Danny Estevez wins TWO Elite National Championship Titles

 HUGE congratulations to Danny Estevez and Coach Todd Scheske on the amazing accomplishments this past weekend. Below is what Coach Scheske had to say about the weekend in down in Florida. 

Daniel “Danny” Estevez came to Florida on the heels of a silver medal at Dominican Republic’s Nationals last week, to go for the USA Cycling Elite National Road Race and Criterium.  This dream of a US National title has been 11 years in the making, and came to fruition after two years climbing back to top race form from many years off the bike.

 

With a solid plan in place for the criterium, the Best Buddies team was also in the hunt for the road race title and Danny is the finisher and the name behind the #critbeef social media flurry.  So a little adjustment and he was primed for the 109 mile onslaught that turned into a 29 mph average speed race!  Yes, that is correct… 109 miles in 3:46!  The Best Buddies team was on point and in control the whole day and in the final KMs shut down the last break attempt that also spent the last man in the 90 deg heat and humidity.  The final run in was up to Danny now.  500m to and the last turns navigated, with the precision of a true seasoned master of the game, Danny fought for his spot as the sprint opened early.  Surfing wheels at 400m to go and we could only see white jerseys as Danny was waiting for the right time, safely ensconced behind the charging leaders… then…He appears, the announcer goes crazy with “It’s Best Buddies on the front, It’s Best Buddies…!” and over the next 250m, Danny opened a substantial gap, thundered clear and even had time to post up in Victory!  The dream of 11 years came true.  Anyone that knows Danny and his character had tears after that finish.

 

The celebrating had to wait though – Criterium was the next day and he just finished 109 miles in the Florida heat.  Sunday was just as hot and humid, and the final race was the elite men.  The Best Buddies just went to work and rode point at such a pace that riders were constantly peeling off the back over the next hour.  No attack could stick more than a lap and no more than about 5 sec. could be gained.  In the final laps teams tried to overpower the Best Buddies train, but it was just too much horsepower.  Best Buddies with 4 to go upped the pace and large groups were exiting the back.  Two to go and things are falling apart behind.. one to go… Best Buddies has used up the guys and just one left (Michael Hernandez) to shepherd Danny to the sprint.  Rounding the last corner Danny hit the turbo and opened daylight all the way to the line and claiming his second title in two days and earned the stars and stripes for every road event for the next year – road race or criterium.  A big day for everyone.  A dream fulfilled …and then overflowed that dream.