Curtis White, American Cyclocross Legend: The Exit Interview

Cyclocross magnate Curtis White recently announced that the recent Hoogerheide World Cup in the Netherlands would be his “last dance” as a professional cyclist. A US Cyclocross National Champion in 2022, Curtis has also represented the United States at 11 World Championships, earned gold at the Pan-Am Continental Championships in 2018, and balanced his competitive ambitions with academics by graduating from Union College with a B.A. in Classics and a minor in Law and Humanities. Over the course of his career, he raced for notable teams in both cyclocross and road racing, including the storied Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com program, Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies, Rally Pro Cycling, Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis, Best Buddies Racing, and most recently the Steve Tilford Foundation Racing Team. We caught up with Curtis recently to ask him about his storied career, its roots, and what his future beyond the barriers holds.

Q: Tell us about your early days in cycling. What inspired you to pursue cyclocross racing, and how did you get started?

Growing up in rural upstate New York, I was always drawn to doing physically difficult things, and it wasn’t long before the combination of being surrounded by quiet roads and challenging terrain, my dad having old VHS tapes of iconic races like Paris-Roubaix and Gent-Wevelgem, a welcoming club in Albany (Capital Bicycle Racing Club), and supportive parents helped me find bike racing at the age of 10. I was hooked immediately. My first races were criteriums, but it didn’t take long to become intrigued by this strange new discipline called “cyclocross.” One weekend you were racing a fast and dry grass crit with high speed barriers, and the next you were sliding around in the mud and shouldering your bike up steep hills. I loved racing on the road through the spring and summer, but I was always looking forward to the start of the cyclocross season in September.

Q: The Northeast has produced some serious luminaries of US Cyclocross over the decades. Did you have any particular cycling mentors or role models who influenced you development and path in the sport?

One of the greatest parts of cyclocross is that the pro racers are so accessible to younger aspiring racers and fans. Every weekend, I could preride a course with athletes that were icons to me, and I was lucky that they recognized and contributed to the community aspect of the sport. I’ll never forget how athletes like Jeremy Powers, Todd Wells, Jonathan Page, Frank McCormack, Tim Johnson, and Chris Horner all made time for me, which in turn inspired me to give that feeling back to younger athletes as I became a professional. Growing up in the New England cyclocross scene was special; I don’t know if I would have made cyclocross my life without it.

Q: You’ve had a lot of success over your lengthy cycling career: National and Pan American Championship titles, 11 World Championship appearances, and 44 Elite UCI wins. What stands out in your mind as your proudest sporting moment?

So much of sport is not only capitalizing on moments that go your way, but learning how to pivot your energy and keep pushing when the wind is in your face. Going into 2022, I had finished 2nd in the previous three national championships. I was routinely the top American in European World Cup races and in the UCI rankings, but could never piece it together on that one day of the year to wear the stars & stripes as national champion. At the 2022 National Championships in Hartford, Connecticut, the snow began to fall on a muddy and rutted track, which made the course treacherous. While other racers saw tough conditions as a challenge, I always saw them as an opportunity. On days like that, skill was important, but keeping a positive mindset was what could really make the difference. After an hour of battling the toughest competitors in the country through crashes, slide-outs, multiple run-ups per lap, clogged cleats, and pit exchanges every lap, I was finally able to win my first national championship. So much more went into the day than can be described in one interview, but winning that race in the Northeast, where so much of my development as a cyclist happened, and to do it in front of everyone I loved, was something special.

Q: Every cycling career has its challenges. Is there one in particular that you faced that you would consider a “defining moment,” and if so, how did you overcome it and what did you learn from the process?

Racing through the pandemic was one of the most challenging periods of my career. It was difficult for everyone, but I was one of the few North American athletes that made the trip to Europe to compete in the only place in the world that had cyclocross racing in 2020. I spent three months away from my family, training solo every day and adhering to protocols and requirements. Athletes benefit the most from being in the right environment and from the camaraderie of other athletes. I was in the right environment, but with little to no camaraderie outside of the races, it took a massive effort to stay positive and mentally strong enough to get the most out of my season. A little over a year later, I finished a career-best 12th at the World Championships. There’s no doubt in my mind that the sacrifice of going to Europe for three months during the pandemic yielded that result.

Q: How did you prepare for the specific demands of cyclocross racing compared to your “off-season” of pro road racing?

Cyclocross requires the most versatility of any cycling discipline. You have to be explosive, technically sound, physically durable enough to withstand the varying terrain and obstacles, and have the depth to carry your form throughout the season. My best seasons were when I laid the proper groundwork with a big base in the spring and had a very heavy race schedule on the road from May to July. That combination would let me get a high level of intensity and keep my racecraft sharp. I would normally transition into more technically-focused training on August 1, dialing back the road racing and travel, and introducing regular running into my training program. By the time the first cyclocross races came around in September, I had a well-rounded condition that would allow me to perform for the entire season.

Q: What led to your decision to retire from professional racing? Was it something that percolated over time, or was there a particular moment of clarity when you “just knew” it was your time to call it a career?

This is a difficult question. When you give so much of yourself to your sport, it’s all consuming. It’s not easy to balance training, racing, travel, recovery, and everything else that goes into sport with a normal life, being married, and spending time with family. I’m going on 30, and I’ve had some incredible opportunities in sport, but the reality is that elite sport is a fleeting moment in life. I’ve had more opportunities than most, and it was time for me to focus more on my family. 

Q: I’m sure there was a spectrum of emotions you experienced during your final race in Hoogerheide. Can you describe them?

Another difficult question! The truth is that I tried my best to not think about Hoogerheide being my last race. I put myself into the mental space of preparing for and interacting with everyone like it was just another race. Ultimately, I tried to shift my focus away from the result, and toward what the true gift of competition is: to push my body to the maximum and see what I can do with it. I took in the day, still kept the knife between the teeth, and was able to piece together one of my strongest races of the season until the last lap. After the bell rang, I probably lost four or five places. It finally hit me that I would never be in this place again, competing with the best in the world in a field in Noord Brabant, Netherlands, a place I had been many times before. I lost all focus on competing for a result and just took in the moment. It was moving, and I will never forget that.

Q: What do your plans look like now that you have officially retired from professional racing? Might we expect some coaching and mentoring in your future?

Immediately after crossing the line in Hoogerheide, I transitioned into a coaching role for USA Cycling at the World Championships in Liévin, France the following weekend. To have represented the USA at 11 World Championships throughout my career as a racer, I found it incredibly fulfilling to end my racing career by contributing to the team in this new role. I hope I have the opportunity to coach more teams in the future, but I have not made any commitments at this time. I will take some time to decompress, reflect on everything I have done in sport, and then reevaluate.

Q: As you look back on your career, what sort of advice would you give to a young rider aspiring to break into the professional ranks?

Shake as many hands as you can, always be a good ambassador for your sport and your community, don’t be afraid to take risks, and ALWAYS race with your heart on your sleeve.

Q: What are some of the evolutions in cyclocross that stand out in your mind as you reflect on your time in the sport?

The speed of the races has been the biggest change. Equipment is getting lighter, disc brakes allow for more control and quicker stops, and athletes are learning skills at younger ages. When I was a junior, only Mathieu van der Poel and Sven Nys were hopping the barriers. Now, everyone is hopping them at full speed, and you can’t afford not to learn that skill.

Q: Have you had any immediate perspective shifts on the sport now that you have stepped back from racing?

Most athletes are focused on the “here and now,” and you do certainly need to be present in high-pressure situations. However, this leads some racers to think that they are only as good as their last race, or to judge their career by their last season. To be honest, it was only a couple months ago where I fell into the trap of looking at my career through the lens of my last season. However, over the last few weeks, I’ve become more aware of the big picture. The last six months did not define my career. Rather, it was my victories, my results representing USA Cycling, my time in Europe cutting my teeth to get results in World Cups, X20s, and Superprestiges, being a coach and mentor to athletes, and my impact on my community that define my career.

Q: Did you have a favorite race over the years, and were there particular conditions, course characteristics, or weather that you favored?

I always loved the races with the toughest conditions. Nationals in Hartford (USA), Tabor (CZ), Hoogerheide (NED), Namur (BEL), Nommay (FRA), Dendermonde (BEL), Gavere (BEL), Loenhout (BEL), and Spa Francorchamps (BEL) all come to mind.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with your fans and the cycling community as you transition into this new chapter of your life?

None of what I’ve been able to accomplish would have been possible without the support of my family, my wife, my teams, and my community. The pursuit of sport can be a selfish endeavor at times, but I always found strength in the people closest to me. I feel nothing but gratitude and appreciation.