Betsy Welch

1 month ago | coloradosun.com | Betsy Welch |Jason Blevins

Annika Malacinski is used to the brink. Whether perched at the lip of a 100-meter ski jump or grinding through the final stretch of a 10-kilometer cross-country race, the 24-year-old Nordic combined ski racer from Steamboat Springs knows what it feels like to teeter on the edge — physically and mentally. That tension, she says, is part of Nordic combined’s unique appeal: The sport marries the explosive courage of ski jumping with the relentless endurance of cross-country skiing.

1 month ago | coloradosun.com | Betsy Welch

It’s been nearly six years since the last pro road cycling stage race wound its way through Colorado’s high peaks and mountain towns. Since then, fans have been left wondering if big-time road racing will ever return to the state that helped shape it. Now, a British company thinks it can bring the pro peloton back. Last month, UK-based Infinity Events Group, announced its plans to launch a world-class men’s stage race in Colorado beginning in September 2026.

Feb 5, 2025 | velo.outsideonline.com | Betsy Welch

If you thought gravel sponsorships were just a matter of slapping on a fresh kit and swapping bikes, think again. Unlike their road and mountain biking counterparts, gravel racers are largely privateers, meaning they piece together their own sponsorship deals — a game of networking, negotiation, and the occasional “big news coming soon” Instagram tease.

Feb 4, 2025 | velo.outsideonline.com | Betsy Welch

Axelle Dubau-Prévôt has been riding a bike since she could walk. “It’s a family sport,” she said, “so I really had no choice but to start with cycling.”In April, the Frenchwoman will make her debut in the Life Time Grand Prix series. She’s one of a handful of new faces on the series’ 22-woman roster, but if her name seems somewhat familiar that’s because, well, there’s another cyclist in her family.

Jan 31, 2025 | velo.outsideonline.com | Betsy Welch

In a move to increase women’s participation in the longest distances at Unbound Gravel, Life Time has partnered with Girls Gone Gravel to offer a new pathway for women to secure entry into the sold-out 100- and 200-mile races. The initiative, dubbed “More Women, More Miles,” will provide 50 additional spots in the 100-mile race and 25 in the 200-mile race, available to women on a first-come, first-served basis starting February 1.