GamJams.net: Where Mid-Atlantic bike racers roll: Dombrowski and Meidhof: Faster Than You

We already know that Joe Dombrowski was picked up as a stagiare by Trek/Livestrong to race the Tour of Utah. The race was an extended audition for the 2010 Jefferson Cup winner: if he performed well, he stood a chance at a contract for the 2011 season. After a shaky start in Utah, Joe found his rhythm with the team. Said Dombrowski, "the first few days, I rode really poorly, suffering with the altitude. I would get dropped on a climb, chase back on, and get dropped again. It was rough. After about my third day out at altitude, I started to come around. I was riding at the front on the climbs, and finishing in the bunch. It was a big confidence boost, as I was a little on edge from my early race performance. I felt a little bit of pressure to perform."

Joe executed his role as domestique admirably, and made a comfortable switch from a starring to supporting role: "It was a different experience riding under a director, as well. We all had specific instructions in the morning, especially as we were often defending, or pursuing a jersey. I was often trying to get in breaks, ride the front, or grab bottles for teammates or Levi. It was a gratifying experience to try and help the team in any way I could."

At the end of the week, DS Axel Merckx told Joe he passed the audition, and that he had a spot on the 2011 team. Joe will divide his 2011 season between Trek/Livestrong and racing in Europe on the US National team. He doesn't expect much downtime between now and them, with a full cyclocross season followed by the first Trek/Livestrong camp in December. "I have to say, I am pretty stoked on the whole thing. I was a Cat 3 at the beginning of the season, not even sure whether I wanted to do a season on the road. If you told me I would have an opportunity to travel the world, getting paid to race my bike, on a pro road team, I definitely wouldn't have believed you."

Jason Meidhof (CleanCurrents p/b Don Beyer Volvo) is about two times the age of young Dombrowski, and is now also a two time national track champion. Meidhof repeated in the Men 35-39 Individual Pursuit on the Superdrome in Frisco Texas yesterday, posting the day's fastest time in the challenging windy conditions of 3:40.355 for the 3K TT.

Meidhof is carrying momentum and national caliber fitness into the Team Pursuit and the Points Race: "my goal is to sweep the events I have entered." He knows it won't be easy, even if he were just up against local riders. Ted Michaels (Evolution Cycling) landed on the podium alongside Meidhof, and there are other formidable MABRA squads in contetion: "Keep an eye out as the Saroff guys are looking strong too."