For cyclist David Gabrick, joining Team Skyline was a no-brainer.
“Professional cycling in the United States is almost nonexistent today,” the 2021 Carmel High School graduate said. “There are only about four professional American teams left, with two of them being World Tour teams consisting mostly of Europeans. The development foundation for young American cyclists to progress to these world tour teams has collapsed in recent years. Team Skyline is one of the last remaining U.S professional teams that provide an environment to aid in growth. It has always been a dream of mine to race professionally, and the team offered me an opportunity to fulfill that dream.”
Gabrick said although Team Skyline has a strong focus on racing, its mission is to support a nonprofit called Winning the Race with Diabetes. Gabrick will host an awareness ride Dec. 28 for the nonprofit. The 40-mile race, through Zionsville, will start at 11 a.m. at Gray Goat Bicycle Co. North, 4335 W. 106th St., Carmel. A casual reception will be held at 6 p.m. at Wolfie’s in Carmel.
Team Skyline founder Ryan DeWald, an elite cyclist with Type 1 diabetes, will be at the event.
“The primary mission is to inspire, teach and demonstrate how to manage Type 1 diabetes, thereby reducing its long-term health risks through an active lifestyle,” said Gabrick, a sophomore at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
Gabrick said Team Skyline races to bring awareness to overcoming Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by conducting school visits, hosting seminars, and organizing awareness rides.
Gabrick, who said he will be able to do his classwork in accounting and German studies online during the racing season, said the races are primarily in Europe. The season begins in March 2023, with a month-long race block in Greece. In the summer, the team will be based out of Riccione, Italy, and travel throughout Europe to race. The team will return to the U.S. to compete in the U.S. Pro National Championship in Knoxville, Tenn., from June 22-25. The team will finish the summer racing in Europe and then conclude in September with the Maryland Cycling Classic.
Gabrick began swimming at age 7 with the Carmel Swim Club. He swam for CHS before falling in love with cycling. He decided to participate in the Carmel Swim Club-hosted sprint triathlon in April of his sophomore year.
“I did it on an old rusty steel bike that I found in my garage,” he said. “I instantly fell in love with the aspect of riding a road bike and began racing shortly after.”
Gabrick said at the time of the sprint triathlon his love for swimming was fading a bit.
“That same summer I watched the Tour de France and caught the bug,” he said. “I went all in.”
So he gave up swimming before his junior year to concentrate on cycling.
“Carmel swimming is a successful environment, and I was going into a sport I knew little about,” Gabrick said. “I’m super grateful for my time with Carmel swimming. Just being in that environment helped me grow.”
For more, visit winningtheracewithdiabetes.org and teamskyline.co.
