Living a Sporting life has little or nothing to do with your place in the social strata, your pedigree, or how much coinage you have in your pocket. It has everything to do with a mindset and drive for living a life of adventure, discovery, mental and physical challenges, and the heart of a lion to back it up. It also has something to do with recognizing the opportunities life presents and seizing that moment…Liz Hatch is one of the few that recognized the moment, the tipping point in her life where she decided to get off the couch and begin living her dream.
She was kind enough to share her story with me...
TSL: I sense a punk sensibility; did you go through a bit of a "punk" phase?
Liz Hatch: Ah, well... I never considered myself "punk", but I suppose to the outside observer perhaps, yes. I don't like to label, I just do what I feel...
TSL: Very punk of you...no labels.
Liz Hatch: HA HA
TSL: What is your first cycling memory?
Liz Hatch: My dad's old Gitane and his cycling cap. I was fascinated with both, even though my father had quit riding long before I came along. I used to ride his bike down our street. I had to stand up all the time since it was way too big. I crashed it head first into a garage door... and then was in love with bikes ever since.
TSL: Where'd you grow up?
Liz Hatch: Right outside Austin. Texas is still "home" to me.
TSL: What was your first serious bike?
Liz Hatch: Well, here's the history...I have been a fan of cycling for many years, but never touched a real road bike till my 24th birthday. I finally decided that it was time to get off the couch and get on a bike. I bought a Bianchi, San Lorenzo as a 24th birthday present to myself and never looked back. I rode for a year or so with groups of guys in South Florida, met two Belgian kids who convinced me that I was fast enough to race in Belgium and headed there last year on my own.
TSL: Were you athletic before that?
Liz Hatch: I ran in junior high but nothing after really.
TSL: Good genes?
Liz Hatch: …and deep stupidity.
TSL: Which most times gets you farther than anything else.
Liz Hatch: True.
TSL: So you just showed up in Belgium with a bike and a helmet and started racing? Did you have team support?
Liz Hatch: No team, just me.
TSL: Also very punk.
Liz Hatch: It was hard, frustrating at times, but I learned so much that I cannot put a price on. Plus, I fell in love with Belgium. I love the racing there, I'm good at it. This year in the US was, results-wise, more successful, but I know that I'm built more for races there.
TSL: How were you received? Cycling's a bit of an exclusive club at times. I can imagine even more-so in Belgian women's cycling.
Liz Hatch: People were pretty curious at first but once they saw that I was aggressive, and knew how to handle myself in a race, I was welcomed. I find it more difficult here actually.
TSL: Some of cycling is fitness, some strategy, and some is just plain ol' pain threshold and constitution...what is the inner dialogue when the lungs and muscles are burning?
Liz Hatch: I thrive off of the pain. When it hurts, I keep telling myself that it's just another form of pleasure. Once you tell yourself that it hurts too much to continue you may as well get off your bike and get a real job. Plus, that feeling of crossing the line first is the icing on the cake for me. I like the journey just as much. It's the races that really hurt, that really put you in your grave; that you remember and cherish.
TSL: What's your favorite bike that you've ridden or raced?
Liz Hatch: I've had two favorite bikes, a Merckx MXM, and my current bike, my Ahrens prototype road bike. It's pretty hard to beat a custom frame.
TSL: Is BH building a custom frame for you?
Liz Hatch: We will be riding the "Connect" model.
Ol' Sport: Who are your cycling hero's or mentors?
Liz Hatch: I've always loved guys like Ludo Dierckxsens and (Johan) Museeuw... those balls to the wall riders. I was never a big grand-tour fan. The classics are where my heart is, I like the grit of one day racing.
(Her two loves...Ludo and her bike.)
TSL: What is your goal as a racer?
Liz Hatch: My ultimate goal is to win De Ronde. The Tour of Flanders is my favorite race. There is nothing that excites me more. I'm lucky they have a women's race there!
TSL: Any plans for the Olympics?
Liz Hatch: I'll try to qualify for the 2012, but in all honesty I'd trade any of that to stand on the top podium in Flanders.
TSL: How would you like to contribute to the sport of women's cycling...where would you like to see it go?
Liz Hatch: I love this sport more than anything and it just doesn't get the attention it deserves on the women's end. I think, in a lot of ways, we work harder than the men. We don't make the money or have the support that many of them have, yet we race just as hard. Eventually I'd like to see better support. Men's pro-tour teams are required to have u23 teams for young talent; I feel that they should also have to develop the women's side of the sport. I've been lucky that I've met people who went out of their way to help me in a short time, which I've also been criticized for, but in general most girls aren't in my position.
TSL: Criticized how, and for what?
Liz Hatch: Most of it is people's preconceived notion of who I am, because I don't perhaps look like I should be able to ride a bike fast...I've worked damn hard to get to this point. I didn't take the normal route here. I networked, asked for things that maybe I didn't have the results to back up at the time, but I knew I was strong and I knew I would give a good return on someone's investment. I've proved that this year. You've got to have balls in this sport...
TSL: The proof is on the podium!
Liz Hatch: I worked my ass off to make this happen and I'll be damned if I let anyone tell me that I got here because I wasn't ugly. It bothers me that men can get away with being flamboyant and fun as long as they win but women should be well behaved and quiet. I'm not quiet, and I won't be quiet. I will win though, and have a shit-load of fun while I'm at it. Vanderkitten has been a perfect complement to me, they let me be myself.
TSL: If Maria Sharipova had a face like a shoe, she wouldn't be pulling down the scratch she is, and she can actually play tennis!
Liz Hatch: True. I'm no Sharipova, but...point taken.
TSL: What are your other interests?
Liz Hatch: Hmmmm, I've been watching a bit of rugby... still trying to learn all of the rules but that is an awesome sport! I love motorcycle racing. My friend Jon turned me onto Moto-GP last year, but really cycling has been a long-time love affair, it's hard for me to separate from "him".
TSL: Who are you currently listening to?
Liz Hatch: Armin Van Buuren, Delbert McClinton, Goldfrapp, Mika, John Hiatt…I have a pretty wide range. Last night I was listening to Tower of Power with my Dad. I love Prince, Tiesto, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Sam Cooke, Al Green, Steely Dan. I'm all over the place.
TSL: What are you currently reading?
Liz Hatch: "Veronica" by Mary Gaitskill. It's excellent.
TSL: Where is your favorite training ride?
Liz Hatch: I love the Paradise Loop in Marin, not too hard but beautiful. Also I had a loop in Belgium that I did at least once a week that I miss to death.
TSL: What's your idea of the perfect lunch?
Liz Hatch: Italian from Risibisi in Petaluma. The owner, Fabio, is an avid cyclist and he does a monthly ride followed by a home-style Italian meal. It's heaven, something new and amazing every time.
Ms. Hatch lives and trains in Martinez, CA for most of the year, and will be competing on the NRC circuit as well as the Southeast Crit Series in 2008. She’s looking forward to dominating on her “home” turf at the Austin Downtown Criterium in June.
Her Sponsors-
2 comments:
Woohoooo!! Go Liz!! I am a fan/friend from Florida. I predict Ms. Liz is going to be HUGE...
Tara
A really good interview with Liz. Way to go. Wish we heard way more from womens cycling the world over. T-Mobile has/had a great womens team but no one ever saw them race, just saw the results once in awhile. What's up with that?
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