Spark the Fire with Michaela Thompson (Episode 210)

Our guest this week is Colorado-based cyclist Michaela Thompson, who joined us a couple of days before the kickoff of the Life Time Grand Prix at Sea Otter Gravel. Originally from Boulder, Michaela now lives in Durango CO. She talks about her upbringing in a family of athletes, and how she made her way from downhill ski racing to joining the cycling team at Boulder High School in her junior year. Michaela joined the Boulder Junior Cycling Club in 2019 where she dabbled in all disciplines of cycling, and qualified as a junior for Cyclocross Worlds in January of 2020. She tells us how that experience sparked a fire in her to compete at a high level in cycling, leading her to join a professional development team in Durango. Over the next couple of years she gained experience in the endurance cycling world, and eventually made her own race program as a privateer in 2024 where she finished 10th overall in the Life Time Grand Prix. Michaela also shares some of her goals and plans for the 2025 race season, which include a second year in the Grand Prix, as well as racing Brek Epic which starts the day after Leadville! Follow Michaela on Instagram @michaelamthompsonRegister for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/Follow us on Instagram:@feistycycling@feisty_mediaGirls Gone Gravel Website:https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/Support our Partners:SILCA: Use the code FeistyUnbound2026 for 15% off at https://silca.cc/en-ca Wahoo: Learn about the ELEMNT ROAM 3 at https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/6kn0EbMomentous: Use code GIRLSGONEGRAVEL for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.comTifosi: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at tifosioptics.comRegister for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/