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Welcome Home Katie Compton - local girl who became a champion.
February 2012 - First State Velo Sport

Katie Compton was the quest speaker at the White Clay Bike Club annual banquet. The WCBC banquet has hosted some notable speakers in the past including Phil Liggett and Bob Roll, but this year's guest was by far closer to the heart of the local cycling community. Katie Compton is the reigning USA National Cyclocross Champion and has reached the podium three times at the World Championships.

Katie receives FSVS team jersey. - photo by Linda Young

Katie returned home to her roots and gave us a glimpse of the European professional cyclocross scene. She currently races for the Rabobank-Giant off-road team, but her start in bike racing began while tagging along to her father's races when he was a member of First State Velo Sport. She eventually began racing on the FSVS team and won six national road titles as a junior. As a U23, she moved on to track and mountain bike racing. Her introduction to cross racing came reluctantly when local racer Fatmarc Vanderbacon repeatedly suggested she try it and she eventually agreed, even though she had no interest in the sport. After her first race, she was hooked, and began the progression from a beginner to a national champion to a world cup winner. Katie shared that her most important win is actually her gold medal that she won racing tandem with Karissa Whitsell in the Paralympics in Athens Greece.

Of the many questions she answered at the banquet, one made the racers in the crowd perk up, "How does she train?". The answer was a striking example of what it takes to be the best in cycling. Katie's training schedule varies throughout the year, but she stated she trains 'every day'. She uses a periodized training plan so this requires different intensities throughout the year. It is common for Katie to do two workouts per day in the summer of varying intensity. Most workouts involve lots of interval training but she still works in recovery rides or just some easy trail riding to mix it up. Cyclocross requires running with the bike over unridable sections or obstacles so Katie does some stair sprint workouts and some trail running to round out her training. In the fall during the race season, the workouts are shorter, but higher intensity. All the training would not pay off if it were not for her most important recovery effort; sleep! Katie pointed out that she gets lots of it, more than 8 hours with a few naps too for good measure.

For one special night, Katie was back home in the town she grew up, with her parents in attendance, her friends, and sharing her dream with the club and team where she got her start. Thank you Katie and thanks to the White Clay Bike Club for hosting this event. Katie Compton - the local girl who became a champion.

LINK: Additional info about Katie's career on USA Cycling