Former skier a big wheel

By Matt Wiley/The Gazette

From the Colorado Springs Gazette- May 20, 2001

Sarah Konrad was on the streets downtown
in the cold rainy darkness and she was all
alone. She knew she was being followed but
she didn't have any visible proof. In fact, the
32-year old wasn't even quite sure how she
got there.

However, she knew she belonged. Konrad
finished first in the women's criterium in the
National Collegiate Road Cycling
Championships on Saturday afternoon.

Not bad for a ski racer from a Division II
school (Wyoming) that started bicycle racing
as a form of rehab for her torn left anterior
cruciate ligament, and who had never raced
a criterium in the rain.

"It was kind of fun," Konrad said.

Her cycling story started three years ago
when she injured her knee during the
summer. She used to run to train for skiing
but after the injury she had to find a new
way to work out. She chose bike riding.

"It was the only form of exercise I could do
that didn't torque my knee," Konrad said.

Konrad dominated Saturday's race and
could have possibly lapped half the field,
which included returning DivisionI
champion Lara Kroepsch from the
University of Colorado.

"I wasn't expecting to win by that much,"
Konrad said. "The guy on the motorcycle, that was pacing me, at
one point said, '30 seconds' and then, '45 seconds' (to inform her of
the lead). Finally, with five laps to go, I asked him how close are
they (the other racers), and he said 'Keep it constant you don't
have anything to worry about.'"

That was the understatement of the day. At one point, Konrad said
the pacer asked her not to lap the pack.

"I wasn't trying to show off or anything," Konrad said. "I was just
trying to ride a smooth race once I got away."

Kroepsch, 22, was the Division I champion for the second straight
year.

"I knew (Konrad) was the one to beat," Kroepsch said. "But I also
knew she was Division II, so that eased me. It was like two
different races."

Both racers had faced each other before.

"Lara and I have raced together, so I knew I'd have a good
chance," Konrad said.

Wyoming is currently a Division II cycling team, although Konrad
said schools can jump between the two divisions based on success.

The Cowboys participated in conference championships last
weekend and Konrad qualified for the criterium. At least she
thinks so.

"I'm not actually totally sure how the whole thing works," she said.
"I think the school gets enough points based on the season in its
conference. I really don't know."

She also didn't know how she would react to the rain.

"I was a little nervous." Konrad said. "I was wondering how
slippery it was out there."

The elements also bothered Kroepsch, who said it was "dangerous"
on the eight-corner course because the puddles were at least 5
inches deep and the riders had no idea what was inside them.

Getting the big lead helped ease Konrad's nerves. She said not
having anyone around made maneuvering the course no factor,
much like the competition.

"It was a hard race to be aggressive," Kroepsch said. "The course
was hard. When attacking a field like this you never really get
away. Unless you're Sarah."