MY journey into the cycling world
Kristi Kuldkepp
I haven’t always been a cyclist—no, not before the age of 31. Yes, I’ve spent most of my life in the saddle, but over the years, that saddle has simply become narrower!
My athletic journey began at the age of nine, when I sat on a horse for the very first time. That moment marked the beginning of a 16-year relationship with equestrian sports—an experience that shaped me into a disciplined, patient, and determined person. Horses taught me that success doesn’t happen overnight and that trust, whether in an animal or in life, takes time.
Over those 16 years, I owned five personal horses. I started competing at the age of 11 in horse racing – yes, racing! My first year I raced in the pony class, and in the following two years, I successfully competed in the open class, where I managed to beat seasoned riders despite being only 12–13 years old. Later, I continued with show jumping, competing up to the 120 cm level. I guess that during this period I became aware that I liked sport, I liked being active and I had a competitive spirit. All of these are useful attributes for an athletic life, and I’ve loved being active, throughout my years.
Turning a negative into a positive
Who knows—maybe I’d still be riding horses today if it weren’t for an accident with my last competition horse. After that, continuing in the sport was no longer possible, and I decided to step away. But while I left equestrian sports behind, the joy of movement stayed with me. Without going into detail concerning the accident, it did involve me and the saddle parting company with my horse, and a visit to hospital.
What followed were three years of running—an entirely new chapter. I focused on half-marathons and completed one full marathon in Rome. That experience helped me realize that physical endurance is only half the journey—the real strength comes from mental clarity and purpose. Running was entirely different from the horse racing and eventing. It focused on purely me and what I was willing to give of myself – again, something that I’ve carried forward with me into my cycling journey.
However, after recurring knee and lower back injuries, I felt that I had to ease the strain of running. I decided to try triathlon, and of course, that meant I needed a bike.
Going forward on 2 wheels!
Now, six years later, my heart belongs to cycling. This sport blends freedom, motion, and constant self-challenge. Riding my bike is my form of meditation — the speed, the landscapes, and the steady rhythm help me stay grounded in the present moment.It’s almost hypnotic and meditative for me. It’s become a part of who I am.
I first rode a road bike in April 2019 during a triathlon training camp in Mallorca. Exactly one month later, I found myself at my very first road race —and, from that point on, I fell in love with cycling. In 2019, I still focused mostly on running, but from 2020 onward, I then dedicated myself fully to cycling – and I am so pleased that I made this decision!
Five years may not seem long in the grand scheme of life, but within that time, I’ve become a two-time Gran Fondo European Champion in the 19–34 age group. I’ve also won multiple Estonian National Championships in the amateur category—both in road races and individual time trials. I’m now in my third season racing in Belgium with the Baloise Minimax WB Ladies amateur team. I am especially grateful to my team boss, Ludivine Henrion, for welcoming me to the team and making this opportunity possible. Thanks to this team, I’ve participated in countless exciting races in Belgium and competed in many high-level UCI events alongside professionals. It’s been an invaluable experience and I’ve loved this journey.
Finding my rhthym
Although I truly love road racing, my favorite discipline is cyclo-cross. Yes, starting at 31 means I’ll probably never have the bike handling skills of those who began cycling as children. I’m not particularly skilled in cyclo-cross, but I simply enjoy it — it’s shorter, more intense than road racing, and I love rolling around in the autumn mud! Hehe – who wouldn’t! IT’s such an epic personal challenge, at each event.
I guess when I analyse all of this together, I can see that all these sports share one simple but powerful idea: it’s never too late to start. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your background is. What matters is daring to take the first step and learning to enjoy the process — even when progress isn’t linear and results don’t come right away.
I believe that it’s the small victories that carry us forward. Small acts change our world, and oak trees grow from acorns!
A great training session, a mountain climbed, a moment where you could’ve given up—but didn’t. These are the things that build lasting motivation. Burnout happens when we lose the joy and focus only on the destination.
My story isn’t about world records or medals — it’s about consistency, adaptation, and the desire to continually challenge myself. If someone reads this and feels even a small urge to start over or try something new, then I say this from the bottom of my heart: do it. Now is the perfect time. I’m very happy to have possibly inspired you to take on your own life challenges. Ultimately, for me, that’s as important as seeing my own goals achieved. Especially as a woman involved in sport; I’ve seen so many changes and I now see so many opportunities.
Now is the time for all of us to exploit them! It’s time for women everywhere to ride!
FUN FACT:
When I first started cycling, my first club was the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club, where one of my teammates was Madis Mihkels, who now rides in the World Tour. Today, my home club is Peloton, where one of my current teammates is former World Tour pro Tanel Kangert.
