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When the universe knocks you down.
When the universe knocks you down.

While I've learned plenty from Rose Grant about overcoming setbacks with grace and sense of purpose, I'm now doing my best to take a page from Erin Huck's latest comeback book on just accepting whatever the universe has in store. (It worked well for her since she just defended her Short Track national championship title)! 

Have you all heard of Little Bellas? Well I am now a Little Bellas Ambassador and am really excited to be a part of an amazing program that helps young women realize their potential through cycling. Little Bellas is all about empowerment, goal-setting, promoting healthy life styles, and recognizing the positive effects of strong female bonds. I'm humbled to join a pretty all-star team of ambassadors. What we want is simple: more girls on bikes. There's a link in my bio for more info. Ride on. 🚴‍♀️♥️ #littlebellasmtb #moregirlsonbikes #littlebellasambassador
I didn't expect to cheer on my teammates from the sidelines today, but a crash in training this week left me with a concussion. As an athlete, I want to push through to make the start line and fight with whatever I have on course today. But my brain needs more rest, and we know that through testing. I'm off my cognitive baseline tests and my balance and neuro-vestibular function are not normal. Subjectively, I haven't felt normal either but I held onto some optimism for today. But I decided I'd need the doctors recommendation, and that was a "no" on racing today. . . I want to thank everyone at @usacycling for the support and the amazing staff who helped us make an objective (and tough) decision. I also want to thank my teammates @eehuck and @leaeatsalot for their understanding, as points are particularly important for #TeamUSA right now. . . It's a hard thing to be here in Lenzerheide, in the best shape of my life, with custom 🇺🇲 gear from @stansnotubes and @pivot_cyclesusa, and to simply watch the biggest race of the year. But I'd like to have another shot in the future where I can give 110%, and I need to take care of my brain to do that (and do other things too!). . . Looking forward to cheering on all of my teammates racing today. Let's go Lea, Erin, @kateplusfate, @lukevrouwenvelder and @keegels99 !
Raced a Swiss Cup yesterday in downtown Basel with #TeamUSA. The course started on a horse racing track, weaved it's way through some grass, then sent us up a crazy steep climb and little flow trail descent. It was fast, tactical, and full-throttle. I finished in 3rd behind a charging @eehuck and @mtbgunnrita. This was my first urban mountain bike race and it was cool to see all the families and kids attending, and the festival-like atmosphere. Huge thanks to @usacycling @thebajo78, @notubesmaster, @julbike for the support! 📷: @notubesmaster
From crowded start boxes, to tech zone chaos, to schlepping bottles and wheels, to the finish line duties...race support staff don't have it easy. Huge thanks to @thebajo78 and @notubesmaster for the support in La Bresse. (Nobody would have known it was Kenny's first World Cup!) 📷: @polphe
With the crazy course conditions and wild French fans, we definitely had quite the race yesterday! I finished in 12th place...for the 4th time this season 😂. But you know what? I'm really proud of my consistency on the World Cup this year. Thank you all for the support, and a special thank you to @thebajo78 @notubesmaster and @usacycling for this weekend.
This sums up today's course training pretty well. It was a sloppy mess out there: some parts fun, and some parts just cold, wet, and mucky. Race day is tomorrow. Save the link ☝️in my bio to the @redbullbike TV coverage to see what's in store for us. 📷: @mdelormephoto #rideitout #stanspivot #ucimtbwc
Well today's race wrapped up the first year of short track racing on the World Cup. I feel so grateful to have had this opportunity in my career. And it's gonna be fun to line up on that front row with @eehuck on Sunday! 🙌🇺🇲
I'm not having any fun training on the La Bresse course with @notubesmaster, none at all. 😉 I'm excited to kick-off the weekend with short track tonight. Link ☝️in bio. #labresse #ucimtbwc 📷: @mdelormephoto
Well I'm at home and not in Ste Anne for the World Cup this weekend. I hurt my back shortly after MTB Nationals and have been hard at work recovering from the injury. But I'm excited to cheer on my teammates @sofithevilla and @keegels99! I just published a blog post on my website with some more info. The link is in my profile ☝️. This doesn't feel so much like a setback, but an opportunity. I needed a little extra motivation and time at home before the races to come. #stanspivot 📷: @polphe
I'm headed back home, out west, to big mountains and bigger views. While I always love my time spent in Europe and on the road, I'm excited to keep flying westward today. Now I just hope for some smooth(er) travel. I arrived at IAD almost 24 hours ago, and have had two cancelled flights, many more delays, four itineraries and two different final destinations. But I'm good. #justrollwithit #homewardbound 📷: @the4color
Well I gave it all in short track, but fell off the lead group with three laps to go and settled into a lonely 4th place. Up ahead, @eehuck rode a brilliant race to defend her jersey. I had a silly mechanical on the final lap and finished in 5th. The race was a good one, so I was a little bummed to miss it in the final laps 😉. . . . I very much appreciate the support I've had this year from all of you, the team behind the #stanspivot team, and our sponsors. It's a privilege to reach the start line for each and every race and I do my best to not lose sight of that. So I did my best, and that's gonna have to be good enough (a lesson I'm learning from @rosekgrant ♥️). . #notdoneyet #Mtbnats #stanspivot
I had a feeling yesterday's race would be a tough one, and it was. I finished in 6th and had a lonely last couple of laps out there. My bike and body worked, but I just didn't have much fight or will to suffer out there. Meanwhile, the women fighting for the podium had some inspiring rides: @eehuck back from injury, @ellenlikesbikes showing us all she can race her mountain bike, @kaysodip having a breakthrough ride, and @leaeatsalot always fighting hard. Then of course, congrats to @kateplusfate on another year in the stars and stripes. #strongwomen #noexcuses #Mtbnats