Track and Cycling Esports Star Spencer Seggebruch Forms Unbreakable Bond with Visually-Impaired Paralympic Tandem Partner in Two Short Months to Break the US Record
Anticipation weighs the air as they stroll together through the Barra Olympic Park, adorned in the Stars and Stripes, before entering the Velódromo Municipal do Rio on March 20. A member of the duo points out obstacles as they navigate through the crowd of bikes, riders, coaches, and spectators gathered to witness the 2024 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“It was my first time walking into a velodrome for a World Championship, so it differed from previous races in that respect. It was a big deal!” said Spencer Seggebruch, a thirty-three-year-old Missourian and U.S. National Track Team member.
Thunder erupted as the Siberian pine slats of the wooden surface reverberated under the centrifugal force of athletes on tandem bikes rounding the banked curves. Spectators cheered with excitement, each sound and vibration telling a story of dedication and determination.
Alongside him was twenty-six-year-old Branden Walton from Colorado Springs, who has been crafting his story of resilience since macular degeneration began to steal his sight at an early age.
With Seggebruch as the pilot and Walton as the stoker, the pair was one of four tandem squads on hand to represent the US. The finely tuned preparation choreography belied the perception of a long-time partnership.
Seggebruch received a call from U.S. Para-Cycling performance coach Rob Mayfield in January inquiring if he was interested in piloting a tandem for Walton in an upcoming race, the 2024 Los Angeles Para-Track Cycling Open.
“The first time we talked was a day before the registration deadline,” revealed Walton, and “we wouldn’t meet in person until five days before we raced in LA.”
During the week competing in California, the riders shared a hotel room and were together 24/7, and the bond began to strengthen.
“You get to know someone by spending time with them and sharing experiences, such as going to the store, driving around, chatting, and doing the small things,” says Seggebruch.
He also began noticing something he had never experienced before.
“My thoughts began to hover around not being in it just for me. I’ve always said the worst part of cycling is the self-centered mentality it requires. I was beginning to get a team feeling,” explained Seggebruch as he got to know his partner.
The successful and seasoned track cyclist also began to experience a unique kind of pressure as the event approached.
“I’d be doing Branden, myself, our coaches, my family, and everyone who has ever helped me get here a disservice if I did anything less than my best,” he shared when describing that he wasn’t in it for only himself this time.
Walton had to rely on Seggebruch to see the track through him, entrusting his faith, trust, and well-being to an athlete he met only a short time before.
“I believe everyone at some point in their lives will have to realize they need help. That is part of my mindset when it comes to trusting a pilot,” Walton admits.
Seggebruch competed in the 2022 UCI Cycling Esports World Championship and races for Coalition Alpha at Zwift’s elite level. He was preparing for the inaugural Zwift Games when he received the call.
The duo primarily trained on the virtual cycling platform Zwift until the end of February, when Seggebruch left St. Louis to join his partner in Colorado Springs. While their performance improved, Seggebruch faced challenges finding the most effective way to guide his partner verbally rather than visually.
“It took some time to figure out how to follow another wheel or the motorcycle on the track. I can see the following distance and adjust my pedaling to suit, while Branden may not quite have the sensation of how I adjust that. Communicating is critical in that situation but requires a lot of forethought. We must discuss commands beforehand, like when to add power, freewheel, backpedal, stand up, sit down, etc.,” he explains.
The tandem duo meshed like seasoned veterans in the six weeks they spent together. When the U.S. Para-Cycling coaches wheeled them onto the track for their main event, the 4-km Individual Pursuit, the magnitude of the accomplishment struck them, says Seggebruch.
“I had a big smile on my face right before the race. I sort of let all that excitement take over right at the last second. It’s a very cool feeling. I just thought about where we are and how much I can’t believe we’d ever be there.”
Walton focused on the task at hand, saying, “During the race, there isn’t much in my mind other than listening for cues from Spencer.”
They went from strangers to U.S. Record Holders in 4:16.9 to earn 6th place in the World on the Rio Velodrome track in under two months as a team. The bond they created will last an eternity.
“Riding with the knowledge that you’re filling a role someone else depends on makes it more special. It’s a better feeling than just doing it for yourself,” shares Seggebruch on the flood of emotion he felt after crossing the line with Walton and hearing the news of their record-breaking performance.
Walton’s story doesn’t end here, he says.
“I would like to continue working with Spencer as long as he is willing to. We are just beginning our journey, and we have a lot of room for improvement. If we continue to work together, we can be one of, if not the top tandems in the world one day.”
Well…Seggebruch?
“I love the feeling of working through the mental and physical stress and performing. Doing that as a pilot makes it a little different, but it’s too hard to describe, which is something I haven’t found anywhere else. I’d love to continue piloting as long as Branden wants me to pilot!”
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
