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Between nine months of mountain bike racing in Europe, an Olympic selection that ended up in court, and, finally, racing at the Athens Olympics in August, it's been a busy year for Mary McConneloug. So it came as some surprise that the 33-year-old Californian decided to tackle this year's Verge New England Cyclo-cross Series with all the gusto that has won her the past two series titles. But McConneloug has never been your typical bike racer.
After less than a month out of competition, but racing in the U.S. for the first time since last year's Verge finale in New Hampshire, McConneloug won the series opener in Maine in dominant fashion. Cyclocrossworld caught up with the Seven Cycles rider following her win and asked why she's spending her "off-season racing" 'cross and how it works into her mountain bike career.
Cyclocrossworld: How hard is it getting used to racing a 'cross event? Today's race was only 35 minutes.
Mary McConneloug: It's so different from mountain biking, it's over like that. I think my fitness from the season is still up at the next notch. But I still need to train for 'cross: shorter, harder stuff. I feel like I have the base from the mountain bike season.
CW: When did you start training for the 'cross season?
MM: When I got back from Europe I spent two weeks just chilling out. Then I went for my first 'cross ride right before Interbike, which was last week. I needed to feel what it was like to move with the bike and do transitions.
CW: Last year after the Northampton race you said you were done for the series, but then you came back and won the jersey.
MM: Well, the Rhode Island race got cancelled and that gave me the break I needed. It's hard for me to sit still.
CW: How do you think racing 'cross has helped you mountain biking?
MM: Bike handling skills for sure. It takes that to the next level. It's really hard to control a 'cross bike in the mud, it's so different. Also, just to stay fit in the winter is good. Once you get out of shape it's really hard to get it back.
CW: Are you considering 'cross worlds this year?
MM: It's too late in the season, I'll be training for mountain bikes. But I am considering nationals. Last year I was so focused on getting ready for the big mountain bike season.
CW: Is nationals a race you'd like to win?
MM: I would, it would be a little dream come true again. We'll see how it goes. We really need to focus on putting our team together again for next year. It's a full-time job and this is the time of year to get it done. That takes a lot of energy and it takes a lot of energy to come and race 'cross every weekend. So we're just going to take it as it comes. I'd like to do the whole Verge series, but the priority is to be set for next year.