We met with three-time Olympian and numerous times World master cross-country ski champion Jon Engen (48) at the US masters cycling championship. What motivates him and why does he compete in cycling?
Jon Engen is a three-time Olympian in cross country skiing and biathlon, numerous times masters World Champion and still gives even the youngest and fittest age categories a tough time on the marathon circuit where he consistently places top ten overall. We met with him and asked some questions when he came to Park City, Utah to participate in the road race at the Masters National Cycling Championship on Wednesday.
 in the afternoon a couple hours after you are done with the road race. How about that?</B></p>
<p>– I’ll see how I feel….</p>
<p><B>You are dominating your age category in cross-country skiing. How will you do in the road race?</B></p>
<p>– Early in the summer is my physical low point of the year. I drop my hours and intensity quite a bit in the spring after the last race of the year. I’m still training, but not nearly as much or as hard. I have picked it up for a few weeks now, but I don’t get serious at all before July/August where I gradually get more and more ski specific.</p>
<p>I did the close to 60-mile road race last year as well and ended up in 36th place out of 70-80 riders in my age group. I missed the break that happened toward the top of a 10-minute long climb after about 10-kilometers and was out of the draft. We eventually rolled in a few minutes after the front pack. I was also recovering from foot surgery and had very few miles on my bike, so I might do a little better this year.</p>
<p>Editors note:<br />
Jon placed 26th in this year’s race. He was in the front line of the second sprint group coming in, about a minute and a half behind the winner. Jon felt fine, explained the lungs and legs were missing the upper end he has much better control in the winter months after a season of ski training. </p>
<p> “I just don’t have the same energy level this time of year, so I am happy about coming in as close as I did†was his post-race quote. Jon will ease into his preparation for the 2006 ski-season next month and hopes to be in shape for the Masters World Cup in Brusson, Italy and other popular events. </p>
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FasterSkier
