6th place at 2025 UCI Esports World Championships

2025 UCI Esports World Championships live in Abu Dhabi

All I can say is wow. What an experience and I’m so grateful to have represented team USA in my fifth Esports World Championships. Last year’s live event was magnificent. Even with the bar so high this year did not disappoint. It was high energy and the scene was set with lights, cameras, and spectators! I knew this setting would make it hard for me to stay calm so I focused as much as I could on the racing. I had been working in that since the last world championships and felt I had made progress. I was confident with my power and training both on the bike and off the bike. The flight was long, the this me change was nine hours, and I was feeling fatigued but despite this I was ready to give it the best I had. This year the UCI had us do hydration test that was mandatory to pass before the weigh in. My lack of sleep (1-2 hours per night) had me a tad nervous and hyper focused on what felt like a hamstring pull. I tried my best to redirect that nervous energy and adrenaline to fuel my races. Thankfully my coach and friend Josh Lipka made the trip with me again and he reminded me that often I say I’m not feeling great and then go onto have a good race.I decided this year to embrace all the back stage pre race energy and had fun with my fellow racers while we were waiting to be announced to the big stage!Once on stage, I was able to mentally shift my focus and get ready for the intense racing about to happen.

Race 1- The Elimination Mountain Stage This race surprised me. For the first five minutes I wanted to use the draft before the gradient really kicked up. It was hard to find a rhythm because it was a bit cagey. Once the gradient came I focused on tapping my own rhythm out and just do me. I looked up to find Josh in the audience, and he gave me some nods which gave me confidence. Once race one was over I felt something shift in me and pure joy and excitement replaced then nerves. I was ready to fight till the end and have a good time doing it as well. Race two was a fun mix of sprints, rolling hills, and a short climb. It had something for everyone. I was prepared and knew that every pedal stroke would count on the bigger climb. After the climb I didn’t give up and I was very pleased to have caught and passed a few of my fellow competitors at the finish. My excitement and body temperature was sky high but I was ready for the final stage!Race three was a sprinter’s paradise and a sprinter I am not. I am, however, a rider that can recover well between repeated sprints. Josh had me training this repeatability leading into worlds. Race three was a perfect opportunity to put all of the things I practiced the last year - staying focused for the right timing, resetting after each lap no matter how the last one went, being ready for anything in between, remaining calm and when it was time SMASHING.

This was such a fun stage and when it was over I was proud of how I did. When the race was over and I was focused on celebrating my teammates’ wins. When I left the stage i didn’t know what place I got. When I met up with Josh he said you finally beat your ninth place curse (I’ve gotten ninth three times at worlds previously) and let me know I placed sixth! I was beyond thrilled. Making my Dad, family, friends and my coach proud of me and overcoming a lot of obstacles was the biggest win.

The coolest part of this experience was everything! All year we race hard weekly and it’s usually as avatars behind a screen. When we are able to all come together more of the human aspect comes to life We all train, we all race, we all are obsessed with being the best version of ourselves out there racing our hearts out. I feel so lucky to be a part of this fledgling new sport and I’m so excited for cycling esports to continue to get bigger and better! - Kristen Kulchinsky

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