A 24-year-old cyclist who graduated from North Carolina's Lees-McRae College in December, a college which boasts one of the best cycling teams in the country, Bradford has already compiled a stellar list of accolades and collegiate awards during his 11 years of cycling.

He's been to Europe twice for cyclo-cross competitions, was a collegiate Omnium and Downhill champion in consecutive years, and just recently finished runner-up in the Super-Downhill at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, among other honors.

But it's tough to trump a national championship, especially at the pro level, especially when sponsors are watching.

"It couldn't have been at a better time," Bradford said.

Just eight months into his professional career, Bradford had a career-changing race. Competing against about 35 others in the Elite Men's division, Bradford (Onsite Ultrasound), who has been training in South County since January, jump-started his professional career when he took first place in the Super-Downhill, or Super-D, competition at the U.S. Mountain Bike National Championships in Granby, Colo.

Defeating Mike West (Maverick) by a sizable seven seconds, Bradford said it was easily the biggest victory of his pro career.

"This is a pretty big result, getting my career off and rolling," said Bradford, who was born and raised in the Seattle area but frequently trains near his grandparents' home in Hollister.

"This raises your credibility, where you can get help to make it happen," Bradford went on to say.

"After that race, Specialized picked me up as a rider, and I'm now riding that product."

And to think, Bradford wasn't at all expecting to finish atop the podium, and the previous days events didn't provide much of a boost of confidence either.

On July 18, the day prior to the Super-D event, Bradford competed in the Cross Country national championships in Granby, which involved more of a varied, up-and-down course, with 1,000-foot climbs and 1,000-foot descents.

Not at all used to the altitude, however, which was around 8,500 feet, Bradford had difficulty with the climbs, and quickly decided to use the five-lap cross-country course as a practice round for the following day's Super-D.

"It's always a disappointment when something like that happens, and I knew after the first lap it wasn't gonna happen," said Bradford, who was aiming for a top-20 finish in cross-country, but instead received a DNF. "There was no sense in taking any risk. I basically viewed it as an opener for the following day.

"And it really opened up the legs ..."

Bradford hasn't trained at altitude for six months. Instead, the 24-year-old Seattle cyclist has been training in and around the Hollister area, living at his grandparents' walnut and basil farm since the beginning of the year. Hitting backroads and bike trails seven days a week, Bradford's training regimen varies, but usually falls anywhere between three to five hours and 35 to 85 miles a day.

"It offers year-round training," Bradford said of the area. "It's amazing. You can get away from traffic. Head out to Panoche (Road) and you won't see a car for hours.

"I can ride anywhere and make the most of it ... Great weather, great people and great training."

And Bradford is considering moving to the Hollister area based on what the Central Coast has to offer. Currently heading to the Pacific Northwest, though, where he'll be competing at Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival in British Columbia, Bradford is now looking to build off of June's national championship in Colorado.

"That course suited me real well," said Bradford, who clocked a 5:53 on the two- to three-mile course. "It was a new day. I woke up with the expectation of finishing on the podium, which is a top-five finish.

"But I had no idea I'd be the top step."

And in what has been described as a downright dicey course, Bradford took advantage early on. The Super-D event began with a "Le Mans" start, where 35 cyclists were forced to run 25 yards to their bikes before beginning the downhill portion, a stretch that involved plenty of jockeying among the competitors.

"The pushing and shoving was all within reason," Bradford said. "I don't consider myself a good runner, but I can make due. I can make it happen."

Bradford found himself in fourth when he finally reached his bike, and quickly began the downhill course from there. Zig-zagging his way down through 180-degree chicanes, Bradford went from fourth to third around the sharp turns, then went from third to second when the lead cyclist dropped out with a flat tire. He then entered the single track in the same position, a narrow stretch that leads to very little passing but frequent scrapes and scratches by surrounding trees, before entering the final section of the race, a slalom-like downhill stretch where Bradford made his move.

As each slalom turn is accompanied by a dirt embankment, the leader Mike West went into one turn too high up and too wide, and Bradford found enough room on the inside to squeeze into first place.

He remained the leader for the final 90 seconds of the event.

"I got around him," Bradford said. "He left the door open and I got around him."

Not a bad way to, more or less, start your pro career.