Pro Cycling News interview with Meredith

By Bart Hazen Date: 1/27/2010

1) Can you introduce yourself?

I am Meredith Miller, a professional cyclist on the road with Team TIBCO and the current US Road National Champion. 2010 will be the beginning of my 12th year racing on the road (my 8th year full-time). Much of my time racing has been spent in Europe with teams such as the Danish-based Team SATS and the US National Team. On the domestic side of racing, I have been a member of highly successful teams such as TEAm Lipton, Aaron’s, and Team TIBCO.

In 2008 I decided to play around with cyclocross, maybe do a few local races in Colorado. In September I was in Vegas for Interbike so I decided to enter Cross Vegas - shortly after that I joined Cal Giant Berry Farms and hit most of the major races on the domestic schedule. My cycling schedule now is a 12 month commitment.

I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my husband, Ben, and my two dogs Haka and Kohi.

Meredith climbs the hill in Hoogerheide     Photo © 2010 Bart Hazen

2) Why did you choose cycling, cyclocross as your sport? after years of playing soccer at college?

When I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I continued playing soccer in a semi-pro league for another year. However, when that team folded I needed something else to fulfill my competitive personality. At the time Ben (my then boyfriend) had started racing.

After watching several races, I knew that cycling would give me just what I needed to stoke the competitive side of me, while also helping me maintain/improve my fitness and strength I had developed from years of playing soccer. Ben helped me get set up on a bike and I also joined a fantastic women’s team, Famous Footwear, which provided me with the tools and guidance I needed to set the wheels in motion for a prosperous cycling career.

3) Which hobbies do you have next to cycling?

I enjoy photography, hiking, baking, reading, and most outdoor activities.

Off ot an excellent start in Europe - finishing just outside the top 10 in Roubaix
Photo © 2010 Bart Hazen

4)How do you look back on the CX season thus far?

This CX season has been a pretty successful ride so far. I went directly from the Road World Championships into the ‘cross season. That made me nervous because I hadn’t spent any time on the ‘cross or mtn. bikes working on my skills, nor had I spent much time doing the type of short, intense training that is required in ‘cross racing. Yet, during my first weekend of racing in Providence, I found myself with two 4th place finishes. I was pretty happy with that, but wanted more, so I went after the podium at the USGP’s with a vengeance.

After reaching the podium a couple times, I realized that gunning for a top 3 at nationals was not out of my reach. With the confidence, skills and fitness I had been building over the season, I was able to wrap up the domestic season with a 2nd place at the US Nationals. That finish helped secure my spot on the Worlds team…so here I am.

5) Where does your love for cyclocross come from?

Because I have been in the sport of cycling for so many years, it’s almost like “I have been there, done that” on the road. With cyclocross, everything is new, fresh and presents challenges that I am unaccustomed to and have yet to learn. The races are exciting, the spectators in this sport are raucous and loud, and the places I get to travel to are unfamiliar. It’s the new challenges, races, faces and places which have all made me fall in love with this sport.

Read the full interview here