Checking in with Savilia Blunk

Savilia Blunk talks Olympic prep and more ahead of the Paris MTB race

Like most professional mountain bikers, Savilia Blunk travels the world chasing the next race or training camp. Originally from Northern California, she cycles between locales such as Durango, Colorado and Girona, Spain. This week she finds herself in Paris for her debut Olympics racing for the United States. Blunk answered a few questions about her preparation last week. Read on for the interview.

Savilia Blunk tackles a rock garden in Snowshoe, West Virginia. Photo by Bartek Wolinski/Red Bull Content Pool

Portions of this interview first appeared in The Colorado Sun.

How has Durango contributed to your career and success? 

I first came to Durango for College in 2018. This move significantly shaped my career, passion, and skill on the bike. Coming from a small town where mountain biking wasn't an everyday sport, to Durango, where overnight I was surrounded by talented riders and people pushing me to become better. I improved so much as a rider just by having people to train and ride with that both challenged me and gave me confidence.

What has your preparation looked like the past few weeks? 

The last few weeks I've spent in Girona, Spain putting the final touches on my Olympic preparation. Every day is focused around the training for the day, mastering recovery, prioritizing sleep, and fueling well. I adjust the daily plan to my recovery needs, but mainly it has been a quiet process of lots of suffering on the bike and finding the perfect balance of tension and freshness to get my best performance at the Olympics. 

What are your thoughts on the Paris course and expected competitors? 

The Olympic course is unique from anything I've ever raced on. It's very artificial and combines fast, smooth rolling gravel terrain with awkward, man made obstacles. Unique, but special because it's the Olympics. It's a course that will be a true test of fitness. I've trained for this course very specifically, and I'm excited to embrace the experience of an Olympic gravel-err MTB course ;)

What does it mean to you to be a debut Olympian? 

Making the Olympic team is the biggest achievement of my career so far and a goal I've been working towards for years! It's an outcome of many years of hard work, dedication, and commitment no matter what roadblocks have been in my path. I feel very proud to have gotten to this moment and also very grateful to the huge team of people who have played a part in making this dream happen. A few of these players have been Bear Development Team, my first junior development platform that was a big stepping stone for me from my small town roots to my first international race; Orange Seal, who saw potential in me when it felt like no one else did and committed and believed in my Olympic goal; and my current team, Decathlon Ford Racing, who gave me a huge opportunity with full World Cup team support, which enabled me to race to my full potential. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey so far, it's only just started.