The Inside Scoop: Neven's Collegiate Nationals

It's always interesting to discover what "really" happens at races. Without actually attending the race, watching a Freecaster broadcast, or getting a complete report from a racer, it's easy to take a list of results at face value. Yet you know that every rider out there has a story about how they crashed, narrowly avoided crashing, or had the most amazing and glorious race runs of their lives.

Collegiate racing tends to bring out even more of these stories because it's just so much fun. This year's National Championships took place in Banner Elk, NC. Neven Steinmetz trekked across the country with the University of Colorado cycling team and her sights set on a Dual Slalom Collegiate National Champion's jersey, and perhaps one in downhill too.

On paper, Neven should have been a ringer for the dual slalom title, and was a strong contender for a downhill win too. However, an untimely bailout at the crux of the downhill course during pre-race practice on Saturday ended her chances for downhill domination.

Says Neven, "It was just super muddy and slick. I knew I was going to crash, so it was either endo into some rocks or try and bail over the berm--as it turns out, also into rocks! I thought it might just be sprained and tried to ride down, but I had to put my foot out moto-style at one point because it was so muddy. When I felt the bones move, I knew I wasn't going to be racing the DH an hour later!"

Still, the dual slalom was more than 24 hours away. Being the focused athlete that she is, Neven decided to take her chances and attempt to snag her dual slalom win. We don't want to suggest that it's a good idea to race bikes when you know you're broken. Not only is it easier to cause more damage to the already broken parts, but it's pretty easy to throw yourself on the ground again and end up with more than one broken limb. Neven knew she was taking a chance that might send her into the operating room, but she was willing to deal with the possible consequences for the sake of another University of Colorado win.

In the true spirit of collegiate cycling, her CU teammates borrowed a wagon and pulled Neven up the hill to her heats. She made it through the rounds and finished 4th. More impressive was the fact that she managed to minimize the harm done to her heavily wrapped and air-casted kankle by running one clipless pedal and one flat pedal. She gimped her way back to Boulder to receive the good news that no surgery would be required--just 6 weeks of crutches plus some rehab.

So kids, the morals of the story here are: Stay in School!; Don't Try This at Home!; and When in Doubt, Have Your Friends Pull You Up the Hill in a Wagon!

August's Featured Rider: Neven Steinmetz

Neven Steinmetz is one of the USA's few dedicated mountaincross racers. She has been to the World Championships twice and regularly competes at World Cup events. While her riding is impressive, her time spent off the bike is even more incredible. Neven is currently working on her PhD in Tissue Engineering at the University of Colorado. In addition, she's campaigning to become an athlete representative to USA Cycling for gravity sports. Luckily, Neven is sponsored by a coffee shop, because we’re not sure that she has time to sleep.--FF

Name: Neven Steinmetz
Home: Boulder, CO
Age: 31 (But seem to think I'm about 23)
Favorite type of riding: Racing mountaincross and dirt jumping
Why you ride: The challenge and the cool people
Sponsors: Yeti, Hayes, Maxxis, DT Swiss, ODI, e.13, Fox Racing, Smith, Nema, Totally Wired Cyclery, Rocky Mountain Roastery
Website: nevensteinmetz.blogspot.com

I started out racing cross country. I quickly learned that my skills were much better served descending rather than climbing. After running my fully-rigid Trek 820 into the garage (it was on the top of my car), I decided I needed a full suspension bike to replace it. I got a Yeti ASX and headed out to Angel Fire, NM for my first downhill race. At registration, I was asked if I wanted to sign up for mountaincross in addition to downhill. I asked what mountaincross was, and was told, "It's free." That didn't really explain what it was to me, but I decided to give it a go anyway. I did the race on my cross country bike and took a huge crash, but I ended up doing pretty well and I was hooked.

I really enjoy riding and racing downhill, but mountaincross is definitely my passion. I love the head-to-head competition. And I really love the feeling of putting together a run that has sprinting, jumping, manualing, and cornering all packed into 30-45 seconds. There's no room for making a single mistake.

When I'm not working on my PhD, you can find me riding at our local dirt jumps or at the BMX track. The two things that I have worked hardest on to become successful at mountaincross racing are power out of the start gate (lots of lifting in the gym) and dirt jumping. Next on the list, though, is definitely improving my cornering!

I turned pro 3 years ago and decided my goal was to make the US team for the World Championships. Last year, I was able to attain that goal and joined the US team in Fort William, Scotland. There were 45,000 people there watching mountaincross, including some who had climbed trees to be able to see! We raced under the lights, and it was live on the BBC. This was probably one of the most amazing experiences of my life! (Neven also raced mountaincross at Worlds in Italy this year!-FF)

I ride and race because I love the rush of the adrenaline, but also because I have made the most amazing friends and visited some amazing places over the past 6 years of racing. People who ride bikes are often very passionate, and I enjoy spending time with passionate people!