Kristin McGrath

  
  


Date of Birth: October 21, 1982
Height: 5’5”/1.65m
Weight: 118lbs./53.5kg/8.4st.
Place of Birth: Durango, Colorado
Hometown: Durango, Colorado
Residence: Durango, Colorado
Teams: Colavita p/b Cooking Light (2008), Valuact Capital (2009), Peanut Butter & Co Twenty12 (2010-11), Exergy Twenty12 (2012)
Education: University of Tennessee, BS in Exercise Physiology
Twitter: @i_am_kmac

National Championship experience:

  • 19th place — 2011 USA Cycling Elite, U23, Juniors & Paralympic National Championships, Augusta, Georgia, Time Trial
  • 5th place — 2009 USA Cycling Elite, U23 & Juniors Road National Championships, Bend, Oregon, Individual Time Trial
  • 32nd place — 2009 USA Cycling Elite, U23 & Juniors Road National Championships, Bend, Oregon, Road Race
  • 2nd place— 2009 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships, Lawrence, Kansas, criterium, women's Division I
  • 12th place — 2008 USA Cycling Elite, U23 & Juniors Road National Championships, Irvine, Anaheim, and Santiago Canyon, CA, Road Race

Career Highlights:

  • 1st place — 2011 Aspen Women’s Pro Stage Race, Individual Time Trial
  • 1st place — 2011 Cascade Cycling Class, Stage 1
  • 3rd place — 2011 Aspen Women’s Pro Stage Race, General Classification
  • 10th place — 2011 UCI Feminine World Cup #4, Fleche Wallonne, Belgium
  • 11th place — Team Pursuit Manchester Track World Cup (2011)
  • Contributing member of a team placing a rider 1st overall (Megan Guarnier) Giro Della Toscana (2011)
  • 1st place — 2009 Cascade Cycling Classic, Stage 6
  • 3rd place — 2009 La Route de France, Individual Time Trial
  • 9th place — 2009 Giro della Toscana Int. Femminile, General Classification

Points of Interest

  • McGrath enjoys cooking, yoga, stand-up paddle-boarding and nordic skiing when not on her bike.
  • During the offseason, McGrath goes whitewater rafting, hiking, camping, mountain biking and backcountry skiing.
  • McGrath harbors a secret ambition of being a fighter jet pilot.
  • McGrath competed as a varsity athlete as a collegiate at the University of Tennessee.

Personal

Growing up, Kristin McGrath played many sports. Being the only girl with four brothers – and second-youngest of the family’s children - McGrath was often trying to keep up with her brothers. She earned a spot in the Durango High School Hall of Fame for her achievements in soccer and swimming. She still holds the school standard in the 100-meter breaststroke.

She competed at the varsity level in two sports at the University of Tennessee: Soccer and Swimming. Soccer primarily earned a scholarship for her swimming plaudits and would use one sport to train for the other. She ended up swimming for the Volunteers as a junior and senior.

After receiving her undergraduate degree in exercise physiology, McGrath decided to pursue medical school. She needed a few pre-requisites, so she enrolled in classes at Fort Lewis College, a school in her hometown of Durango, Colo. McGrath was riding a bike to maintain her fitness level and the Fort Lewis College cycling team, one of the most decorated collegiate cycling programs in the country, approached her about riding on the team. She qualified for the Ryan Collegiate All-Star team and signed a contract in the fall of 2008.

With medical school on the back burner, McGrath pursued cycling as a professional rider. As it did in soccer and swimming, success has followed McGrath. She emerged as one America’s most gifted time trial riders. In 2009, McGrath finished fifth in Bend, Ore., at the 2009 USA Cycling Juniors, U23, Elite National Championships as well as placing third in the time trial at the 2009 La Route de France.

While training later in 2009, McGrath was hit by a truck and sustained numerous injuries. She was forced to take the 2010 season off to heal.

McGrath returned dramatically, teaming up with Cari Higgins and Kim Geist to place 11th in the team pursuit at the UCI Track World Cup #4 in Manchester, England before placing 10th in the Fleche Wallone World Cup in Belgium – the top-placing American.

“My 10th place at Fleche Wallone was one my biggest highlights so far,” McGrath said. “It marked my return to top-ten European racing after a full year off to heal from injuries sustained from being hit by a truck.”

McGrath credits her family as being among the driving forces to her achieving her cycling goals. “They pick me up when I need it, and keep my feet on the ground.”

She also credits her teammate and Olympic gold medalist, Kristin Armstrong, as being a rider she can emulate, “She took me under her wing during my very first race in Europe in 2008 and has been there for me ever since. She is currently my coach and teammate, an amazing woman, and a great role-model.”


This Article Updated April 16, 2012 @ 01:15 PM For more information contact: