Cari Higgins

Career Highlights

• National Championship Experience: 17-time USA Cycling Elite National Track Champion,
  Madison, Omnium, Points Race, 2013, Rock Hill, South Carolina; Madison, Team Pursuit, Omnium, 2012, Carson, California; Team sprint, Madison, Points Race, Time Trial, Team Pursuit, 2010, Carson, California; omnium and sprint, 2009, Carson, California; 500m., Keirin, Match Sprint, Team Sprint, 2008, Carson, California
• 6-time Pan American Track Championship Medalist
• Two top-10 finishes in the Omnium at UCI Track World Cups
• Elected USAC Athlete Trustee, 2009
• 2nd place — 2014 UCI Track World Cup, Team Pursuit, Guadalajara, Mexico
• 6th place — 2012 UCI Track World Championships, Scratch Race, Melbourne, Australia
• 5th place — 2011 UCI Track World Championships, Points Race, Alpendoorn, Netherlands
• 1st place — 2010 Tulsa Tough Ride and Race, criterium, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• 1st place — 2008 Giro d'Grafton, criterium, Grafton, Wisconsin
• 2nd place — 2010 USA Cycling National Track Championships, Individual Pursuit, Scratch Race, Flying Lap, Carson, California
• 2nd place — 2009 Pan American Championships, Scratch, Chihuahua, Mexico
• 3rd place — 2010 USA Cycling National Track Championships, Eliminations, Carson, California
• 3rd place — 2010 Tour of America's Dairyland, road race, Various places in Wisconsin
• 3rd place — 2010 Tucson Bicycle Classic, road race, Tucson, Arizona
• 3rd place — 2009 Pan American Championships, Keirin, Sprints, 500m, Chihuahua, Mexico
• 4th place — 2010 Tour of America's Dairyland, criterium, Various places in Wisconsin

Favorite Race: Rotterdam 6-day

Favorite Place to Train: At home in the mountains of Colorado

Best Cycling Memory: In 2008 at Elite Track Nationals, I was on a role winning all the events I entered as a relatively unknown competitor.  My husband surprised me by flying in to watch the last day of racing. I guess he was in the stands all day but I didn’t know until I finished racing and heard him calling my voice from the stands. It was so nice to share the success of that weekend with him since he’s been so supportive!

Best Advice Received From a Coach When Starting Out: Go HARD on your hard days and go EASY on your easy days. I wish I had listened more on that EASY part early in my career.

Motivation: Team. Whether it’s my team or my country, I am motivated by feeling like my accomplishments are bigger then just me as an individual. I suppose that is from growing up in traditional team sports.

Hero/Role Model: I don't have "a" hero or role model. There are qualities within almost every one of my teammates that I admire and would like to emulate.

Cycling & Personal/Career Goals: I want to stand on top of the podium representing my country at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Not just on the podium but on top of the podium. As part of that journey, I want to show people that it can be done without losing who I am as a person and my integrity.

Did You Know?: Before cycling, Cari had a successful career in medical sales an only started riding a bike at age 29 because she needed a competitive energy outlet for the weekends.

First Involvement in Cycling: My husband convinced me to take a class at the Colorado Springs velodrome called "How to Ride the Track, 101." I went home that night and bought a bike on eBay. It was love at first ride!

Hobbies: Anything outside and preferably in the mountains

Charity Work/Community Involvement: Cari is founder and board member for the Aspen Invitational: A Bike Ride for Africa. It's an annual World Vision event that raises money to put bikes in Zambia.

Family: Married to Greg Pent