Sarah Sturm - Behind the Racing

Words James Ion - Photographs Alex Roszko

For many athletes, cycling is more than just a sport—it’s a way of life. But for the few who rise to the top, it’s an all-encompassing commitment that shapes their daily routines and decisions. The complexities of life as a professional cyclist go beyond the physical challenge of racing; there’s a mental game at play as well, where strategic decisions can make or break a career. Sarah Sturm has stood at the proverbial crossroads and has made her choice. She sits down with James and reflects on the ups and downs of her journey and the changes that have shaped her plans for 2025.

New Year New Me

The cycling industry has been in flux lately, particularly for privateers. The contract season, which traditionally kicks off in October, has been filled with uncertainty, and sponsorships remain a significant part of the conversation. Despite this, Sarah remains focused. “My training has been ramping up, but weirdly, this year, I’m still tying up loose ends with sponsorships,” she admits. “It’s not a bad problem to have, but it’s been a bit crazy.”

While much of her time is spent training and travelling, Sarah finds solace in being home as much as possible. As we catch up, the weather has been especially cold, with temperatures dropping to 28°F—definitely a challenge for someone whose daily routine involves pushing their body to the limits.

It is not just the weather that is changing, Sarah has made significant alterations to her 2025 program. For the first time in her professional career, she has changed coaches. It was a difficult decision, one that felt akin to a breakup. She had worked with her previous coach since her college days, and their relationship had been built on mutual trust and respect. “There was nothing bad with my former coach—it was just time for a change,” she says. “It was really hard to tell him, especially right after my wedding. It felt like a breakup, and I cried when I had to tell him.” She had nothing but positives to say about the experience but things move on and she felt this was the time to explore other options, ‘it's not you, it's me’ if you will. "I just needed someone who was more plugged into gravel and off-road endurance specifically,” she explains. “The sport changes so quickly with gravel, and I needed help figuring out my calendar.”

The change in coaches came when Sarah was also reassessing her path in the sport. A major decision was made to move away from the Lifetime Grand Prix, opting instead for a more personalised approach to racing and focusing on new destinations and events. While the Grand Prix had initially helped simplify the decision-making process, it became a bit of a burden as time went on. “The Grand Prix was great when it first started—it simplified decision-making,” she reflects. “But last year, it felt like a bit of a drag. I like to have a bit of autonomy, and it started to feel like mandatory reading, like, ‘Why am I doing this?’”

Although she’s shifting her focus, Sarah doesn’t rule out returning to the Grand Prix scene. “The Grand Prix attracts some of the highest levels of competition, especially on the women’s side. They told me I’m welcome back anytime unless I get really slow.” she laughs. As she prepares for the upcoming season, she’s set her sights on a few key races. “I’m definitely doing Unbound and Leadville,” she confirms. “Big Sugar and the World Champs are possibilities if they don't conflict, though they haven’t officially announced the dates.”

The prospect of racing in the UCI World Championships is particularly exciting for Sarah. She’s no stranger to the event, having participated in two previous World Championships. “They’re really different experiences from typical gravel racing,” she says. “The course is supposed to be pretty heinous this year, which is right up my alley.”

“You have to be ready for EVERYTHING!”

One of the key challenges in gravel racing is the varying terrain. Sarah has come to realize that it’s less about traditional training and more about careful programming. “I sit down with my coach and plan the races, rating their importance,” she explains. For local flat races, the goal is simply to “get the engine going,” but for more challenging, hilly races, the focus shifts to climbing. In a sport that has become increasingly specialized (no plug intended), she admits to racing on five different bikes throughout the season, each one tailored for a different kind of event. “It’s about being prepared for anything,” she says.

As the cycling world continues to evolve, so too does her mindset. From changing coaches to rethinking her racing calendar, it’s clear that she is committed to forging a path that not only challenges her physically but allows her the autonomy to thrive in the ever-changing world of professional cycling.

For Sarah, cycling isn’t just about pushing through the physical grind—it’s deeply connected to her mental health and well-being. As a professional athlete, Sarah has faced the challenges of living with ADHD, and her journey has involved both personal growth and a nuanced approach to balancing performance with self-care. “During the pandemic, everyone was filling out online questionnaires and getting an ADHD diagnosis,” Sarah recalls. “But I wanted to talk to a psychiatrist and go through it properly.” While the psychiatrist suggested medication medication wouldn't be necessary given my current career and lifestyle. If I had a desk job, or a "normal" job that would be a different story. Sarah’s experience highlights the unique ways ADHD can affect athletes and the different paths they take to manage it. “It might help with things like vacuuming the house all at once, but who needs that? I can do that later,” she jokes, acknowledging the common challenges of managing ADHD without medication.

Despite the struggles, Sarah has found a way to channel her energy into sports. “Having ADHD isn’t ideal, especially since I imagine every pro has days when they don’t want to train,” she admits. But from a young age, she realised that movement made her feel better. “I think I self-medicated through sports. My parents chose not to put me on medication, so I was always in organised sports—track, swimming, soccer, martial arts, all of it,” she explains. “I'm a really hard worker because it makes me feel better. It’s a fine line between healthy motivation and addiction, but instead of a substance, it’s sport.”

This drive for movement and motivation has also impacted Sarah’s career choices. Her transition from World Cup racing to the Grand Prix series is a testament to her need for change and challenge. “When I started racing competitively, I didn’t quite fit the typical mould of a road or mountain biker,” she says. “That’s why I gravitated towards cyclocross. It was less rigid, and I had more freedom to do what I wanted.” Sarah recognises that her need for new challenges has shaped her path in cycling. “I’m not the type to thrive on structure and routine like many Type A athletes. I envy that, but I need new challenges to stay motivated,” she admits.

Cyclocross, with its unpredictable nature, suits Sarah’s desire for excitement and spontaneity. “I love that in cyclocross for me I don't need much pre-ride or preparation,” she explains. “I prefer to race until my eyeballs bleed, rather than dissect every corner of a course. I would rally a few laps and call it good. That’s probably why I didn’t win as much in UCI cyclocross.” she reflects wryly.

While she’s found success in the sport, Sarah acknowledges that her entry into cycling came later in life. “I went to college in Durango, which happened to have the top-ranked cycling team in the nation. I didn’t have the traditional way into the sport” she recalls. “I just loved the sport straight away” In fact, she believes her unconventional path has allowed her to enjoy cycling without the pressures that come with a traditional background. “It takes away some of the pressure. I’m doing this for fun, in a sense. I enjoy the process, not just the results,” she says. “For me, minimizing stress is key. I do it by being more relaxed about my training and racing” She goes on to explain “I tell the young riders that I coach that they need to find their way to reduce the stress whether that means being regimented or more relaxed.”

Sarah’s approach to training and competition is rooted in balance. “I try to balance things. I’ll go out with friends, have a normal life,” she explains. “If I go into monk mode, it just doesn’t work for me.” Her experiences with the monk like before races like Leadville showed her that being too serious can sometimes backfire. “Now, I allow myself to enjoy life while staying focused on my goals,” she says, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective.

This balance between life and sport is something Sarah has learned from other pro athletes, too. “I remember reading about racers like Georgia Gould and Katie Compton, who enjoyed ice cream and wine before races. It reminded me that we’re all just people,” she says with a smile.

Sarah's personal life is also intertwined with her athletic journey. Her husband, who races as well, shares her passion for cycling, particularly the growing gravel scene. “He did the migration gravel race and qualified for the world champs last year,” she says. “He used to race cross-country, downhill, and enduro competitively. Now, like many of our friends, he’s getting into gravel. It’s more social and suits us as we get older.”

Gravel racing has become a way for Sarah and her friends to connect and have fun, but that doesn’t mean competition has taken a backseat. “We have a competitive Tuesday night ride here, and it’s great to see friends join in. Although, it’s annoying when they’re still really strong and beat me!” she laughs, highlighting the camaraderie and competitive spirit that make cycling such an integral part of her life.

As Sarah takes a step back from the Grand Prix series, she’s busy crafting a new approach to her racing calendar. For this seasoned professional, the focus isn’t entirely on a single series but rather on some of the most iconic gravel events and strategically selected races. "I’ve been piecing together a calendar. I’ve tried adding UCI races to get some points, but it’s tough," she says. "I’m really interested in some of the big gravel events, like Mid-South and Unbound. I’m not focusing entirely on a series, but I’ll do some major races like Levi’s Gran Fondo, which has a huge prize purse." The shift in focus reflects Sarah’s evolving priorities in the world of gravel racing.

For Sarah, the allure of big gravel events goes beyond just points and rankings. “It’s either about chasing a series with gravel races or doing the big monuments of gravel racing,” she explains. Her new approach combines the excitement of chasing big names in gravel with a more selective focus on key events rather than a packed calendar of races.

Sarah must balance her love for these events with the need to recover properly from her previous races. "Last year’s Migration Gravel was one of the hardest races I’ve ever done, partly because I unknowingly had COVID. It was an incredible experience, but it took a toll on my recovery."

The idea of overloading her schedule and burning out is a real concern for Sarah, which is why she’s considering swapping some events for others, like replacing Migration Gravel with the Oregon Trail race. "It’s all about balancing the calendar," she says. As gravel racing continues to grow, Sarah is thinking strategically about how to approach each event.

Looking ahead, she sees the potential for change in how gravel races are structured, especially concerning pro and amateur fields. “It’s a tricky balance," she acknowledges. "Some races like Sea Otter have separated the pro fields from amateurs, which is important for women’s racing to maintain the integrity of our races.” As the sport continues to expand, Sarah believes that separating the starts can benefit everyone, ensuring fairness and an enjoyable experience for all participants, regardless of their level of competition.

In particular, Sarah highlights the importance of maintaining fairness for professional women racers. "For larger races with significant prize purses and competitive fields, yes, separate starts are necessary to ensure fairness," she explains. "It’s not just about having more women, but about making the race experience equal."

Teamwork makes the DREAM work

As a professional gravel racer, she’s often found herself racing alongside some of the best competitors in both the U.S. and Europe, and she’s found those experiences to be incredibly enriching.

“Traveling to Europe is challenging, but the courses there are incredible,” she said, referencing her experiences at some of the most scenic and demanding races. One standout race for Sarah was Ranxo Gravel, where, despite suffering a flat tire, she found the course and competition exhilarating. “It was a rad race, and I’m looking forward to get back there.” For Sarah, the excitement of new experiences fuels her desire to race at an international level. “I want to get more competitive internationally, and racing in Europe is very different from the U.S.”

“It’s great to see the European scene grow, and seeing European women come over for races like Unbound is cool,” she said. “My American friends are always curious about their strengths.” Racing against the best of both continents has pushed Sarah to grow in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

One of her most notable moments of 2024 came during Unbound, where Sarah found herself in the front group of 10 other riders it was one of the most exciting finishes for some time. In a surprising move, she ended up leading out another Specialized rider leaving many people wondering what was going on. “Gee (Geerike Schreurs) and I had a plan with Sophia (Gomez), but towards the end, it was just Gee and me. We were asking each other how confident we were in our sprints. In the end, Gee yelled ‘go,’ and I went for it,” she explained. Despite the clear opportunity for herself to win, Sarah took on a domestique role, acting as a lead-out rider akin to a road stage. “It was all a split-second decision when we saw the finish line and Gee yelled ‘GO!’ I just went. All day we had worked together as a team but it was never the plan for me to give up on a potential win. Don't get me wrong I am proud of how it panned out, although second for Gee was bittersweet, and it was an amazing experience to be part of a team but it all happened so instinctively which was also kind of cool.”

While many might have expected Sarah to push for the win, she found fulfilment in playing her part in the ‘team’s’ success. “Sophia had a bad day, and it became about Gee and me working together,” she said. “In cycling, the results don’t always matter as much as the experiences you share in.” she reflected. That moment of sacrifice and collaboration left a lasting impact on her. “It was really tough... but leading out Gee was a special experience.” she muses. “Gee and I were really excited to feel like teammates for that,” she says. “I really do trust that had the tables been turned, she would have done the exact same thing for me. That's what makes a good teammate.”

Sarah’s role in how the race unfolded is a reminder that, sometimes, the most valuable experiences in cycling aren’t just about crossing the finish line first. It’s about the camaraderie, trust, and shared goals that define the sport. Even though the outcome of the race wasn’t what she had hoped for, Sarah wouldn’t change what happened. “It’s a unique experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

For Sarah, cycling is about more than just performance. It’s about finding balance, staying motivated, and enjoying the journey. Whether it’s pushing through a tough workout, challenging herself in a new race series, or sharing a ride with friends, Sarah continues to embrace the sport as both a personal passion and a professional pursuit—one that allows her to thrive physically and mentally and should see her succeed on her latest journey.