15 | ||
| Boulder Cup | 2 | 8 | |
| CO Cx Classic | 4 | 5 |
Here’s how Summerhill responded when asked just after the 2012 Colorado Cross Classic what he’s doing differently this year.
“Just not really giving a shit. If training works out for the day then I go train, and if it doesn’t then it doesn’t but I don’t really worry about it. Just less pressure on everything and I think that’s probably what’s helped a lot, is just knowing there’s always another day; this isn’t my full-time gig so if I can do good I do good. I think not having that pressure is pretty helpful. I have noticed a lot of the weekend races have been pretty cool, I pretty much just show up on the start line, don’t really warm up too much, and had some good success…”
This weekend Summerhill has the chance to try out this approach at the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross Derby Cup. He’ll be one to watch in a deep field that includes Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus), Ryan Trebon (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld), and Ben Berden (Raleigh-Clement).
*according to results posted at USA Cycling
ProVéloPassion 