Baird & Segment 28

Baird + Segment 28: A Partnership Built on Preparation

Baird is proud to sponsor Segment 28, a Durango-based endurance coaching organization committed to helping individuals achieve their goals through preparation, discipline and education.

Team Segment 28 presented by Baird

At Baird, we believe success, whether in athletics, business or financial planning, begins with preparation. That's why we're proud to sponsor the Segment 28 team, a respected leader in endurance coaching and athlete development.

Together, we're creating opportunities to bring education, wellness and community engagement to Durango through events, workshops and meaningful local involvement. While our professions may differ, we share a common belief: confidence comes from having a thoughtful plan and a trusted team behind you.

Meet Segment 28

Segment 28 provides endurance coaching, training programs and educational resources for athletes of all experience levels. From first-time competitors to seasoned endurance athletes, Segment 28 helps individuals pursue their goals through personalized coaching, expert guidance and a supportive community.

In partnership, Baird and Segment 28 are working together to bring educational experiences to the Durango community, including:

Endurance nutrition workshops
Bike maintenance clinics
Athlete networking events
Women's-focused educational programs
Community rides and wellness initiatives

Check back regularly for upcoming event announcements.

Follow the Riders!
Stay up to date with race results, training, travel, and behind-the-scenes moments throughout the season -

Ivan Sippy: Instagram @ivan_sippy
Austin Beard: Instagram @austin_beard.13
Carson Beard: Instagram @carsonbeard_
Maiya Blanchard: Instagram @maiya.blanchard
Malia Brock: Instagram @maliabrockandroll
Owen Deale: Instagram @deale_with_it

Learn more about Segment 28!

Team Segment 28 and Baird Continue Strong Season with Wins, Podiums, and National Recognition

The 2026 season has been filled with exciting milestones for Team Segment 28 and Baird.

As Baird's partnership with the team continues to grow, so has the team's success on race courses across the United States and Canada. From hometown victories in Durango to national-level podium finishes, Team Segment 28 has delivered an impressive string of results while representing the values of hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, and community.

One of the season's biggest highlights came right here in Durango at the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Racing in front of family, friends, and local supporters, Austin Beard earned first place in the professional men's mountain bike race. Teammates Ivan Sippy and Carson Beard joined him on the podium, giving Team Segment 28 a remarkable sweep of the top three finishes. Maiya Blanchard also earned a podium finish in the professional women's race, making it a standout weekend for the entire team.

The momentum continued at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, one of the country's premier outdoor sports festivals. Ivan Sippy won both mountain biking events during the weekend, showcasing consistency, strength, and determination against a highly competitive field. Austin Beard added another podium finish, helping cement Team Segment 28's reputation as one of the top-performing teams at the event.

The team's success carried into Canada, where strong performances at the Canmore Mountain Bike Classic produced multiple victories. Carson Beard earned a first-place finish, Ivan Sippy added another win to his growing list of accomplishments, and Owen Deale captured a victory in his division. These results highlighted the depth of talent across the team's roster and demonstrated that success is being achieved throughout the program, from emerging athletes to experienced competitors.

In Utah, the team continued its winning ways at SOHO Bike Fest. Ivan Sippy collected another first-place finish, while Austin Beard added a victory of his own. The team consistently placed near the front of the field throughout the weekend, continuing one of the strongest stretches of the season.

July brought one of the most important competitions of the year: the USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships in Roanoke, Virginia. Competing against many of the nation's top mountain bikers, Ivan Sippy earned a bronze medal and followed it with a fourth-place finish just days later. Carson Beard also delivered a standout performance, finishing among the top riders in the country. These results placed Team Segment 28 firmly among the nation's elite programs and generated recognition on a national stage.

While race results tell part of the story, the impact of Team Segment 28 extends far beyond the podium. Throughout the season, athletes have represented the team, Baird, and their communities at events across North America, inspiring riders of all ages and serving as ambassadors for the sport. Their commitment to excellence, teamwork, and personal growth continues to make this partnership something special.

As the team takes a short break before the next round of competition, there is plenty to celebrate and even more to look forward to. The first half of the season has delivered victories, podium finishes, and unforgettable moments, but the athletes of Team Segment 28 remain focused on what comes next.

We are proud to support these outstanding competitors and look forward to cheering them on through the remainder of the season. Thank you to everyone who has followed their journey so far. We can't wait to see what's ahead and to welcome riders, clients, families, and cycling enthusiasts to the upcoming Baird Bike Clinic later this month.

Here's to a strong finish and an exciting second half of the season!

Season Highlights & Race Results

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic | Durango, Colorado
Racing on its home course, Team Segment 28 delivered a dominant performance and filled the podium in the professional men's mountain bike race. Austin Beard earned the win, followed by Ivan Sippy in second and Carson Beard in third. Maiya Blanchard also secured a podium finish in the professional women's race.

Results

Austin Beard: 1st Place, Professional Men's Mountain Bike Race; 7th Place, Professional Men's Road Race
Ivan Sippy: 2nd Place, Professional Men's Mountain Bike Race; 4th Place, Professional Men's Road Race
Carson Beard: 3rd Place, Professional Men's Mountain Bike Race; 37th Place, Professional Men's Road Race
Maiya Blanchard: 3rd Place, Professional Women's Mountain Bike Race; 16th Place, Professional Women's Road Race
Malia Brock: 14th Place, Professional Women's Mountain Bike Race; 13th Place, Professional Women's Road Race
Owen Deale: 4th Place, Professional Men's Mountain Bike Race; 17th Place, Professional Men's Road Race

GoPro Mountain Games | Vail, Colorado
One of the team's biggest weekends of the season featured a complete sweep of the marquee mountain bike events by Ivan Sippy, along with a runner-up finish from Austin Beard.

Results

Ivan Sippy: 1st Place, Short Track Race; 1st Place, Cross-Country Race
Austin Beard: 2nd Place, Short Track Race; 6th Place, Cross-Country Race
Owen Deale: 5th Place, Short Track Race; 12th Place, Cross-Country Race

Canmore Mountain Bike Classic | Alberta, Canada
The team traveled north and continued its winning ways, earning victories across multiple divisions. Carson Beard, Ivan Sippy, and Owen Deale each captured significant wins during the event.

Results

Carson Beard: 1st Place, Elite Men's Short Track; 6th Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country Series
Ivan Sippy: 1st Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country Race; 3rd Place, Elite Men's Short Track; 3rd Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country Series
Owen Deale: 11th Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country Race; 6th Place, Elite Men's Short Track; 1st Place, Under-23 Men's Cross-Country Series
Malia Brock: 27th Place, Junior Women's Cross-Country Race; 32nd Place, Junior Women's Cross-Country Series

SOHO Bike Fest | Midway, Utah
Another successful weekend saw multiple podium appearances and victories for Team Segment 28.

Results

Ivan Sippy: 1st Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country Race; 4th Place, Elite Men's Short Track
Austin Beard: 2nd Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country Race; 1st Place, Elite Men's Short Track
Owen Deale: 2nd Place, Under-23 Men's Cross-Country Race; 7th Place, Elite Men's Short Track
Carson Beard: 12th Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country Race
Malia Brock: 25th Place, Junior Women's Cross-Country Race

USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships | Roanoke, Virginia
Competing against the country's top mountain bike athletes, Team Segment 28 delivered some of its strongest performances of the season. Ivan Sippy earned a national championship bronze medal, while multiple riders finished among the nation's best.

Results

Ivan Sippy: 3rd Place, Elite Men's Short Track National Championship; 4th Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country National Championship
Carson Beard: 5th Place, Elite Men's Short Track National Championship; 6th Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country National Championship
Austin Beard: 6th Place, Elite Men's Short Track National Championship; 7th Place, Elite Men's Cross-Country National Championship
Owen Deale: 13th Place, Under-23 Men's Short Track National Championship; 6th Place, Under-23 Men's Cross-Country National Championship

Follow the Riders!
Stay connected and follow the team's journey throughout the season:

Ivan Sippy: @ivan_sippy
Austin Beard: @austin_beard.13
Carson Beard: @carsonbeard_
Maiya Blanchard: @maiya.blanchard
Malia Brock: @maliabrockandroll
Owen Deale: @deale_with_it

Meet the Baird Riders

Maiya Blanchard

Maiya was born and raised in Claremont, California and started racing mountain bikes at sixteen years old. She began racing in the NICA league as a junior in high school which sparked her passion for cycling. A few years later she started participating in UCI XCO and XCC mountain bike races. During her second UCI season in 2025 she won the U.S. Pro Cup overall title for U23 women and raced her first World Cup race in Lake Placid as well. She moved to Durango, Colorado in 2025 to continue her education at Fort Lewis College and had the opportunity to join Team Segment 28 to help bring her racing to the next level.

Owen Deale

Owen grew up in Charlotte, VT and spent his years doing almost all types of athletics. Surrounded by the Green Mountains, his love for the outdoors led him towards more action sports. During the winters, he competed in big mountain skiing across the country. Taking part in the Junior Freeski World Championships was the perfect ending to this side of his life. Purely downhill sports didn’t allow him to find his limits in the way that endurance sports could.
All throughout his teenage years, all he wanted to do was ride his bike. He would leave early in the morning to ride and not come back home until far past dinner. This obsession led him to where he is now pursuing a career in racing while balancing engineering studies on the side

Malia Brock

Malia was born in Laguna Beach, California, and was raised there until she was ten years old. She moved to Mammoth Lakes, California after that, and discovered her passion for cycling. She started racing in sixth grade with her NICA program, and then eventually graduated to attending Fort Lewis College and riding with the FLC cycling team.
She is currently a sophomore at Fort Lewis College, and is proudly representing Team Segment 28 as a junior, 17/18 racer.

Ivan Sippy

Ivan Sippy started riding his bike in Durango with his dad and sister. At the age of four he joined Durango Devo and continued through the program all of the way through high school. Ivan recently graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a degree in Computer Science and collegiate national titles in Cyclocross, Cross Country, and Short Track along with multiple trips to Europe to race MTB World Cups and World Championships. Now he's pursuing a career as an up-and-coming off-road racer.

Carson Beard

Carson Beard is from Middlesex, Vermont. He’s the identical twin to his brother, Austin Beard. At 6’5” he’s hard to miss. Carson joined Segment 28 in 2023, after moving to Durango to study Exercise physiology at Fort Lewis. He races XC and Downhill for the cycling team. In high school he raced Nordic skiing and cross country running. He enjoys riding with friends, having new experiences and playing all the different sports.

Austin Beard

Austin Beard is from Vermont and is one of the twins on the team. He has been riding bikes since he was six, and racing competitively from a young age. Now he is based out of Grand Junction, studying exercise science at Colorado Mesa University