Q. Coryn, congratulations on a successful Junior World's both on the road & track! Winning bronze in the road race &      omnium, are you happy with how you finished off your junior career?

 
A. Thank you very much! I am absolutely happy with how I finished off my junior career. At the moment of the race, of course I would have really wanted the win rather than the bronze, but looking at the big picture I have progressed so much from last year and I don't plan to slow down any time soon. But I am most happy about having such a great team and group of supporters around me. My bronze medal on the road race wouldn't have been possible without my teammates of course; Kendall Ryan, Kaitie Antonneau, and Jessica Prinner. And if it wasn't for the wise words from my coach, Jim Miller, and USA Cycling mechanic, Rob Love after my crashes during the points race, I wouldn't have even raced the omnium. Now that I'm done racing juniors and junior gears, bring on the big girl racing!!!

 
Q. And before that was the Tour Feminin En Limousin, how did the race go for you?

A. The tour went really well for me. The whole point of it was to gain fitness in preparation for Jr World Championships. Making selections and really just racing hard was the object of the week. I also had the Young Riders Jersey after the first stage and I placed 3rd in the last stage. Apart from myself, my team rode really well together. We really bonded and came together to work as a team.

Q. You recently cleaned up in the US Junior National Championships, winning the Time Trial, Criterium & Road Race, phenomenal effort! Can you tell us how you managed to pick up all three wins?

A. The time trial was first, and I've raced on that same course multiple times and for juniors it is all about focusing the effort on the the way out on the uphill, then on the way back down just staying aero and spinning as fast as humanly possible. I did just that and won  the time trial by 18 seconds over Jessica Prinner. Winning the time trial qualified me to race the time trial at Jr World Championships. The criterium is not a World Championship qualifying race, so my goal was to work as least as possible. But I ended up following an attack from Kendall Ryan and we stayed away from the second lap thru the last lap, the kind of effort I definitely did not want to do! When it came to the last lap, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12 team director, Kristin Armstrong, told me not to pull thru and just sprint at the end. I have won on this same course last year as it was my first pro NRC domestic victory. I did as I was told and won the criterium! The next day was the road race which the winner was automatically selected to race the road race at junior worlds. The course is one of my favorite courses I've raced and I knew how to win. As we went over every climb I intended to put some pain in my competitor's legs by upping the tempo or attacking. When it came down to the last climb over the last lap I attacked hard and the only person to keep up with me was Kaitie Antonneau. We worked together for another 3km until I attacked and left her, winning my 28th National Title and automatically qualifying myself to represent USA at the Junior Road World Championships.

Q. You have now amassed an amazing 32 National Titles which is almost unbelievable! How old were you when you won your first, and what disciplines have you won Championships in?

A. It is definitely a great accomplishment and is the product of consistent hard work over the years. I was 11 years old, racing age 12, when I won my first National Championship in the Time Trial in Park City, Utah. Since then I have won National Titles in the time trial, road race, criterium, track, and cyclocross.

Q. How much of an influence does Kristin Armstrong have in your racing and in achieving results like we just talked about?

A. Kristin is a perfect example of accomplishing a major goal. Winning an Olympic gold medal is the highest you can go with female cycling and she has been there. She has the experience of all the fine details of preparation that go into winning an Olympic gold medal. And for Kristin to share her experience with us is truly a gift and it shows that it has influenced my racing and achieving results.

Q. How do you maintain your drive to keep winning when you have already had so much success? Is it ever tempting to skip training to go out partying instead?

A. I've always told myself that I can ALWAYS be better, no matter what. And there is ALWAYS someone somewhere that wants to be better than me. So for me to skip training and go partying is almost like taking a step away from success, but that doesnt mean I cant have some fun every once in a while(which doesnt have to be a party).

Q. London 2012 is just around the corner, is this a big target for you?

A. Absolutely. Every morning I wake up to train and prepare myself to hopefully go to the London 2012 Olympics.

Q. You’re currently riding for Peanut Butter & Co – Twenty 12, can you tell us a bit more about the team and the type of races you compete in?

A. Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY12 is all about producing Olympians for the 2012 Olympics. In the USA we race the NRC series of races and across the pond we race with the USA National Team.

Q. Is one of your future goals to ride with one of the big European teams like Lotto Ladies or Columbia-HTC?

A. For sure. I hope to continue to develope and one day race for one of the major European teams and dominate Europe.

Q. The World Championships are in Geelong later this year, are you eligible to ride in the Under 23 category, or might we even see you in the elite race?

A. I will not be eligible to race the World Championships in Geelong this year because I am still a junior.

And finally...

Q. If you could be any super hero in the world, who would you be and why?

A. If I could be any super hero in the world it would have to be Captain America. I chose him because I am American of course and the USA National Team kit looks similar to his costume. :P

Follow Coryn as she makes the transition from Juniors via her website http://www.corynrivera.com/