photo 3 (tyrptych 1). I started racing mountain bikes at the age of 16 or 17. I worked at Sport Chalet when I was in was a senior in high school. Only a handful of people know this but when I was racing for Rotec I was also working for them. Rotec at the time was owned by a guy that made parts for airplanes so in between race weekends I’d go home and have to do deliveries picking up and receiving parts. My dad passed away when I was 4 years old. His name was Tobias Eugene Llanes. I am an only child so it’s pretty much my Mom and I and I’d say we’re pretty tight. My Mom was an only child and she always wanted more than one child but then my dad passed away and my Mom never re-married.