I first raced my bike in high school. The boarding school I attended had a cycling team, and we raced against all the other prep schools in New England. I primarily used cycling for fitness in the off-season, as I ski raced NCAA Div-1 in college. I finally started bike racing full time after my ski racing career reached its end. I secured a contract racing for an Elite Dutch team for two years (95-96), and then earned my first professsional contract in 97. I raced pretty much all over the world. The biggest race I won was the GP Welltour in Lazy, Poland. My favorite race was probably the Peace Race, which used to be the Eastern Bloc's answer to the Tour de France. I always loved racing in Europe. The fans are very knowledgeable and appreciative of the lives of cyclists. The races themselves always seemed to carry an added mystique of history and excitement.

The first time I did the Tour of Malaysia, our little team from Boulder, CO (that contained some big-name riders) was winning the team competition against some giants like Mapei and Credit Agricole. I remember riding up the steepest paved road in Great Britain during the Prutour of Great Britain. The climb is called Rosedale's Chimney, and I watched the entire Dutch National Team dismount, shoulder their bikes, and run up it cyclocoss-style.

1) Share alot of my knowledge with the younger racers; 2) I still love to do battle, especially since the end result is simply to see how well I can perform my role on a give day.

Minimize processed foods and sugars. The morning before races, I usually eat easily digestible foods like granola and yogurt, toast and smoothies. Myfavorite snack is tortilla chips with fresh salsa and guacamole.

My competitiveness and desire to stay healthy and active are probably my two highest motivators. My love for cycling is third, followed by the simple, though painful, pleasure of finding my limits. Pain can be very cleansing and clarifying. Finally, getting out, exercising hard away from the craziness of everyday life is an awful lot like meditation. Tough to beat that.

My goal this season is to win the elite road race and time trial.

the race itself.