Racing the World Championship on US soil is a special opportunity and one that I put a target on early this year. I made it well known that this race was a big goal of mine and from a performance stand point I was set up perfectly. I won the World Cup in Snowshoe in 2023, I placed 2^nd at the World Cup in Megeve, France in July and I stood on a podium at nearly every event I lined up for for 8 months. “Make hay while the sun is shining,” they say. 

The reality is though, even though the World Championship was a priority of mine, there are many other races that were a priority as well. We compete in an era where every race feels important and me, being who I am, wants to compete in them all. 

I love racing my bike and saying “no” to things might be my biggest weakness as a racer. I love the experience of lining up and of testing my limits. I went from the hardest day on the bike I’ve ever experienced with 13 hours on the Kokopelli to the hardest race I’ve ever done at La Ruta to a Stage Race in Spain, back to redemption on the Kokopelli, to a sprint finish at Unbound, to the National Championship, to the hardest course on the World Cup circuit in France…and that’s just to name a few. 

All of these experiences have made me a better racer, all of these experiences were incredible podium opportunities, and all of these experiences took a huge physical toll. After my failed attempt on the Kokopelli at the end of 2023, I told my coach I was going to try again when the snow melted in May. He cautioned me. He told me that I could do it, but there’s no knowing how my body was going to respond. I decided to go for it anyways, because you never know unless you try and you can never unlock your limits unless you’re willing to push them in the first place. 

All of this to say, I lined up at the World Championship in Snowshoe with a big load already in my legs and body. 

When the start whistle blew, my goal was to explode off of the line as if it was a 20 minute race. I got caught behind someone who missed their pedal several times, but my mind was locked in. No small distraction could disrupt me. 

As we began the race I focused on myself, using the mental strategies that Enso Mental Performance taught me as I cued myself toward constantly finding more speed. 

I entered the first rooted and forested section I found myself in about 12^th wheel, in a big line, wheel to wheel. Then we all stopped dead. “What’s going on?!” “There’s a problem with the moto!” I could hear the girls just a couple bikes up, discussing the situation. “We have to keep going. We have to get help.” We took off again with the plan to tell the next person we saw to send help. The moto had slid out on one of the wet wooden bridges, fallen off of the side and was very injured. He was yelling out in pain. He was eventually evaluated and rumors around the venue indicate a broken femur and a heli-evac. Sending lots of love and prayers to him. 

As we quickly tried to shake off that scary experience, we all burst up the next climb. I was focused on turning over the pedals, committing to giving it everything I had for each and every switchback. The problem was, I was getting passed and my legs hurt. My muscles felt like they were tearing and my heart was racing, but there was no time to analyze the situation, I just had to keep trying to dig deeper. 

The pain never lessened, but the race spread out. From mile 20-50 I never saw a single person. I just kept mentally committing to giving it my all. 

With less than 15 miles to go, with so many solo painful miles in my own world I prayed, “Please just let me see one person to give me motivation and to reward this non-stop effort.” As I came around the next corner, another woman came into view. I decided I would chase her down as if it was for the win. I gave it everything I had to catch her and when I did, I attacked. Then I saw another woman up the road, and another, and another. I passed 5 women in the last 15 miles and I was running out of ground quick, so I had to give it everything I had to catch up in time. 

To be honest, I’m not sure if I sped up at all throughout the day, I think I just refused to ever give up. My relentless commitment to doing my best is why I crossed the finish line in 16^th. 

16^th in the World is nothing to scoff at, but I think it’s no secret that I wanted more. I get to fly home with a smile on my face though because I know without a doubt that I gave it everything I have, I never gave up, and I’m a better racer for it.