When 55-59 TT World Champion Marie DeRosa started riding, Tom Boonen was. . . well, he had probably already graduated from high school — it was six years ago. Two bazillion Central Park laps later, Marie is riding around with rainbow stripes. Tom Boonen has done well too, you can read about him on some other website. You can visit Marie’s Sanchez/Metro team site here.

NYVC: Tell us how you moved up, qualified and won?

Marie DeRosa:. Entry for UCI Masters Worlds requires a UCI racing license and you must be 30+. UCI Elite Worlds is another story – then you are talking national level teams with qualifiers. What you should realize though, is that many retired pros enter Masters Worlds – and this makes for some very stiff, international competition.

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As far as how I moved up in the race world…..

I began dabbling with racing in 2000 when I joined CRCA. I did a stray race here or there. It wasn’t until 2003 that things began to change. I had just gotten a new bike, a Seven Alta, and was very excited. I scheduled 10 races that season and experienced my 1st win as a Cat4 with the High Point Hill Climb. That whet my appetite.

2004 was much more focused: more hours in the saddle, more races, more wins and high placements. The results were beginning to show.

For 2005, I was upping the stakes. Deirdre Murphy was now my personal coach. I mapped out my racing goals and she mapped out my training regimen. Masters Nationals in Utah was my major target. Then, right before I was to leave for Natz, I fractured my collarbone in a bike accident. But, I was not to be deterred. I went regardless, and got 3rd in the RR, 4th in the Crit and a DNF in the TT (I took a wrong turn… ggrrrrr). I was not happy with these results and needed something to counteract my feelings of disappointment.

Five weeks later, I was off to Austria. Along with some 2000+ other cyclists, I was going to compete in the UCI Road Masters World Championships.

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The 20K Time Trial was on August 24. The course was very deceptive, ascents looking like descents and vice versa; you could only discern the difference by the flow of the nearby, bounding brook, AND your speedometer. The head and crosswinds in this mountainous region are no joke either.

My start was10:58am. I was positioned on the ramp in my 54/17. I knew all was going well as I continued to pass my competitors. I crossed the finish line with my last vestiges of strength to the cheers of the crowd. After cooling down, I returned to my set up area to find a bottle of champagne waiting… I had just won the Masters World TT Championship!

The following day was the 40K Road Race, which had a lot of long, drawn out climbing, combined with some wicked fast descents. Deirdre Murphy, my coach, had given me specific instructions: be in the break on the first climb and think PODIUM finish. I listened. 3rd Place was mine.

The awards ceremonies held in the evenings were incredible. Think combination of Olympics and Oscars: large, red-carpeted stage; podium places; flood lights; burning torch; huge movie screen to project images of winners; flags of all nations surrounding the town square; cheering crowds. When my name was announced as the Time Trial Champion, I took my place of honor on stage, the American flag was hoisted and the National Anthem played. I was awarded the Rainbow Jersey, the Gold Medal and given a trophy almost too big to hold.

And none of this would have happened if I had gotten #1 at Masters Natz…. (at least not this year)

NYVC: When did you take up cycling? Did you do any other sports before?

Marie DeRosa:. I started cycling at the age of 49…. all because a friend left her bike in my apartment. Months later, in April of 1999, I got my 1st road bike. Prior to that, I have no sports history; the most I ever did was occasional hiking or kayaking; had tried running in my 20’s and hated it.

NYVC: What are your goals for next season?

Marie DeRosa:. Major goals:

1) defend UCI Masters World TT Champion title; go for #1 in RR – not satisfied with 3rd

2) back to Masters Natz, wherever they are. And this time, without any injuries or wrong turns… puleeeze.

NYVC: Any training wisdom you’d like to let us in on?

Marie DeRosa:.I find consistency, focus and determination to be most important. If you want to see results, you have to put in the time. Nothing happens overnight.

Who are your Sports heros or mentors?

Marie DeRosa:. As for my mentors, here they are: Ferdie Scharf, Dave Jordan, Bob Clifford, Lyon Marcus, Avalo “Muggy” York and Deirdre Murphy. They are all very different in their life/cycling approaches, but they have one thing in common – they all believe in me. I cannot begin to tell you how important that is …

Ferdie first saw me riding in Central Park in1999. It wasn’t long before he was going on about “you’re going to be a Masters National Champ” (I’m still trying for that). He would spend hours talking (and still does) about gearing, training,TT’s, what races to go to…

Dave and I did a 2 person TT in Central Park last summer – 2004. This was the best learn through racing experience I have had. Although our clocked time was nothing to write home about, Dave imparted invaluable knowledge to me during that ride. Afterwards, he said “Marie, you are going to take podium places at Masters Natz. And Worlds. I see it in you… the power, drive and determination. It is only a matter of time.” We continue to be in touch.

Bob is an incredible time trialist. He is the man for all my time trial related questions, whether they be about racing or components. I trust his judgment implicitly.

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Lyon spotted me in Central Park in June of ’04. He recognized my potential, we talked, and he became my personal coach. It was his hard training regimen that began to unshackle the beast in me. We continue to be in touch.

York is a legend in Central Park. He is the Pied Piper . Everyone who can, comes out when York rides. He is so smooth, you don’t even realize how fast you are going. I feel very fortunate to have been taken under York’s wing; he continues to guide my development.

Deirdre brings it all together. For the past 2 years, I frequented her CRCA coaching sessions, where she was always extremely attentive to everyone. I decided in ’05 to have her as my personal coach, and she has led me to victory. Her combination of racing experience + expert coaching = stellar results for me.

My mentors are my heros.

NYVC: How could the sport encourage more women, and specifically masters?

Marie DeRosa:. I think the answer is to have more races for women that allow category and age group delineations, just as the men have. Many womens’ road races are lumped together – Cat 1 to 4, or at best, Cat 1 to 3 – separate 4. The only time I see age groups are at some TT’s or higher level events, such as Masters Natz or Worlds. It’s a difficult situation to remedy because the ratio of racing women to men is about 1 to 5 (this is my calculation using CRCA figures). And most promoters are not going to have a separate W’s field for less than 25.

So, how about this idea. Everyone wants to feel they have a chance to make a good showing at a race. Have at least 2 W’s fields. Give Cat3 a choice of being in Cat1,2,3 or Cat3/4, and also include age groups for either field. This would encourage more women to enter more races because they can make a choice that works for them.

NYVC: Are you going to sew the rainbow colored stripes into all your non-cycling clothes?, you can tell us!

Marie DeRosa:. Those rainbow stripes are addictive… I don’t want to leave home without them! Truly, though, I never expected to feel the kind of emotion that those stripes have evoked. I feel incredibly proud, honored and teary-eyed to have been a representative of my country and team for this great sport. I look forward to doing more of the same, for a long time to come.