Pat McCarty

Pat brings a wealth of stage-racing experience to OUCH Presented by Maxxis from years racing at the sport’s top level in Europe. He was part of the team that won the first stage Team Time Trial of the 2008 Giro d’Italia, and his big engine and his experience will be a huge asset to the team.

Date of Birth/Location:
January 24, 1982; Allen, TX

Height/ Weight:
6′1″  145lbs

Current Residence:
Austin, TX

Years Racing: 13

Years as a Pro: 6

Previous Team(s)/Year(s):
Garmin-Chipotle, 2007-08
Phonak, 2006
US Postal/Discovery Channel, 2004-05

Strengths on the bike:
All-arounder; Climber; Stage Racer

Strengths off the bike:
Sense of humor (Good).

Nickname:
‘Pat’

Family Status:
Living with the best girlfriend ever

Favorite Movies:
A Million to Juan, Fargo

Currently on my iPod:
Blackalicious, Spoon

Little known fact about Patrick:
I’ve had a life-long dream to host Saturday Night Live with musical guest The Flaming Lips

Palmares

Career Highlights:
1st Stage 1 TTT, Giro d’Italia, 2008
Member U.S. World Championship Road Team, 2000 (Junior); 2001, 2003 (U-23); 2004, 2005, 2006 (Pro)
1st Overall Ronde de l’Isgard Ariege, 2003
Best Young Rider Classification, Ronde de L’Isard Ariege, 2002

Wins:

2008
1st Stage 1 TTT Giro d’Italia
1st KOM Competition Vuelta a Chihuahua Internacional

2003
1st Overall, Ronde de l’Isgard Ariege
1st Stage 4, Le Transalsace

Other Major Results:

2008
4th Univest Grand Prix Road Race

2007
2nd U.S. Open Cycling Championships

2004
2nd Tour de Nez Road Race
2nd Tour de Nez Criterium
5th Tour de Nez Time Trial

2003
3rd Overall, Le Transalsace
3rd Overall, Tour de Saone et Loire
7th U23 Liege-Bastogne-Liege
21st Overall, Tour de l’Avenir

In his own words

What was it like to stand on the top step of the Giro podium after Stage 1 last season?
It was a pretty big accomplishment for the whole team. We had done everything possible in training to ready ourselves for that one day. It came, we hit a home run and sprayed champagne on the Italians’ heads. It was a pretty cool day.

For the 2009 season, you’re teaming up once again with Floyd Landis. How much did you race with him in 2006 and 2004, and how much are you looking forward to racing with him this year?
I raced with him more in 2006 on Phonak than 2004 on Postal Service. That was my first season pro (’04) and I really didn’t race much. Floyd is a great bike racer and a good team leader. In the race he gives everyone confidence in what they have to do for the day. Off the bike he’s a damn riot. Lots of fun so, I’m really looking forward to being on his team again.

What are your goals or expectations for the 2009 season?
I have a few personal goals like doing well in the Tour of California, Utah and Cascade, as well as making it onto the Worlds team again so I can race the Championships in ‘09.  Whether these personal goals are met or not I definitely expect to have a great time with the guys and race my butt off. Plus I bet a WHOLE season in the U.S. won’t be so bad either.

How did you spend this off-season? What did your off-season training program look like?
All my off-seasons include a decompression period where I catch up on all the beer and football games I missed during the season. Monday nights are a rare but crucial combination of the two. Once this has passed, I begin a pretty strict training regime. I usually have it build so that, at the training camp, I will inevitably go to in January, I’ll be about 85-90% race fitness.

Who were/are your cycling mentors and/or influences?
My first coach was Max Miley. He was probably the biggest influence on me all the way to the professional ranks. From there, I just tried to hang on!

What was your first bike? When/how did you get it?
My first bike was a Peugeot POS/hand-me-down. It was awful and I remember crying on it even. I went to something better after I showed enough stick-with-it to finish a 30-miler.

What was your first win?
My first win was a cat 3 road race in Texas. I got away before the sprint

What would you consider your finest moment on the bike?
Winning the mountain stage in the Amateur race Le Transalsace.

What was your worst or most embarrassing moment on the bike?
The first time I rode with my girlfriend I was on Phonak and it was late in the season. The shorts I was wearing were pretty worn out and, unbeknownst to me, were basically see-through in the back. Well, I don’t need to go into much detail to get the point across but, she could see my butt-hairs. She told me about this a year later. We’re still together.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on a bike ride?
Wow….ummm, growing up in Texas I’ve seen lots of wacky stuff on bike rides.  Most I probably can’t mention now. The latest that comes to mind was an old redneck fellow setting a raccoon loose from a trap out in the country. That was strange.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve done on a bike ride?
I was on a MTB ride with a buddy and we rode up on a six-pack of beers sitting under a tree. Miraculously they were still cold. We finished them off and bombed down the hill.

What’s the one thing you’ve done on a ride (training or race) that you will absolutely never do again?
Try to ride a wheelie.

When you’re not on your bike, what do you like to do?
I like to relax when I can. Going to dog parks with my girlfriend, and dog, is a lot of fun. I also enjoy cleaning.

If you weren’t a professional cyclist, what would you be doing?
I’ve always wanted to be a film critic, critic. That, or test-driving cars.