Part - 2 Part - 3 Part - 4 Part - 2 Part - 3 Part - 4
I ran into Katheryn Curi Mattis roadside after the TTT, and we had a quick chat as she was packing up in the team car. This is someone who caught my interest since she was in five races during this series. She rode with the men at Snelling, and also did the Merced Criterium, as well as Merco Grand Prix and Foothills road race. This is another rider who impresses me both on and off the field with her sense of professionalism in bike racing and her candid demeanor with the press. I found her a delight to chat with, and she is as well spoken and even handed with the press as any I have seen.PCW:
You were national champion a few years ago and you won Geelong?Katheryn:
Yeah, 2005, and I won Geelong World Cup in 2008.PCW:
So what are your plans for the future?Katheryn:
This is my 6th year with Webcor and I am really look forward to being back with the team. Our domestic focus is with NRC stage races more so then one day races. We have five new riders on the team and two new development riders so I am really looking forward to mentoring them.PCW:
Do you prefer NRC calendar as opposed to the UCI calendar?Katheryn:
Good question, racing should be really good this year. We have teams like 2012, VBF, Tibco, definitely that will make it hard, but i love racing in Europe. It's really hard racing but at 36 years old, I kind of like sleeping in my own bed.PCW:
How do you feel about the World Championships or the Olympics?Katheryn:
Thinking about 2012 at this time is a long ways off for me. I will be almost 40 and not to say it's not possible but I can say I have far exceeded any expectations I have had in this sport. However there are other things I want to accomplish in life.PCW:
What was the biggest highlight of your career?Katheryn:
Geelong World Cup in 2008, but also Nationals in 2005 because both were team efforts. We raced solidly as a team so both were team wins.PCW:
Webor been around a really long time. Is Webcor planning on staying in the business?Katheryn:
Yes, Andy Ball has done a great job on supporting riders to go to the Olympics. We sent Christine Thorburn to the Olympics in 2004 and we sent 4 riders to the Olympics in 2008.PCW:
Has Webcor been around longer then any other team?Katheryn:
Yes, I believe so. You know Karen Brems and the management company do a great job, and kudos to Andy Ball for supporting women's racing. We had a men's team and a women's team, but now just the women's team so Andy has a real dedication to supporting women's cycling.PCW:
Did you do Snelling?Katheryn:
Yes I did. I raced with the men, and then the following day I raced the Merced Criterium with the women. I'll race the Merco Grand Prix, but I'll only do that with the women.PCW:
So you doing five races, that's a lot!Katheryn:
I love racing my bike! Kudos to Velo Promo for putting on these races!PCW:
So California is great for early season fitness?Katheryn:
Correct! Very much so! I love racing with the men! I'll do the Madera stage race with the men. It's great training, no pressure!PCW:
The weather is nice, sunny climate, kind of like Spain! We are lucky here, we get all the top riders come to our events and we are fortunate in that regard. Tibco has a camp in Carpenteria and HTC has a camp in Santa Barbara.Katheryn:
Yes, and the Vera Bradley foundation is based out of the bay area. California has a lot of great women's teams and it would of been great to see other teams out supporting this race.PCW:
Last year at Brissago in Europe it was like 10 degrees this time of the year.Katheryn:
Exactly!PCW:
Well, thank you for the chat and see you tomorrow!Katheryn:
Yes, thank you very much. Thanks to the promoters for putting this race on, and its been a lot of fun, thanks goodness the weather held out!