View a Gallery of Cyclist Liz Hatch.
Liz Hatch
Liz HatchÂ
OUTSIDE: You start biking at 24, do some group rides at 25, and by 26 you're racing in Belgium?
HATCH: The guys I was riding with noticed that I was pretty strong and encouraged me to try racing. Then I met two Belgians who were in Florida for winter training. They invited me to come back to Europe. I don't think they were serious. But I showed up.
Was that because you loved cycling or because you didn't know any better?
Probably both. But racing in Belgium is unique. They have such a love for the sport, so there are a lot of opportunities for amateurs. In other European countries, it's difficult to start racing unless you begin really young, because they don't have a lot of amateur races. In Belgium it's pretty simple.
The actual racing's tough, though.
I was at a race one day, and this girl threw up on my leg. It was kinda gross, but it was cool, too. She looked like she was about to pass out. Then she screamed, “Look out,” puked, and kept racing. I was like “OK, that's badass.”
Now you're back in Europe, racing for Lotto and dating another pro [Lithuanian RadioÂShack rider Tomas Vaitkus]. Safe to say you're happy?
I can't complain. I wasn't an athlete before this. Frankly, I was living a really unhealthy lifestyle. I just feel lucky that I've been able to go from that to this.