Born in Richmond, Ben King turned pro in 2008, joining Garmin-Sharp last season. In the 2014, King participated in the Tour de France – his first Grand Tour. One of King’s main goals for this year is of course a return to the Tour de France but also a return to Richmond to participate in the UCI Road World Championships. It will be the first time the Championships have been held in the United States in 29 years. The always gracious Ben King took some time during his European race schedule to share his thoughts on cycling and the championships with Endurance Magazine.
<PHOTO CREDIT>Photos Courtesy Team Cannondale-Garmin
EM: I understand that your father got you into cycling recreationally. Tell us where you were living at the time and what you enjoyed about cycling at that time.
BK: I lived in Charlottesville when my dad started taking me on road rides. I think he has always had more confidence in my abilities than I do. I was 13 and on the swim team, but cycling hooked me right away. I felt a feeling of accomplishment for climbing the mountains around home and hanging with much older riders. There is a lot of freedom on the bike to explore and push your boundaries. At times it’s just about how much you can hurt but as I improved I appreciated the tactical element. I liked trying to outwit other riders on local group rides and races.
EM: Would you please describe the moment when you realized you had a shot at a pro career in cycling?
BK: For me it was never about turning pro. It was all about the experience and the passion. I liked traveling. I got to race in Europe with HotTubes Development team and the USA national team when I was 17 and 18. I learned a lot and got to interact with all sorts of people. Then I won the National Junior Time Trial and Road Race. I also competed in the Junior World Championships in Belgium (2006) and Mexico (2007). When I began college at Virginia Tech I wasn’t sure what would happen with my cycling career but I was offered a salaried position on a domestic team. I saw it sort of like a scholarship. The following year I joined the Axeon Cycling Team (then called Trek-LIVESTRONG) which was the premier development team for riders under 23. It gave me the opportunity to see if I had what it would take to make it to a top level team. That’s when I committed 100%. I had a two year contract and decided to take a break from school to see if I could make it.
EM: What would you say was the biggest obstacle in becoming a pro for you?
BK: The biggest obstacle was probably whether or not to stay in school. It took a lot of guts to step off the conventional path and the collegiate cycling scene was a blast, but I needed to be racing in Europe if I wanted to get noticed. That year my season began in February in Qatar and then Oman. Since then I’ve tried to be intentional about reading and improving myself in areas of life other than cycling. I never would have left school without the support of my parents and mentors.
EM: In what ways has being a pro met your initial expectations? In what ways has it not met your initial expectations?
BK: It’s hard. I expected that and yet sometimes the speed and power of world tour racing is still mind blowing.
EM: Describe a typical training week for you during the season. Include details about where you live during the season and your favorite places to train.
BK: During the season between races I’m in the saddle between 15 and 35 hours per week. It all depends on where my fitness is, what needs work, and what goals are approaching. I split my season between Tuscany, Italy and Charlotteville, VA. They both happen to be my favorite places to train partly because they are both home. That sense of home is so important when we spend so much time away at camps and races. Last year I ended the season with 85 race days. That’s a lot of time on the road. It’s nice to have a place you can unpack the suitcase and meet up with friends.
EM: What do you like most about racing?
BK: I like the team dynamic. Most people don’t realize that cycling is as much a team sport as football or soccer. I’m considered more of a lineman who blocks for his leader. But it can be very unpredictable. We don’t play in a stadium so the tactics need to be flexible. I still enjoy traveling and getting to experience different cultures. Cycling is probably the most international sport there is.
EM: Describe a typical training week for you during the off season. Include details about where you live during the off season and your favorite places to train.
BK: Training during the off-season? Haha! Maybe… maybe a morning jog. Maybe a chill mountain bike ride followed by some porch sitting and a cold one. Hiking. I enjoy all sorts of physical activities that I can’t get away with during the season.
EM: Do you still ride with your dad?
BK: I still ride with my dad, uncle, and little brother sometimes when I’m home.
EM: Where is your favorite place to ride in Virginia?
BK: I like crisscrossing the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s beautiful and tough. The climbs are everything you need to prepare yourself for the hardest races.
EM: What is your most memorable ride of all time?
BK: My most memorable ride is probably winning the 2010 National Championships. My dad and sister were there. I became the youngest ever US pro road champ, and got to race in the Stars and Stripes jersey my first world tour season.
EM: Describe your thoughts and feelings when you first realized you were going to ride the Tour de France.
BK: They told me I was on the long list for the tour in November. I felt a lot of pressure during my early season to earn the final selection. And then when I made the cut, I felt the pressure of actually competing in the hardest sporting event in the world. Of course, I was also ecstatic because every rider fantasizes about riding in the tour as soon as they get a bicycle.
EM: Now that you’ve finished one Tour de France, how will you improve your physical and mental preparation for another Tour?
BK: Well, now I know that it is as hard and stressful as everyone said. My training has been similar, and the races leading into it will be similar. Every bit of experience goes a long way in this sport. I will get some quality time with family and friends in Virginia soon and that does wonders for a rider’s mental condition.
EM: What does it mean to you to have the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond this September?
BK: It will be amazing to have the highest level race come to my home state. Even the fact that it is in the USA should attract a lot of people to the sport. They will get to appreciate the speed and drama first hand, and a lot of people I love will finally get to see what I do all year. I have friends that live on the course. It’s a bit surreal.
EM: Since you are familiar with Richmond, what would you say is the best way for a spectator to enjoy the UCI Road World Championships?
BK: Libby hill is going to be packed. It will be a real party atmosphere. Best case scenario is to find a place you can watch the race coverage streaming live and then run outside as the race comes by.
EM: I understand that you won the Shenandoah 100 Mountain Bike Race. So, you obviously enjoy some mountain biking. Where is your favorite place to mountain bike in Virginia?
BK: I absolutely love mountain biking. We have tons of great single track in central Virginia. I like connecting different trail networks touching as little pavement as possible.
EM: Tell us about your charitable endeavors.
I support World Bicycle Relief and a few local charities. Being involved with More Than Sport and Athletes in Action in the offseason are ways to integrate my faith and sporting life. It’s also beneficial and brings balance to have an identity and perspective on life that is broader than this ultra specialized world of performance and competition.
