Much of the time Heather Albert and her husband Uhl spend together is on their racing bicycles.
"If one of us wasn't a cyclist, it would be very bad," said the Olympic hopeful. A resident of Pleasant Grove, Albert is one of three Utah cyclists who will compete in the PowerBar International, a 12-stage event that will begin in Boise June 19. Some 150 women from around the world representing about half a dozen Olympic teams and several trade teams will compete in what is considered the Tour de France for women.Albert will race on the trade team sponsored by PowerBar. Her hopes for this year's Olympic team were dashed last month when mechanical problems plagued her tryout efforts. She finished 12th overall in five races.
When the cyclists arrive in Orem for the fourth stage of the challenge, they will race 24 laps around the Utah Valley State College campus on June 22. The race will be part of the centennial Freedom Festival.
The PowerBar International is billed as the longest, most prestigious and most grueling women's cyclist race in the world. Other stages in the race will take the cyclists to Park City, to Logan and finally to Montpelier, Idaho.
The race is considered a "tune up" for the Olympic cyclists.
Training is important for Albert. "I ride every day with my husband," she said, comparing the exercise to a part-time job. She rides four hours every day. She met her husband, also a competitive cyclist, during a racing event.
Her life now is a cycle of riding, eating, resting and working on her doctorate in microbiology at Brigham Young University. She competes most weekends. Albert's dreams are to win a national race and to become a cardiovascular surgeon, while applying her research skills.
This is her third year as a champion cyclist and her second racing on the national circuit. After a year of racing locally, she placed 46th out of about 120 women cyclists in the PowerBar International Women's Challenge based out of Boise two years ago. Last year she placed 18th overall.
In the sport of cycling, Albert is a level one, having worked up from a level four by the points she scored through her races.
She said she is looking forward to the PowerBar International. "I think the race (will be) very challenging," she said. A staged race, the cycling team with the best time wins. Her team consists of four women.
The event offers an attractive purse, $100,000, which can go a long way toward paying the expenses of future races.
"It's the consistent performer who wins," she said. "Cycling is very much a team sport. You have to have a plan. Cycling is a very tactical sport."
Albert said she keeps up her stamina by "eating a lot." She chooses foods that are high in carbohydrates and especially favors pasta and chicken for protein. She said it's important to eat ample supplies of fruit and drink lots of water or drinks that replace lost electrolytes.
"Cycling is an exciting sport to watch," Albert said. Her bicycle is a 16-gear Lite Speed. "I enjoy the thrill of competing and pushing myself. It's totally you. You can go as far as you want. You determine your own destiny."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Women's International PowerBar Cycle Race
Utah stages
- Saturday, June 22
Location: Utah Valley State College
Course: On the Utah Valley State College Perimeter Road, 24 laps totaling 51.6 miles.
Start/Finish: Parking lot G on the east end of the campus.
Start time: 2 p.m.
- Sunday, June 23
Location: Midway to Park City
Course: Midway Main Street, North River Road, Highway 32, through Francis, Kamas, Oakley and Peoa, Brown's Canyon Road, Highway 248 east to Kamas for a second loop, then west on Highway 248 to Bonanza, Deer Valley Road, Park Avenue and Main to the finish line at the Wasatch Brew Pub in Park City, 65.7 miles.
Start: Near Midway Post Office
Start time: 11 a.m.
- Monday, June 24
Location: Logan to Montpelier, Idaho
Course: U.S. 89 from Logan to Montpelier, 68 miles.
Start: 700 North and 1500 East
Finish: Middle school in Montpelier
Start time: Noon.