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The teens riding for DEVO this year will have a host of experience and talent to guide them. Collegiate national champions Stephan Davoust of Fort Lewis College and Emily Schaldach from University of Colorado-Boulder will join Levi Kurlander in coaching the team. All three are from Durango.
“Seeing the DEVO riders coming back to coach just proves that they believe in our mission and philosophy to such a degree that they want to share that passion,” DEVO coach Sarah Tescher said in an email to The Durango Herald
Not only will they receive top notch instruction and intense competition, the team will be doing some unique events as well. The DEVO Explorers will take a five-day ride July 9 from Durango to Telluride for the Ride Festival headlined by Pearl Jam. The music festival promoters donated 10 tickets to the group based upon some volunteer work and their overall mission of lessening fossil fuels.
In another fascinating quest, longtime DEVO riders Will Berger and Keenan Desplanques will create a different success story this August. The pair of 18-year-olds, who have ridden with DEVO since age 12, will travel to Europe for a bike trip to film an adventure documentary. The duo will embark on a 3,000 mile bike tour from Trondheim, Norway, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, over the course of three months. A gofundme.com page has been set up for people to make donations in support their journey.
DEVO kicked off its 10th anniversary summer season by sending the 14-and-under and 19-and-under teams to the Colorado State Championship in Eagle with great success. Keiran Eagen and Katja Freeburn both won their Category 1 17/18-year-old division on a grueling 22-mile course which both felt was the toughest race they’d ever ridden. Riley Amos also took home first-place hardware in the 14U category, while Sadie Schafer and Maddie Jo finished ahead of the pack together in the Category 1 15/16 division.
Riley’s brother, Braden Amos, left with a second-place finish in the 14U race. Cobe Freeburn also took second place in the Category 2 15/16 with Andy Munroe finishing fifth.
Madeline Burns earned second place in her first state championship appearance. Simon Donnaway placed second in the Super Downhill and fifth in the cross country race. Lucas Robbins was sixth in the Category 1 17/18 competition.
It was a great start for the Durango DEVO group that has an action-packed summer in store for its riders.
“DEVO is stronger than ever right now,” Tescher said. “We wouldn’t be a strong organization without all of our dedicated coaches, mentors, and community support. Our agenda is to make kids happy on their bikes and to be good teammates.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
