Steven Gordon is a first year Pro road bike racer for DLP Racing. Steven received his bachelor’s degree in Economics and is finishing up his master’s degree in the same field at George Mason this Fall. With a background in mountain biking, Steven eventually became the Vice President of Mountain Biking while taking 3rd overall in the ACCC for MTB in 2007, winning the ACCC for road the following Spring (’08), and then being named the VT Sport Clubs Male Athlete of the Year for 2008. These days, however, he’s moved on from collegiate to some bigger races. Namely, the US-Pro Championship in Greenville, SC last Sunday. I, Tim C., was able to sit down with him and conduct an interview.
Tim: How was your preparation for US Pro? Did you have any goals for the race?
Steven: In retrospect, my preparation was not exactly right. I didn’t do any climbing or anything like a sustained effort in training. My intervals were all short, but I did do some long rides. I wanted to make the early break, or just help my teammate Tim Henry finish the race. I never really considered myself to be a contender for the finale since it is always such a select group going to the line. I did manage to make a promising early move in the opening circuits, and I kept Tim out of the wind and near the front going into the climb twice, but then I suffered a mechanical and had to abandon.
Tim: This isn’t your first national championship race, in fact, it isn’t your first national championship race this month. How did U23 (under 23-years old) championships go?
Steven: The U23 National races were interesting. It was really hot out there in Oregon and I wasn’t quite ready for the heat. I made some very bad tactical decisions and missed the winning break, but I did initiate a somewhat successful bridge attempt, although I overheated and was dropped out of it shortly to finish 38th. It was so hot and dry that my throat and lungs were swollen for two days afterward. The crit was better. I missed the break again but managed to sprint well enough in the end for 7th overall (4th in the field sprint).
Tim: There’s been a lot of rumors circulating that you might pack your bags and move to Belgium with Owen Nielsen (another VT alum) and try and get on a team over there. Any truth to those rumors?
Steven: That’s all still very much up in the air. However, it’s safe to say that if I don’t get another pro contract in the US, I will be racing with Owen in Belgium.
Tim: Can you explain why you would go to Belgium, of all places, to race bikes?
Steven: I went there with Owen last summer for three weeks and loved it. It really favors my body type and riding style. I’m just sort of mediocre at both climbing and sprinting, but I excel on the flats and I tend to cope fairly well with longer races, so Belgium has all of that.
Tim: You traveled and raced in Belgium last year for a short time, was their a large culture shock? Was the style of racing there that much different from that of the US?
Steven: Yea it’s obviously different due to the language barrier. I especially found it difficult to talk to girls. They aren’t really so enamored by the American accent. I’m definitely going to learn Dutch or something if I go back. The racing was very aggressive and very variable depending on the wind conditions. Riders race like it’s the world championships for 50th place even. It’s great because no matter how good or bad you do in the end, you have to go really hard and you end up feeling tired and happy.
Tim: Looking back to your time at Virginia Tech, at the time, did you think you’d be racing at this level? Didn’t you start out as a mountain biker?
Steven: If you were to ask me freshman year of college where I would be in 4+ years, I would have said “Designing mountain bikes for a bike company and racing pro mtb!” My goal was to make it to the level to where I could get a free mountain bike. I didn’t start road racing until I was a sophomore. I wasn’t really sure how far I would get, in fact, I’m still not sure. That’s why I want to race full time after I graduate from George Mason. I’d like to see what my true potential is.
Tim: Do you ever get the itch to race mountain bikes again? How about cyclo-cross?
Steven: I got the itch this summer for a little bit. I borrowed a friends 29′er and did a short XC race. It was horrible. My technical skills are completely gone. I got beat by lots of guys with hairy legs. I no longer have the desire to race mountain bikes. I do enjoy just mountain biking for fun though. There’s nothing like riding around in the woods. I’d like to do some this fall. I’ve raced some cross for the last two years. I had some success two years ago when I was still in good mountain biking shape, but last year I was pretty pathetic. After a full season of road racing and traveling, riding as hard as I can in the mud and cold for one hour is about the last thing on earth I want to do. It’s just demoralizing ending the season by getting schooled every weekend. I’m going to pass on cross this year.
Tim: What was your favorite part of being on the Virginia Tech Cycling Team?
Steven: Collegiate bicycle racing is the most fun I’ve ever had. Racing as a pro is still fun, but a lot more a painful. The two seasons I raced road (and the three seasons I raced mtb) for VT were very memorable. However, I would most definitely say that my last Spring road season at VT (’08) was the best. The team work we had going was incredible. Since we were all friends, the teamwork came fairly naturally and just added to the fun. Yea so to answer your question it was the teamwork (and traveling in the van together).
Tim: Any additional comments you’d like to share?
Steven: I’m extending my season to include the largest Fall Blacksburg Classic, the Ronde-von-Delong after I race the Univest Grand Prix, so look out.
