It’s hard to believe that this was my 6th time pulling on the USA skinsuit to represent my country at a mountain bike World Championship event. Each time I’ve been named to the World’s team, my expectations of myself have been raised, but the weight of wearing that jersey never lessens, and honestly, I hope it never does.
When you line up at the World Championship to race for your country, you’re supposed to represent some of the best that your country has to offer. The race goes far behind yourself and your own training and abilities, it showcases the level with which your country is competing in that sport. It’s also a chance to leave a lasting impression of our Nation. I often think, “If I’m the only athlete this person ever meets from the USA, what will their impression be of my country?”
As I stand in the start boxes waiting to be called to the start line, I turn my back on it all. The commotion is hectic, it feels like the people around me are in chaos, and I’m searching for my own moment of calm before the storm.
Athletes are giving their staff final instructions, as officials coral us into different areas, fans are cheering and yelling for the attention of their favorite rider, and I hear a multitude of languages bursting into my ears. I feel my heart beat faster. I turn around. I look through the window of the store next to the start line, I look down at my shoes, I look anywhere but at the other athletes around me. This is my moment to breathe, to remember I’m ready.
As I stand on the start line with some of the best racers in the world and hear the announcer say, “30 seconds til start” the cold air around me doesn’t seem as cold anymore as my mind is completely captivated by every moment I make from here on out.
We push off the line, and just like that, the race has begun.
Often times when you start a race, you feel the tension snap at the sound of the starting whistle as the racers lunge forward, but in this race, the tension was rising.
The World Championship took place this year on the Grand Raid BCVS course which is labeled at “one of the toughest races in the world.” I also heard many remarks that it was definitely the toughest course ever given the designation of “World Championship.”
I’ve raced the few events now that are labelled as “one of the toughest in the world” and it’s not by mistake. I gravitate towards them. I want a course so hard that it breaks me, and forces me to come back stronger. To me, that’s part of what marathon mountain biking is all about, ruthless competition and a relentless course.
The course ahead of us was 77 miles (125km) and 16,500 feet (5000+ m) of climbing. The tension rose as we started to tick these stats down just one pedal stroke at a time. You could feel the respect the entire peloton had for the course as we gradually increased the pace (rather than diving straight in). Before you knew it though, the racers came out in us, and it was full go by minute 30. Only about 7 hours to go.
After 90 minutes and at the first Aid Station, knew I was just getting started. With each passing climb I ticked off more competitors, playing to my strengths of resilience and fatigue resistance.
The final climb of the day was the biggest, an hour long climb with a 20 minute hike-a-bike at the top, hitting percentages of greater than 45%. As my body moaned up that climb and my dreaded the hike ahead, I couldn’t help but feel excitement bubble up for the challenge.
When we hit the hike-a-bike I slung my bike over my back, hiking with it as if it was a barbell and I was about to do some squats. My steps were small and calculated, my breathing rhythmic, only interrupted by the words “passing please” as I passed some of the amateur men also making their way up the climb. I looked down at my feet with the mantra “just one more step.” I didn’t need to see the top; I knew where I was going. I was more focused on the process of getting there.
The grueling hike was rewarded with one of the most spectacular views I have ever seen, and the most technical descent of the day all the way to the finish line.
I crossed the line in 12th…12th in the World!
In the World of moving goal posts, where I’m already dreaming up the next big result or next ground breaking improvement, I really needed to pause and reflect on that result. There are always improvements to be made, but on this day, only 11 people in the World did it better. It’s important to humbly and authentically rejoice in the ability to race near the front of the World Championship. This is my personal best World Championship result and another sign that I continue to improve, which has always been my personal guiding principle. I’m leaving Switzerland feeling incredibly grateful.
And, a huge Congratulations to Kate and Keegan who took home the win for Team USA in both the women’s and men’s race, respectively. This is huge for the USA, not just because we bring the World Champ title back to the USA, but because it validates everything we are doing in endurance racing. We have some of the best racers in the World and anyone who lines up to compete in the USA can know that they are racing with some of the best.
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