Courtenay McFadden Announces Her Retirement from Elite Cyclocross
We chatted with the Washington Native about her last race at Lakewood Nationals and decision to retire
People in the mid-30s generally don’t do fairy tales, but for a fleeting moment, Courtenay McFadden was going to have a fairy tale ending at the Elite Women’s race at the 2019 Lakewood Cyclocross Nationals that she would have been more than happy to welcome.
Hailing from Bellingham, Washington, McFadden starting racing cyclocross locally in the Seattle area in 2010. After rising to the top of the scene there, she joined the national circuit in 2012 and quickly became one of the most consistent riders in the Elite Women’s field.
With Nationals in Lakewood, McFadden would be heading home for what may have been her last Elite cyclocross race ever. Then 34, McFadden had been on the road for years on weekends every fall and she had endured two hip surgeries after suffering from years of pain.
At Lakewood Nationals, there was definitely the racing at home thing, yes, but Courtenay McFadden also really wanted—and it could be argued, deserved—a podium finish. Because here’s the thing folks, Courtenay McFadden had finished fourth a lot. Like, a lot a lot.
2016 Pan-Ams? 4th. 2017 Pan-Ams? 4th. 2018 Reno Nationals? 4th. 2018 Pan-Ams? 4th. 2019 Pan-Ams? 4th.
A podium finish at Nationals is not the be-all and end-all, but no one, no one, deserved a podium finish at Lakewood Nationals more, in perhaps her last race ever, in front of the community that has supported her for the past decade, than Courtenay McFadden.
And you know what, that fairy tale ending almost came true. We all know the story of Clara Honsinger’s win, but with two laps to go, McFadden was in third place ahead of a struggling Katie Compton. She had the fans urging her on and she had YEARS of podium frustration about to be wiped away, it was the stuff Hollywood stories are made of.
Inside two to go, McFadden lost focus and crashed, and then ultimately finished 4th. It was a tough way to end that race, but in many ways, the race in Lakewood encapsulated McFadden’s career. The local girl who hit it big, supported by those she had built relationships with over the years, and in a position to get a podium finish in the biggest race of the year.
Although there were admittedly some tears in the days and weeks following the race, McFadden has made peace with her near-fairy-tale ending.
“When I started reflecting on the 2019 season and my last race, I realized there was no better race to end my cyclocross career on than that one,” she said. “I raced in front of my hometown people, everyone screaming my name throughout the entire course, at a venue I've been racing at since I started ‘cross in 2010.”
McFadden said she had hoped to try one more season of racing in 2010, but COVID had other plans. And with that, McFadden has decided to step away from racing Elite cyclocross and move on to the next phase of her life.
McFadden retires with palmares nearly all racers who have ever played the sport would kill for. 4th at Lakewood Nationals, 5th at Hartford Nationals, those four Pan-Ams 4ths. Two-times a member of the Worlds team, including a 15th-place finish in Bieles in 2017. Nine UCI wins and countless UCI podiums.
I forever strive to be the stoic journalist, but as a frequent injury-sufferer, I admired how McFadden was able to fight through hip pain and then two surgeries and keep racing at the sport’s highest level. She also brought a special kind of enthusiasm to the U.S. ‘cross scene that will definitely be missed this coming season.
I asked McFadden a few questions about that race in Lakewood, her decision to retire, and her plans moving forward now that she has her fall weekends free.
Interview: Courtenay McFadden on Cyclocross Retirement
Zach Schuster: You were keen to the pandemic last March before Mid South, how has the last year been for you after being a bit prescient in seeing where things were going?
Courtenay McFadden: I was taking it pretty seriously early on because it hit Washington State—1.5 hours south of me—first before it really spread out from there, so in February when it hit here I was hyper-aware of what was going on. I had been kind of staying away from people and staying home since late February, so it felt like the whole "social distancing" thing lasted FOREVER.
When I was packing up for Mid South at the time I remember just questioning if I should go or not and if it was the right decision. I clearly had enough anxiety about the whole event that I went home early.
I have been so thankful to have my neighbors, whom we are really good friends with, to hang out with and chat with throughout the last 1.5 years. Like many people, I had ups and downs. Early on I had a good routine, but that got old after a while, and then I got lonely, and then I got bored. Then of course there was the dilemma that all racers had with no racing but how do we appease our sponsors and make sure we're doing enough during a time of no racing. It was stressful!
Last Fall I ended up going back to work for a very small amount of hours to give myself something to do because I was so bored with no racing!
Zach Schuster: When did you decide that you were content calling it a career on the National stage?
Courtenay McFadden: Honestly, in 2019 I had been thinking about being done, but after Nationals I thought, “Well maybe one more year, but with more mountain biking and gravel in the Spring and less cyclocross in the Fall,” but then 2020 hit and all that was tossed into a fire. When COVID hit and really became something, we all saw the writing on the wall of the cyclocross season in 2020 being canceled. I knew I didn't want to race in Europe for the Fall, and at that point, for me, it was pretty evident I wasn't going to chase around the UCI circuit anymore after losing all my UCI points by not participating in the 2020 season. Starting over from scratch just didn't sound enticing or fun.
When I started reflecting on the 2019 season and my last race (Nationals), I realized there was no better race to end my cyclocross career on than that one. I raced in front of my hometown people, everyone screaming my name throughout the entire course, at a venue I've been racing at since I started ‘cross in 2010.
I've always felt when I was going to be done, I would finish while I was still happy with my results and not declining in my performance. So reflecting back on that last race, I couldn't pick a better way to say "I'm done" than 2019 Nationals.
Also, I'm 36 years old; my body doesn't feel the same as a 22-year-old! All these young, fast girls—whose bodies probably don't hurt—are coming up the ranks, and it's their time to shine, I don't need to hang onto something that potentially is no longer there. I'm really ready to step away and be done.
Zach Schuster: You had a bit of a unique path to the National cyclocross scene; what was the best part of this whole experience for you?
Courtenay McFadden: The people have to be the best part of the entire experience. I have met SO many amazing people in the biking community. The most prized people and experiences I have had throughout the many years have to be the host families I have stayed with. Going back to the same families and homes year after year really helps ease the homesickness when you're on the road for weeks at a time. It also made it easy for training to go back to the same place—I knew the routes and roads to feel comfortable with.
Also, experiencing other parts of the country I wouldn't otherwise go to has been really amazing. From New England in the Fall (probably my favorite, the colors, the brisk sunshine, the smell) to Iowa in December. It's all been a really amazing few years.
Zach Schuster: You had a pretty dope ending to your career at Lakewood Nationals. Save maybe a podium finish, could that experience have been any better?
Courtenay McFadden: A podium finish was my goal for Nationals at Lakewood, and I know I was capable of it and I had it, but I let my head get to me. I had just passed some people I knew yelling at me that “Katie is going to get you,” I panicked and lost focus and took a pretty big crash which had my saddle facing 45 degrees off to the side. It really took the wind out of my sails.
A podium finish had been a goal of mine for Nationals before hanging it up, but I feel like I was close enough and feel satisfied either way.
Zach Schuster: I have to ask since a podium finish is a podium finish, do you think about those last few laps against KFC at all?
Courtenay McFadden: I did for a long time, especially after talking to Katie after the race and having her tell me I totally had it in the bag, and my crash was a nice little gift for her to be on the podium. But the thing is, that's part of racing, and you have to keep your head on and focused, and I lost it for 2 seconds. It happens, and after many crying sessions after the race, I'm okay with it because I'm still proud of the way I raced that day.
Zach Schuster: What accomplishment in cyclocross are you most proud of?
Courtenay McFadden: Consistency.
I think I was the most consistent racer out there! [Ed. Note: This is probably true] I can't tell you how many times I finished 4th place at Pan Ams or Nationals. 4? 5? 6? I don't know, but man I was really good at getting 4th place.
A single accomplishment I'm most proud of was finishing 15th place at Worlds in Luxembourg. It was my first World Championships, it was snowy and icy, I had a torn labrum in each hip and my body freakin' hurt. I remember finishing, stoked on the result, but it was when I realized that surgery was truly the right answer for me, even if I could still perform, being in pain 24/7 isn't normal.
Zach Schuster: How do you hope you are remembered in American 'cross?
Courtenay McFadden: This is a hard question for me to answer! I don't think I ever did anything big that would leave a huge impression on anyone to remember me by, but perhaps maybe I can be remembered by being the woman who was really good at getting 4th place.
Zach Schuster: What are your plans moving forward? Sounds like you'll be doing some gravel and mountain bike racing?
Courtenay McFadden: Moving forward, well this year in 2021 my plans were to do more gravel and mountain bike racing, but it really hasn't been as much as I was hoping. I was hoping for a little more in the Spring, but life happens.
After 2021 I will be hanging it up. I'm ready to be done being tied to a training plan. Bikes will always be a part of my life and what I do, but I'm really ready to ride with friends, mountain bike when I want to mountain bike and literally and figuratively enjoy the ride. I want to give back more to my community and be more involved, volunteer with our trail group riding with kids and stuff like that. There is so much more out there than JUST racing my bike and I'm ready for that.
Zach Schuster: Thanks for sharing all of this. I think I speak for everyone at the Bulletin in saying your enthusiasm and love of the sport will be missed this year.