Max Korus

Age: 25
Height: 6’1″
Hometown: Elkins Park, PA
Favourite style of race: Time Trial or Road Race
Major goal for 2014: Joe Martin and Tour de Beauce

You spent quite a while in the education system, and studied to a high academic level. What are the differences / similarities between two often opposing pursuits; professional athleticism and academia?
The two have quite a bit in common, but the similarities do little to assuage the challenges of pursuing both simultaneously. As a history major I read countless thousands of pages and the snowy winters of Philadelphia led me to ride rollers for as many as 4 hours straight. These disparate endeavours take time and focus; it can be immediately rewarding when marked by the progress of every turn of the page or cranks. Both are a study in delayed gratification-the value of pursuing both knowledge and fitness seems to grow when the time spent gleaning and honing them can be called into use.

Cycling in the USA is really diverse. Mountains, flats, dirt roads, technical descents; the list continues. How did you decide what aspect to specialise in or is there a place for a ‘jack of all trades’ in cycling?
I came to cycling after considering myself a runner for the better part of a decade. I still don’t know that I’ve made a conscious decision to specialize in any particular aspect. I think that it’s good to be the proverbial “jack of all trades” even if it means you are master of none. I figure that if you can put yourself in a position to succeed more often than not as an all-round “non-specialized” rider then there is no need to only target “x” types of courses. A specialist does not show up to a particular race with a signed permission slip to win, only a better chance.

You’re Litespeed bike looks fantastic. What are your favourite aspects of the ride?
I haven’t actually got it yet. Ask me in a few days!

Choosing cycling means you’ve gone against the mainstream. What influenced your decision to pick up a bike over a football?
When my Dad was in college he and a few friends rode from Long Island up to Nova Scotia and back. The trip sounded like a great experience. Growing up family bike rides were always a fun adventure. While cycling didn’t become my primary athletic pursuit until later in my own collegiate tenure, riding bikes was a pretty standard summer weekend activity.

Travelling between races can be tough. What’s one way you try and wind down after arriving at the destination before starting a big race in the next few days?
I like to just settle in and claim a bit of personal space. Simply unpacking my bag and getting a little organized helps make anywhere feel more familiar and comfortable. I also like to do the obvious things like log-on to the wifi and check to see what tv channels are available. The team is fortunate to have a partnership with Marriot, and when we stay at one of the hotels I like to go around with (team-mate) Matt Green as he woos the receptionists with his British accent and charm. This has proven to be quite a successful technique in quickly learning if there are free afternoon snacks or other such luxurious amenities.

Note from the team: “Max had a mixed bag in 2013. We had to have him back for the 2014 season to see what he is capable of with the consistency of high level racing, and the correct support environment to develop his talent. 2014 has Max’s name all over it”.