Training basket: Leah Kirchmann

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/10/2014 (4350 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Leah Kirchmann, 24,

Professional cyclist

 

Kirchmann had a major part in cycling history this summer when she competed in the inaugural La Course by Le Tour de France. Kirchmann, who grew up in Winnipeg and graduated from Vincent Massey Collegiate, finished third on the fabled Champs-âlysées course in Paris, just a fraction behind winner Marianne Vos, a two-time Olympic gold medallist.

For Kirchmann, the podium finish capped a break-out season. She is the 2014 Canadian champion in three events — criterium, road race and time trial.

Kirchmann first got involved in sports at age five when her parents introduced her to cross-country skiing. At age 13, she discovered mountain bike racing through the Kids of Mud program. Road biking followed, and by 2008 she competed in both the junior road and mountain bike world championships. When it came time to decide on a specialty — she chose road biking. She currently races for Optum Pro Cycling by Kelly Benefit Strategies and the Canadian national team.

The next big goal on the horizon is to compete for Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Kirchmann is also an ambassador for Fast and Female, a program started by Olympic gold medallist cross-country skier Chandra Crawford and designed to empower young women age 9 to 19 through sport. Kirchmann will be in Winnipeg for a Fast and Female Champ Chat event on Friday, Oct. 24. It runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Forks, giving girls a chance to meet and be inspired by top Canadian and world-calibre athletes.

The organization is close to her heart: “I support Fast and Female because I think strong role models are incredibly important in helping girls realize that they can achieve their dreams if they work hard and believe in themselves.”

For more on the Fast and Female event, go to: www.fastandfemale.com. To register, go to: http://winnipegcx2014.ca/events/fast-and-female-champ-chat/

 

1. Favourite workout?

One of my favourite workouts is sign sprints. Choose a colour, yellow is a good one, and sprint yourself or a friend to every yellow sign you see while out on a bike ride. Sprints and longer intervals help boost fitness faster compared to holding a steady pace during endurance workouts.

 

2. Favourite workout song?

Metric is one of my favourite bands to listen to while I’m at the gym or out riding.

 

3. Fitness tip?

Find a workout partner! It is so much easier to stay motivated when you have someone to meet up with. Choose an event to train for, or set some fitness goals to work towards together.

 

4. What’s in your fridge?

Leftover homemade pizza and chilli, greek yogourt, hummus, eggs, kombucha, tons of veggies from the farmers market — kale, spinach, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cucumber, peppers, carrots, and yellow beans.

 

5. Guilty pleasure:

I really love baking, banana bread is my favourite treat!