STATS:

Hometown: Palo Alto, CA
DOB: Feb 12, 1991
Height: 6′2″
Weight: 154 lbs.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

ABOUT CHARLIE…

How did you get started in bicycle racing?
I have always been a pretty fast runner and ran cross-country in both middle school and high school, but I loved speed too much to be content with just using my feet. My dad rode recreationally on the weekends, so the obvious plan of action to satisfy my yearning for speed was to switch to two wheels. I started riding at 12 years old just for fun, but being a competitive person I didn’t just settle as a weekend warrior and by 15 I had joined a club team and the racing began.

Tell us about your first race.
My first race was a junior crit in Northern California and I was dropped in the first two laps. I was but a wee 14 year old in a 16 and under field, but even so it was embarrassing and somewhat demoralizing. Disappointment, however, soon turned to fascination with how fast some of the kids were and then changed again to determination to get stronger. Overall, it was a pretty inspiring first race.

What is your favorite memory or experience on the bike?
Probably finishing the final stage of the Peace Race this past year. The Peace Race is a tough 5 day stage race for juniors in the Czech Republic and part of the Nations Cup circuit. I had competed in the race in 2008, but crashed out of the last stage and was unable to finish. This past year, however, I spent a good portion of the final stage in a breakaway and apparently had a virtual top 5 spot in GC at one point. We were caught with 15km to go and I remember holding on for dear life as the pack pounded up the eighth and final climb of the day. It was an epic conclusion to an epic race.

What makes you most excited about riding for the Trek-LIVESTRONG team?
The wealth of cycling knowledge and experience available on this team with Axel and all my accomplished teammates is really exciting. I am also proud to wear the LiveSTRONG badge and play a role in the global fight against cancer.

What is your favorite place to ride?
Stage Road in Pescadero, CA on a cold fall morning.

What accomplishment or career achievement are you most proud of?
Either winning Nationals in the Time Trial this past year at the junior level, or finishing 2nd overall two years in a row at Tour de l’Abitibi. It would have been nice to win Abitibi at least once (I lost by less than half a second the first year and then by 4 seconds the second year), but it’s nice knowing that not many people have repeated a podium spot in that race.