Cyclo-Cross Star Katie Compton

We met World Champion Cyclo-cross medalist Katie Compton while at the Cross-Vegas Race. She was not able to compete that night after she hurt her knee in a mountain biking accident 3 weeks prior, but was recovering and looking forward to a great cyclo-cross season. A national Cyclo-cross champion already, her goal this season is to win the Cyclo-Cross World Championship . She may be the at ease on the top of the podium, but she is down-to-earth and easy going when off the race-course.    (Here’s a basic intro to Cyclo-Cross.)

What are the abilities you have that really help you to excel at Cyclo-Cross?

I think it’s my ability to carry speed through the turns and do the technical part with the barriers and the run-ups. I’ve also got quite a bit of power in the straight-aways. That together with strong technical skills makes you a strong ‘cross rider. You can’t have just one, you need the whole package.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Compton

Where do you enjoy racing?

I like both the U.S. and Belgium. The Belgium races are super-techie and hard and it’s a different kind of racing. Here, it’s not as technical; it’s more of a “power” or fast skill set. I like them both. It just depends on the venue and where we are.

What do you think of the American crowds at cyclo-cross races? Are they starting to pick up?

“Yeah! And especially as they get a chance to watch the videos online and follow the races on the internet when they can’t get to the race. And then like all the people here…it’s a great spectator race.

When they see it, it’s easy to ‘get’. It’s not like road racing where maybe you watch a stage race, and there are sprint bonuses and there are time cuts, just day-to-day stuff.  But with cross, it is basic: the first person across the finish line wins. It’s kind of self-explanatory. There are no hidden rules. It’s also fast..all that makes it spectator-friendly.

When did you get into ‘cross?

I was about 21 and in college, it was one of those things where I drank too much one night and a friend talked me into racing the next day and I just said, “That’s a great idea.” Of course, they’re all great ideas when you’re drunk! The next day I thought, “Oh, what did I do to myself!” But I went to the race and I loved it, and I had so much fun and went back every weekend after that to race some more.

What were you doing before?

I had been road biking and had got into mountain biking. I had just gotten back from road bike racing in Europe and it had been a horrible experience. I said, “I’m not riding my bike again and I’m over it… not racing…I’m never doing that again! Then I got into ‘cross, it reminded me of how much I loved racing my bike, so that gave me a push start.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Compton

Which is the better entry into cyclo-cross as far as a skill set: mountain or road biking?

Either one actually: with mountain biking, you have the skill for it, but you don’t necessarily have the speed. With road you have the speed, but not the skill set. It would be great if you could do road and mountain and bring it together.  Generally, that would help you be a good cross rider. I’d say though, with mountain biking, it may be easier, because you are already comfortable off-road. You can develop speed later. Road riders have a little more difficulty because they are not used to sliding the bike around and working on the technical part.

What do you like to do in your spare time for fun?

I try to ski as much as I can in the winter. I take the dog out…and read, bake and cook. It’s the normal life away from bike-racing. We travel so much and are so busy that when we get home, we just want to stay there. (“Home” for Katie and husband Mark Compton is Colorado Springs, CO.)

Photo Courtesy of Mark Compton

There’s something about you Colorado girls!

There is something about Colorado. There are some strong road girls from Boulder and then in Colorado Springs, we put out some good mountain bikers.  In Colorado, whether you want to ride road or mountain, you can find some good stuff.

What are you looking forward to this season?

I just want to win a lot of races. To be honest, I just want to get that feeling where I’m racing hard, go out racing hard, racing fast and feel good.  If I can do that, I can win. I would like to have good results…

Good Luck this season, Katie!

Katie’s Advice if You Want to get into Cyclo-Cross: “Go to a local race, borrow a bike or ride your mountain bike and just give it a try. It’s so easy to get into and figure out. Yeah, you may flail about initially, but it once you figure out what you need to do, it gets easier. Then sign up for a clinic so you learn how to do the mounts and dismounts and get over the barriers, do the run-ups. That really helps.”

My husband and I do ‘cross clinics whenever people ask us to. We actually went up to Anchorage and did a 4-day clinic in July. Anchorage has a ‘cross contingent, even though it’s small. We had 2-3 days of instruction, and then we raced the 3^rd and 4^th day. It was awesome…fun!

The Comptons' Clinic in Anchorage last July. (Photo courtesy of Mark Compton)