Michaela Thompson could solely be 22 years of age, however she’s lightyears forward of many aspiring off-road racing skills up to now. In 2025, the Colorado native will make her second look within the Life Time Grand Prix, the youngest girl among the many 22 invitation-only subject by 4 years.
From a podium at Leadville Path 100 MTB and prime 10 at Large Sugar Gravel, Thompson completed in Tenth-place total within the Grand Prix for elite ladies. Her debut was important as she earned a paycheck, solely the highest 10 ladies and prime 10 males sharing within the wealthy $300,000 purse. She additionally completed seventh at Belgium Waffle Experience Arizona and sixth at Little Sugar MTB.
“Probably the most rewarding occasion this 12 months was for certain Leadville 100. I focused that race as my ‘A’ race. Nicely, I focused all the Life Time races this 12 months as an ‘A’ race, and that was my ‘A-plus’ race,” Thompson instructed Cyclingnews, including a chuckle about how she outlined her prime targets.
“I truly labored with my coach actually onerous on discovering methods to encourage my coaching for the couple months main as much as that. I used to be discovering a lull in motivation, not seeing myself progress personally. That was key, with quite a lot of drive and pleasure, and nice health too.
“And the day [at Leadville] simply turned out higher than I might have imagined. I keep in mind within the race being like,’is that this truly occurring?’ Coming to the end line, [seeing] all of the rivals I raced towards, having household and mates proper there on the end line. How can a day on the market for simply over seven hours go so properly? It was wonderful.”
Organisers of the Life Time Grand Prix collection introduced a brand new U23 Improvement Program for 2025, which gives a path for a wildcard entry for the collection after Unbound Gravel 200 in early Might or a coveted roster spot for the 2026 marketing campaign. This system is open to riders between the ages of 18 to 22 to realize expertise in off-road racing, the applying open till January 15, 2025. 4 begins from among the many six US occasions are required to be eligible for collection roster spots.
Thompson is one up-and-coming rider who can skip that formality altogether. For a second 12 months, she would be the youngest feminine within the subject that averages 32 years. When she began her first race of the Grand Prix at Sea Otter Basic, she was 21 years previous.
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“I keep in mind going to Sea Otter, it was the most important occasion I might ever been part of, particularly the most important Expo and so many individuals with drones going round. The fields are so stacked. I keep in mind saying, ‘I am part of this’, like wow,” she instructed Cyclingnews.
“I positively grew so much this 12 months as an athlete and an individual. I do not evaluate myself an excessive amount of to different individuals I race towards, as a result of that is very straightforward to do. I realized so much about what’s finest for me, each mindset and bodily, to assist me carry out. The largest factor of the Life Time Grand Prix this 12 months was being a part of a excessive performing group of women, and these massive races. It was discovering steadiness by all of it – enormous coaching days, journey, a protracted season.”
Thompson is a mountain biker at coronary heart, having competed on the collegiate stage with Fort Lewis School, the place she is learning Enterprise Administration. She has received a pair of brief observe titles at US Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals the previous two seasons. On the street, she has twice completed third within the Iron Horse Bicycle Basic. She mixes in cyclocross as properly, however has been onerous at work earlier than commencement as a gravel privateer.
“I’ve my very own program that I began [in 2024] – my very own private sponsors, my very own package. I do not work with an agent, I personally am in contact with all my supporters and bands, and I actually worth these connections,” she stated, noting that Orange Seal, theFeed and Shimano would return for 2025.
For the brand new season she stated she want to race a few the Gravel Earth Collection occasions, equivalent to The Rift in Iceland and return to the Oregon Path Gravel Grinder.
“I am somebody who does not prefer to chase the numbers. I like placing all the pieces on the market and doing my best possible, with what I can management. I am pleased with a race day the place I laid all of it on the market, went my hardest, and did my finest fueled the most effective I might. Anything is exterior of my management.”
This 12 months her plans to repeat coaching in a hotter local weather in Spain had been halted just a few days after Christmas when she rolled her ankle when standing up too shortly and have become light-headed. The outcome was a torn tibiofibular ligament of the left leg. No surgical procedure was required, however the constricting boot on her left foot and ankle will not match on a pedal.
“That is for certain a detour in my plans, however all I can do is take it daily. I used to be planning on heading to Spain on Tuesday for eight weeks, however possibly this occurred for a motive,” she posted in Instagram. “I haven’t actually processed what’s occurred but, however I’m feeling fortunately it’s nothing worse. Taking this detour as a psychological problem.”
Thompson gave Cyclingnews an replace on her harm on Sunday, saying she hoped to be again to strong coaching in February, which might hold you on schedule to compete on the Sea Otter Gravel occasion to begin the Grand Prix season. And within the meantime, she was studying easy methods to crochet and making an attempt new recipes for baking and cooking.
“Certainly one of my 2025 targets is to convey extra flavors ito my cooking,” she stated from her house in Durango.
“When it comes to my ankle at present, I am making progress with bodily remedy because of Mercy Sports activities Medication, together with correct relaxation and my fantastic group right here in Durango. I ought to be good to get again to coaching in 5 weeks, hopefully even sooner!”