Evan's story: Great North, Brinkerhoff, and Battenkill

BaseCamp athlete Evan McGregor shared his experience at the 2026 Great North, Trooper David Brinkerhoff Memorial, and Battenkill bike races in New York.

Every journey begins with a spark. 

2026 was going to be THE year for me. Winter training went amazingly well. Measurable gains, more consistency, regular availability even with the tiny two in daycare, and a fierce determination to build on what I've done over the past 5 years since I started riding and training.

Last season went quite well, all things considered. An injury delayed the start of the racing year to summer, but it ramped towards the finish at Iron Cross, where I finally felt like I belonged racing and could influence a race's outcome.

That spark lit something inside me, and it carried me forward. Over time the spark grew into ambition. 

The goal for spring was to not only compete at the TSE Gravel Stage Race, but to be a main player there. I put in the work all winter and closed out foundation training with a pretty good race program planned, highly specific to my spring goal...but life jumped in. I missed my first race at the end of March as a result but quickly pivoted to do The Great North by Anthem Sports on April 4. While not officially a race, I knew there would be some strong riders there pushing things, and I was mentally ready, just not physically. I hadn't yet started to take that winter fitness and condition it for racing. It was a wakeup call for sure. I wound up as a part of a leading trio, but I had to manage my efforts. Let the lead go a little on some climbs and pace myself back to them to conserve myself for the finish. It worked, but even though I was the first finisher, I simply held on all day and managed instead of dictating the ride. That said, I was quite happy to have my family there with me. The kids had a blast and it's the best feeling to finish a ride or race to the  sound of "Daddy!"

But every rider knows the fire doesn't always burn bright. Life gets busy. Motivation fades. The grind overshadows the joy. 

I wish I knew that would be my last race for a while with the kids there. The original plan then called for a double race weekend in PA, followed by a pretty stellar and hard-looking race in Ohio. Again, life decided that it wasn't going to happen. The race program, the recons for TSE, my gravel bike, health...all of it came apart, and my motivation took a huge hit... 

That's when the spark matters most.

I made a quick pivot, changed my spring focus and goals to align with reality, and got to work. I wound up back on my road bike for a race for the first time in 3 years at the Trooper Brinkerhoff RR on May 2. I was eager to go, I had pivoted my training to be a bit more punchy, and was happy to get out racing. I raced like a puppy chasing a car. I sat on the front all race, closed down almost every single move, and then still decided to make an attack close to the finish...not smart, I got expertly countered, needed a moment of recovery, but wasn't going to catch that rider. I got shuffled to the back leading into the final sprint, though I still managed to work through the bunch for a third place finish. My first road race podium after racing like a knucklehead. I'll take it! The downside to road races is that they're not as safe for toddlers to spectate. Amanda was there cheering me on, which felt great, but the kiddos had to stay home.

Ignite is about finding that spark again and letting it fuel the journey forward. It's about remembering why we ride and using that joy as energy for every goal we chase. 

The Battenkill, May 9, became my true spring focus. Even if I wasn't going to be peaked for it as I pivoted to that goal a bit late, my mental drive pushed me to the Battenkill full steam. It's 100km of rolling and punchy road, and around a quarter of it is dirt farm road. I love mixed-surface racing, and the weather decided it would mix it up some more. With temperatures in the mid 40s and the skies open with rain, it was chilly, wet, muddy, and miserable. I was mentally prepared for it, though. I accepted the conditions as the first deciding point of the race and wasn't going to let it beat me. I wanted to make sure I stayed active, though, as passive riding might lead to me getting a bit too chilly.

I was able to go with a lead group that consisted of 10 riders of varying strengths. It seemed most were handling the physical conditions well, but it was clear early on that there were differing levels of comfort on the muddy, slick, dirt sectors. I made sure to stay in front through those areas without committing too much energy. From a recon, I knew that the main separator wouldn't be the punchy finishing climbs, but Coach Road. It's the roughest surface of the race. Potholes, deep dirt and mud, a few faster bends. I got to the front leading in and lifted the tempo and noticed the group got quite small, down to three. 

I was ready for the punch-heavy finale, and right at the base of the final climb, I must've dropped to the small ring at the wrong moment. My chain got caught behind my chain catcher, and I simply couldn't get it back on. I saw all of the other riders I dropped pass me over the course of the next 3.5 minutes until a mechanic stopped to help me get the catcher off, my chain back on, and then get back to work. I drove with a hard but measured effort over the last 6-7 miles and did my best to make back what I lost. While I was in position to contest the win before my mechanical, I still was able to fight back to 5th overall and 1st in the 40-49 AG. It's a result I'm quite proud of, up there with Iron Cross.

Together we turn sparks into a fire that carries us farther than we could go alone.

Due to the conditions that day, I decided it was best for the kids to stay at home. I'm still racing TSE, but the timing makes it so I'm traveling solo this time. My wife, my kids, they are my spark. This has been a trying spring of success mixing with fatigue and loneliness. I've been spoiled the past few years with my family being at most races. The car trips, the adventures, the finish lines, podiums, all of it. I've been spoiled. I'm realizing more and more that this time of setting an example for the kids is very limited. Soon the roles will fully flip. I'll be at their events, cheering them on, being their support, encouraging them, and bike racing will fade back. It's bittersweet. I can't wait.