Name: Theia Friestedt
Hometown: Glenview, Illinois, USA
How did you get into cycling? I have always loved riding my bike, but it was when my husband surprised me with a road bike in 2015 that I really got into cycling – including training and racing – and haven’t stopped since! I started riding in Zwift in that same year. Watopia was the only map available at the time; it had only one 9.1km route, known today as the “Hilly Route”. I used to bump into Eric Min quite often as the route was so short and it had very few riders. As my love for cycling grew, I eventually “retired” from my career in Consulting and started my own coaching business, www.360velo.com
How many years have you been racing on Zwift? About 7 years! I started racing in Zwift when pens did not even exist, back in 2016-2017. I was a member of Team ODZ at the time, and we organized the ODivaZ race, one of the very first women-only races in Zwift. I also participated in the CVR World Cup, a live Zwift event in the Paris Velodrome in September 2017, where I got to meet many of my Zwift friends in person. From there, I’ve participated in various women’s race series, Zwift Pro/AM, and USA Cycling sanctioned events, including Esports Nationals.
Are you part of a Virtual team? Yes, I am a member of the Revolution Velo Racing team (REVO) and absolutely love it. It is a women’s team and everyone is very supportive of one another. It’s not only about racing, it’s also about having fun. I race and lead social rides for REVO.
What do you love most about racing? The friendships and support from teammates, and the challenge of pushing myself beyond my perceived physical and mental limitations.
What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? Points and scratch races are my favorite because they provide more opportunities for tactics. As a punchy rider, I also prefer the races with lots of variations in speed and power. The Crit races with steering are loads of fun also.
What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Tour de Boudicca
What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? Outside was the 2021 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships. It was freezing, there was ice on the course and the course itself was way above my skill level. I had a great start but after falling a few times, my shifting was broken and I made the mistake of trying to finish the race anyway… which resulted in me breaking my leg. It was memorable because there were so many lessons learned from before, during, and after the race. Inside was the 2024 USA Cycling Esports National Championships. I never went so deep during a race, and it showed me how our minds play such a pivotal role in our performance. My heart rate was between 185-195 bpm for the entire second half of the race (25 minutes). I overcame nausea and dizziness and got the win.
What is your favourite food to eat post race? Rice pudding mixed with whey protein powder and maple syrup. I know it’s unusual, but it tastes amazing to me and packs the carbs and protein I need for recovery.
What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Have a learner’s mindset: go in with the goal of learning about yourself as a racer (physically and mentally) and the racing itself. Don’t focus on results or others. Rather, focus on discovering the elements that will make you a better racer as you continue to participate in races. Racing in Zwift is as low risk as it gets in competitive cycling, and as such, it is the perfect environment to try new things, push yourself, and have fun. So many racers are worried about what others will think of them, when in reality everyone is just thinking about themselves.
Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? The fall/winter Zwift Racing League and the USA Cycling Esports Nationals again in January!
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