Durango's Sweet Elite

Bouré Bicycle Clothing is a proud supporter of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Devo Sweet Elite Under-25 Team. This team is so exciting that it was recently featured in CyclingNew.com:

Former USPro champ Wherry starts U25 MTB team

By: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

Published: November 3, 2010

Tad Elliott at the Triple Crown finals near Harrisonburg, Virginia.

New Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory development team signs five

A new under 25 mountain bike racing team will appear on the US domestic racing circuit for the 2011 season. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Devo Sweet Elite presented by Spine Colorado/Durango Orthopedics and Fort Lewis College is based in Durango, Colorado, and managed by past US pro road champion Chris Wherry.

The team will include racers such as Under 23 US cross country national champion Tad Elliott and 2009 US Collegiate cyclo-cross champion Teal Stetson-Lee, Collegiate and junior national champion Howard Grotts and junior national champion Alicia Rose Pastore. Fort Lewis rider Colton Andersen is also on the squad, which will be coached by Joey Thompson.

Wherry explained to Cyclingnews how the team came to be: "The team sort of developed from Durango Devo, a youth mountain bike program. They have kids from age five through high school. After that, the available programs drop off.

"We have super talented mountain bike riders coming out of the woodwork, and we decided that it would be a great idea to help these kids get to the elite level of the sport. They will have a chance to see where the sport will take them."

In 2010, Durango Devo riders won eight titles at the National Championships in Granby, Colorado. Last month, Fort Lewis College was crowned collegiate mountain bike national champions for 2010. Read More HERE:

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Team Press Release

The 2011 Mountain Bike Racing Season will be greeted with a new Durango, Colorado based Under-25 Mountain Bike Racing Team. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Devo Sweet Elite presented by Spine Colorado/Durango Orthopedics and Fort Lewis College. The Team will compete at local and regional races including the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic; in addition the Team will compete at the National Championships in Sun Valley, Idaho this upcoming July 2011. The 5 rider team ranging in ages of 17-24 will be riding Specialized S-Works 29 inch wheel bicycles, with additional equipment and service support provided by Mountain Bike Specialists in Durango. Riders will be provided specific coaching and training programs, as well as race and travel support. The Team will meet 2 times a week to practice as a team with their coach.

The Team formation is to promote the success of Durango based riders coming out of Durango Devo (local youth cycling program), Fort Lewis College, and outstanding local talent who need additional support to continue to be successful at the upper levels of competition. In 2010 Durango Devo riders won 8 titles at the National Championships in Sol Vista, Colorado. Fort Lewis College recently was crowned National Collegiate MTB Champions for 2010... The group forming the team includes Ned Overend. Sarah Tescher, Matt Shriver, Chris Wherry, Joey Thompson, and Chad Cheeney, all accomplished cycling athletes at a National level and sponsor and structure coordination from John Glover (Mountain Bike Specialists) and Gaige Sippy (Iron Horse Bicycle Classic).

2011 Team Roster

Tad Elliott – 2008 and 2010 U23 Mountain Bike National Champion

Teal Stetson-Lee- 2009 Collegiate Cyclocross National Champion

Colton Andersen- 2010 Fort Lewis College Nationals Team Member

Howard Grotts – 2010 Cat 1 17-18 Mountain Bike National Champion and 2010 Division 2 Collegiate Mountain Bike Short Track and Cross Country Champion

Alicia Rose Pastore 2010 Cat 1 17-18 Mountain Bike National Champion

Joey Thompson – Team Coach. Fort Lewis College Graduate and former athlete.

Chris Wherry – Team Manager Former US Pro Road National Champion and owner of the Hub Training Center

Sponsor support is Durango based with Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Spine Colorado/Durango Orthopedics, Fort Lewis College, Mountain Bike Specialists and King Cage, Bread, and Boure Sportswear. The sponsors see the value of Durango’s Cycling Community and talent and are lending support to further that effort. Additional sponsors include Specialized Bicycle Company and SRAM Components.