Tell us about your background. When did you start racing?

I started racing last year but I have been cycling since 5 years old. My first race was the Harlem Skyscraper Crit and the first BIG race was the BMC NYC Champs Junior Race. I finished but didn’t even know what gear restrictions was and got disqualified.

Euri put some serious hurt on the cat 5’s at the start of the year.

One of the most important things about racing is kissing up to your sponsors. Tell us about Miya Shoji and the suppport you receive from Zui Hanafusa.

Being with Miya Shoji gives my brother and I the opportunity to train, race, and most of all learn from our mistakes. The pressure is not applied and Zui truly wants us to excel. He never wants us to settle for less or the same…

You went straight from winning cat 5 races to winning the Empire Games qualifier against an open field. What was that like, suddenly racing against some seriously tougher competition?

It was very hard because of the rain and the competition. After my flat I struggled even more. Somehow I made it back to the break and Scott W of Metro led it out and I managed to expend everything I had left to drift into the finish…

@##=#<1,L>@##=#You won the Housatonic 17-18 junior race. How did that race play out?

Well simply my brother and I were clueless what it would be like. We did not even know what KOM meant. We thought it was the last kilometer but it was the King of the Mountain. lol. But either way I had my brother Lewis jump and sprint for this KOM which in return got him to win the KOM in his category. I basically was alert at all times. It was like the mini Tour de France stage. It was really exciting. It was always a dream for my brother and I to race in something like the Housatonic. The end is usaully the grand finale of races especially when you have the feeling that you could be the winner. When I saw nothing in front of me and the feeling of others behind as I crossed the line…

What are your aspirations in cycling? Do you have any cycling heroes?

My father is a big role model. He too cycles and works in the bicycle industry. To have him there at races as well as cheer me on day and night gives me the incentive to take cycling to the next level. All cyclists who have made it big and are willing to inspire and give back to their fans are people I admire.