Road Nationals Return… A different kind of “Comeback”

Life looks and feels different since I was last at National Championships in 2021.  I was interested to experience it from another angle so decided to join the party in Charleston, WV.  This was also a chance to get some face time with the dozen or so riders who I have worked with or continue to support as a mental performance coach through junior and elite categories.  It feels good to report that many aspects of what I enjoyed and inspired me as a racer were still highly relevant and visible in my recent stint in Charleston over the days of the TT and Criterium races. 

So few races in my pro cycling career had a high concentration of American riders, so first and foremost, Nationals was always a fun time to simply be “home” and around compatriots.  Although still serious and competitive, nationals always felt fun and friendly.  This felt encouragingly similar as I went back in a coaching and support capacity.  I was happy to stand back, watch and observe athletes, staff and teams hug, hand shake and high 5 in a sort of family reunion vibe over the first couple days I was there.  Cycling and especially cycling in the USA is a relatively small world so the connections and overlap run deep.  One specific area where I noticed this was a hotel conference room where TT bike checks were taking place the day before the TT.  A long, twisting line of riders, parents, staff waiting with their space age time trial machines to be checked by officials.  Some athletes sent their directors, mechanics or parents with bikes while others came themselves and stood in the long line.  Standing in long lines has a way of inducing panic in bike racers, but the general friendly vibe along with those hellos, hugs and high fives in this room brought me back to the positive nationals vibe I remember fondly.  It was also cool to geek out on the TT tech and the massive chain rings that were rolling for this fast course! 

Winning a national title matters, but so does competing for one.  I loved this part of being back there.  The excitement, nerves and pressure are high.  There are not the big team buses, sponsors and thousands of fans that line the climbs of Europe.  The personal support team that an athlete builds and evolves is one of the most impactful performance and wellness tools, and racing at “Home” provides a chance for these to be implemented in new ways.  Racing at nationals also provides a clear return of athletes working with their own drive, intrinsic motivation to succeed and ability to navigate that pressure they put on themselves.  In some cases, this pressure from within is intense and can be seen, felt and heard.  The reality that in most of these races there is only one competitor that is truly and entirely satisfied is even more intense than other races that build and stack onto each other through the full pro cycling season.  To witness the joy of a competitor winning a national title is brilliant while the disappointment, confusion and suffering of those who came up short can also be felt, seen and heard.  That same pit in my belly that I felt in so many oh-so-close podium rides as a competitor returned as I watched on.  I know what that moment feels like but also now have the hindsight perspective to know the value that can be built from these experiences.   It was an honor to be around these athletes.  I felt more aware and available to appreciate this as I was not directly navigating it myself, for my own performance like I was 5 years ago. 

I loved the chance to say hi and reconnect with so many people who I know from my time racing and are still in the mix in varied roles as race organization, volunteers, team directors, team staff and even riders themselves.  Of all the people that connect my professional racing days to now, Allen Lim has been one of the most influential.  The time with him in Charleston was a highlight.  My first nationals memory of Allen is from almost 20 years ago and before I really knew him.  Racing up Paris Mountain in Greenville, desperate for a bottle and Allen generously yelling my name and passing me one.  The world has taken us both on some wild rides since then. I was grateful to work with him during phases of my career, but even more grateful to have the chance to be working with him now as we support athletes and humans as performers.  I’ve more recently had the privilege and opportunity to work alongside Allen with particular athletes. This has been formative as I build my experience and presence as a mental performance coach.  We do a lot of this remotely and over Google meet, which works, but it was a joy and pleasure to be in real life and assembled there with Allen and others from athletes personal support teams.  The commitment to and execution with detail, the intense fire burning within and the shared love for improving and exploring potential sent me off from these few days feeling grateful and inspired. 

I wasn’t able to stay there for the road races, but followed with even more passion than usual having just been there.  Deserving winners all around!  The Tour de France is fast approaching and it’s important I get some time with family before the big month in the studio.  I am feeling excited for this year’s Tour de France and to be back with the NBC Sports team that covers the race.  I’ll also be checking in frequently with some video insights that connect the current TDF, my experience racing the Tour and topics of mental performance that are on display.  I’m especially looking forward to this chance to connect the big month of July to what I am throwing myself into the other 11 months of the year, supporting athletes and performers to be their best by training the mind incorporating mental performance into their journey of progression.  See you then!