"I grew up at the foot of a mountain, and that shaped who I am. I've always looked up." - Kate Courtney

ROOTS

Despite her young age of 23, Kate Courtney belongs on the list of the most influential cyclists. Kate inspires people inside and outside of mountain biking through her authentic character and perseverance as an ambitious athlete. Each chapter will take a personal look at Kate's previous stages and future challenges. The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo are her big goal.

MOUNT TAM

Legend has it that mountain biking was invented on a forest road called Repack on Mount Tamalpais in California. Kate grew up at the foot of this mountain, a place where mountain biking has always been part of the spirit of the local community. In the 1970s, mountain bike pioneers such as Tom Ritchey, Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze and others organized their first bikerides on gravel trails in this area just outside San Francisco.
"Growing up here, I was surrounded by the idea that mountain biking is special and there's something magical about the mountain." - Kate Courtney

FAMILY

From tandem bikes to rainbow jerseys, mountain biking is something Kate shares with her family. As a child, Kate spent her Sundays with her father going out to buy pancakes - combined with a bikeride, of course. It was her father who shared her love of biking and taught her how to ride. Today, Kate describes her supportive environment - her parents, her boyfriend, her mechanic and her team - as the key to her success.
"The fact that I can now ride around Mount Tam in a UCI rainbow jersey with my dad and it doesn't feel a bit different to when I was little is extremely special to me." - Kate Courtney

RACING

Kate's connection to mountain bike racing began when she joined the Branson High School mountain bike team as a freshman. She won her first race at Fort Ord and quickly became the first American to win a UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in the Junior category in 2012. After graduating high school in 2013, Kate went to Stanford University to study human biology to balance racing. In 2017, she won four U23 World Cups, taking the overall U23 World Cup title. In 2018, her first year in the elite, she finished in the top 10 in six UCI World Cups. In 2018, she finally ascended the throne when she won the Elite XC World Championships in Lenzerheide.
Kate started the 2019 season with the Pan American Championship title and top 3 finishes at the Sea Otter Classics. Meet Kate at one of the eight major races of the UCI XCO Mountain Bike World Cup or the 2019 World Championships as she looks to defend her rainbow jersey.

INSPIRATION

From the US Kids Cup to the top podium of the World Championships, Kate is a source of inspiration for bikers of all ages. At the Sea Otter Classics, Kate shared her story as part of the Little Bella Mountain Bike event.

"To see fans who really want you to do well and are excited that you're there and came to see you - that's an incredible thing that is so unique and rare in life. Taking an extra moment to sign a jersey for a kid or talk to them about their mountain biking could actually make a difference in what they do. That's something so special, and I have the opportunity to do that. I see that support and those fans as a source of inspiration, that's what drives me." - Kate Courtney