Once again it was time to travel on and we were all ready to experience a different culture, different food, different surroundings, and different terrain.​ After a long day in the car, we arrived at our next destination: the traditional german town of Albstadt, Germany, filled with bakeries, cafes, apothekes, and ice cream shops. This year we were surprised with sunny and warm weather, making it hard not to break into a huge smile while exploring by foot or by my favorite two wheel machine. Surrounding the buildings and cobble stone streets are rolling hills covered in glowing green trees and wandering dirt roads and trails, providing us with the most gorgeous landscape to train.

Sunday morning wakes Kelsey and I at 6am… breakfast…. kit on…. ride to venue…. timing chip…. final bike preparations…. and I begin my warm-up. The day is already warming quickly and time is slipping by extremely fast, but the sun is shining and it’s another perfect day for a bike race. ​

I am with a group of about three other riders. We are constantly passing each-other and going back and forth throughout the next few laps. There are seconds between us. No slowing down. Every second counts and hydration and fueling can't be overlooked now, especially with such steep climbs and pounding heat.

I'm in sixth place and holding my position. The downhills are loose and rough, I have to focus on staying as smooth as possible in order to stay on my bike. It's not worth crashing, but also important to stay fast in order to keep up with the world class athletes right in front of me. Every lap I continue to focus on pacing myself the best I possibly can. The athletes around me have set their rhythms and I must react to their attacks, while also settling into my own rhythm so that I am able to finish strong.

I think my tire is leaking during the fourth lap and make a quick stop in the pits. The loose trail and sharp rocks can sneak up on you at any moment, making it that much more important to ride smoothly and with all of your focus on the trail. I just lost a little air and am good to keep going. Phew! I ride out of there as quick as I can and into the final climb.

I make the tight corner onto the straight with one lap to go. I see the rider in fifth place has a rear flat and is slowly riding across the pavement. I put my head down and pick up speed.... Could this be my moment for a top five finish!?! I have been giving my all the entire race, digging deep both mentally and physically, but now it is time to dig a little bit more. This is the last lap and it is time to leave every last bit of energy that my body has out on course.

​I am in fifth place on the first climb, but my result is far from being set in stone. Anything can happen in a single lap and I am ready for anything. Going around the switchbacks I can see the trail I have just ridden and now know I am not alone. Although I have tried to build a gap, two riders are right behind me and chasing me down. I turn my eyes back to the climb in front of me and turn the pedals a little bit faster. I hear the shouts and cheers of my teammates and friends, motivating my to continue to push forward and give my absolute all.

As I head into the final descent and then the feed zone, I take a deep breath. The riders are right behind me and getting closer, but right ahead of me is the final climb, my last chance to solidify my position. I focus now on what is in front of me, put my head down and give everything my body can give. In a blur a rider passes me, but I won't give up now. I hear the cheering along the sides of the trail and push forward pedal by pedal. I get on her wheel and chase her to the top of the climb. She has gained a little distance from me at the bottom of the final descent, but not much. We are getting close to the finish and make the tight turns in the grass as fast as we possibly can. She is right there, so close. We both stand and sprint across the line, finishing just four seconds apart.

I am all smiles after the race. It was a hard fought battle for sixth place and with a strong field from start to finish. These World Cups are seriously non-stop action and truly the most exciting racing that I have ever experienced. Being able to travel to new places, put my body to the test in a sport I love, and meet incredible people throughout the way, makes every step of this journey worth it. I feel so honored to have absolutely unreal support from the community surrounding me. It takes so much to make every race possible, so thank you THANK YOU to everyone that has supported and helped me as I chase my dreams!

It's hard to say goodbye to Europe and all of the great memories! I so appreciate that support of USAcycling and this phenomenal group of people for making the past three weeks possible and truly one of a kind.

​Now enjoying some home time and training time... I've got some work to do ;) and I can't wait to explore my local mountains as the snow is finally melting away to reveal my favorite trails. See you out there!!

The announcer’s voice filled the air as he began to call up the top riders to the start line. I rolled up as number 28 to the line, the fourth row. All riders are now at the start. 2minutes to go. We move forward and squeeze tightly together to get as close to the front as possible. The rider behind me has somehow gotten in front of me. That’s okay. I am calm. Dramatic music and pounding heart beat on the speakers. 15 seconds to go. Elbows bent. I am ready. The gun signals our start and we are off in an instant. A girl runs on my left side into the fence and I have to stop to avoid a crash. I am able to get around her and I race to catch up with the field. On the first climb I pick up my pace and settle in, slowly I begin to ride towards the front and into the top 10. I can see the riders right ahead of me and right behind me, something unique to racing in such a competitive world class field. There was no slowing down for a second or riders would fly past me. ​

Every lap I fought, working to catch or keep up with the riders right at my finger tips. I was with two other riders and on the beginning of the third lap we caught up to the group right ahead of us. Third place suddenly within grasp, but not for long. The pace was lifted and I was not able to hang onto their wheels. The group split and once again I was fighting for eight place. The steep climbs filled my legs and lungs with pain. ​

I looked towards the top of the long steep climb I was just beginning. It was lined with spectators on, yelling so loud I could no longer hear my body. My burning legs and gasping breath fell silent as my ears pounded with the noise of the cheering. Throughout the laps I continued to go back and forth with the riders around me. Results unknown until we cross the line. I gave my all on the climbs and focused on keeping smooth on the technical downhills. Every second of this race demanded my full attention. ​

When the fourth and final lap began everyone was fighting for position. No one was giving up now. I was battling for seventh position with Malene Degn. After going into the feed zone, I took the pass and entered into the descent first. We then began the Expert Climb 2, I took the left line and she took the right. One pedal stroke at a time I made may way to the top of the climb, but she was quicker and slipped in front of me when the lines merged. I could see sixth place just reaching the top of the climb. This was a close race. Into the descent and “Rock and Roll” rock garden, I began gaining on seventh place once again, catching her on the final single track section. I slipped past her on the rough roots and entered the pavement in front of her. As we rounded the corner she was right on my tail, I knew this would be a sprint. I pushed as we reached closer and closer to the finish line hoping to get a gap, but she came around my right side sprinting and I was unable to reach the line before she did. I finished with nothing left and for that I am happy. ​

The support I have felt on this Europe trip alone, from home, sponsors, my coach Dario Fredrick, USAcycling, and the Clif Pro Team, is absolutely unreal.  I am lucky to have so many incredible people surrounding me and it allows me to move forward every day, in training and racing. The journey could not be possible without this community. Thank you all!! ​

On arriving at the Munich airport, the USAcycling team managed to collect together and travel to the beautiful land of Austria. Obertraun welcomed us with breath taking views and an insanely fun course. It was easy to settle in and get STOKED for the race that weekend. ​

In what seemed like seconds, Sunday was upon us and it was time to do what we came here to do. Race bikes. The U23 boys headed out for their race in the morning and Kelsey and I awaited our start time. After watching out USAcycling teammates grab some great results, I was motivated and ready to give it a go. At 13:00 the U23 women lined up behind the Elite women. It was great to see my Clif Pro Team teammate Eva and Catherine with smiles on there faces and ready to crush it. I feel so lucky to have such inspiring and supportive teammates to race with. ​

Two minutes after the elite women launched off the line, it was go time. The whistle blew and the race was on. Off the start I was able to get into the lead and push the pace. The first couple climbs were steep and painful and after finishing half a lap for our start loop, we had four laps to go. I built a gap from the riders in my category, but the course constantly winded back and fourth so I could see many of the riders that were behind and in front of me. Even though all of the elite women were minutes ahead, it felt as though the gap was only seconds, motivating me to push forward. Lap after lap I raced to catch up with the elite field while conserving a for the last lap. When the fourth began, my legs started to feel more like themselves and I put everything I had left on the steep climbs and focused on staying as smooth as possible on the technical sections. ​