Palo Alto High Cyclist Heads to World Championships

Some people would hear the phrase "17-year-old, Hispanic male from East Palo Alto" and immediately brace themselves for bad news.

But it's all good news with Raul Arias, Jr.

Arias, Jr., a rising senior at Palo Alto High School, will represent Team USA at the 2013 UCI Juniors Track World Championships this Aug. 7 in Glasgow, Scotland. He automatically qualified when he placed first in the points race for 17-18 year olds at the Junior National Championships in Trexlertown, PA during the week of July 25-28, 2013.

"It was very emotional when I won," Arias, Jr. said and added how he appreciated the coaching Dave McCook a Mountain View resident and former professional cyclist gave him. "For him it was super big for me to win. For me he’s the best coach I’ve ever had."

Born in Redwood City at Sequoia Hospital, Arias, Jr. and his family moved to East Palo Alto 15 years ago. The oldest of four children, his mom Fabiola Arias—a medical assistant at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation—described him as responsible, caring and good with his siblings. His baby brother loves to play with his medals, but can’t yet ride a bike.

"I am very proud of everything he has been able to accomplish to date," she said. "I don't have the words to express how I feel."

A natural athlete, Arias, Jr. at first played soccer however, he became friends with some kids who rode fixed gear bikes and belonged to the EPA Fixie Crew. One of the kids told Arias, Jr. about the Hellyer Velodrome—a 335-meter oval track in San Jose—and that a group went there to train for races.

"One of the first times I met Raul, he raced up a hill with my son," said Steve Wolfe, the junior team coordinator for the San Jose Bike Club.

"Raul told me he rode up Moody Road in Los Altos Hills all the time. Once he told me that I had no worries that he could join the club."

"The reason why he’s so fast is that he had that street fixie background before he came to track racing."

And that's why Arias, Jr. stands out. During the two years he's raced with SJBC he's excelled quickly.

"I wanted to coach him," said McCook, who also won gold last week in the Master scratch 40 to 44 age race category. Between McCook and Wolfe, they decided to take Arias, Jr. to last year's national championship. "It happened quite quickly."

According to McCook, Arias, Jr. impressed many because he raced alongside guys with more experience than him. He even won the scratch race in the six-event Ominium.

"He was right there with them within just a few months of training which was very impressive," McCook said.

Unfortunately this year though Arias, Jr. dominated early in the Ominium, he suffered a crash. However, McCook explained that Arias, Jr. recovered for the points raced and secured his spot to the World Championships.

"A lot of people where talking about it," McCook said. "Even the U.S. National Team."

The fact that Arias, Jr., won at nationals and made it to his first world championships rekindled emotions for McCook.

"I know what it feels like to win and I was crying when I won my first national championship," he said. "I coach with my heart and the love of the sport. It was very emotional and I love the fact that he won."

Nearly 5,000 miles from Scotland, Arias, Jr.'s family will watch him race via a live stream. And while he's traveled a lot recently for his races, his mom sees the sport as something good and positive, and they want to be supportive.

"Everything is possible, all of his dreams, he just needs to stay motivated," she said. "We go to church, the Jubilee Christian Center, and his faith will help him a lot."

"He told me he was going to win this race."

Arias, Jr.'s first time on a world stage on his black and white a Fell TK1 carbon bike could get the gears going for a successful professional career. When the young man returns to Paly this fall, he plans to look at colleges with strong cycling programs. But he has his sights set on bigger things.

"I want to go pro and maybe be in the Tour de France," he said, "and also one day represent my country in the Olympics."

Visit GoFundMe.com help Raul Arias, Jr. fundraise to pay for his trip to the world championships.