Chris Butler

Chris Butler is a young rider to watch.

The 23-year-old, who graduated from Furman University with a double major in accounting and economics, was the 2008 National Collegiate Road Race Champion and spends his training days riding in the hills of South Carolina with George Hincapie.

After crashing out of the Giro d’Italia in 2011 and, as a result, missing part of the 2011 season with a fractured pelvis, Butler came back strong in 2012, placing 3rd in Stage 3 of the Tour of Japan and finishing 5th overall.

We caught a few minutes with Chris before the Tour of Utah, where the young climber, who rides for Champion System Pro Cycling, is well-suited for the race’s 38,500 feet of climbing.

A late start in cycling, but on the fast track

How did you get into cycling?

I’m basically a newcomer to the sport.  I didn’t really pick it up until my Freshman year of college, which is pretty late compared to most of my peers. I went to school at Furman University in Greenville, SC which is where Pro Champs has been and where George lives.  Just riding up there, I fell in love with the mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, ran into George, and he took me under his wing and put me on the fast track.

The benefits and sacrifices of pro cycling

Riding with George

Coming back from the Giro crash

So, tell me about coming back from the Giro crash last year.

Well, on paper the diagnosis was similar to quite a few other riders who had the same type of injury that I had, but mine was way less severe. I came back two months after that, and started getting some of my better results. Whereas, maybe my teammate Craig (Craig Lewis), it took him a lot longer – it was a lot  more severe. It’s never fun crashing, and it was one of my worst crashes, but all in all compared to other stuff, it wasn’t too bad.

A climber’s perspective on the Tour of Utah 2012 course

Shortlink to article: http://wp.me/P2qW5j-1c1

Article by Kim Hull.

Videography & photography by Greg Hull.

Photography may not be used without explicit permission.

Kim Hull is a Partner with Chasing Light Media and publisher of the online magazines Cycling Perspective & Middle Aged Ski Bum.

Photography and/or videography may not be used without explicit permission.
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