My Journey into Cyclo-Cross
by Kristi Kuldkepp
Heading towards the seasonal mud fest
Coming from a sport other than cycling, I tend to take a philosophical view of it. I’m still learning I guess, and it is still great fun, which I believe it always will be – I’m a fun kind of person! I’ve been riding bikes seriously for about five years now, and cycling has become much more than just a sport for me – it’s a part of me and who I am. Yes, we’ve grown together and become inseparable.
In the beginning, I focused mainly on road cycling. I loved the speed, the endurance, and the structured training that road riding requires. Road cycling taught me discipline, gave me a strong physical foundation, and introduced me to the world of competitive cycling.
Intensity & quick thinking
However, after some time I realized that I was looking for something different—something that would not only test my physical endurance but also my technical skills, agility, and ability to adapt to unexpected situations. That’s how I found cyclo-cross – and it certainly does test my agility, my vision and strength of character – and my kit cleaning skills!
For the last five seasons, I’ve been competing in cyclo-cross at an amateur level here in Estonia. Very quickly, I discovered that cyclo-cross is the discipline that excites me the most. It is fast, intense, and constantly changing. Unlike road cycling, which usually demands long and steady efforts, cyclo-cross requires explosive power, quick decision-making, and precise bike handling. Every lap is a challenge: you might be sprinting across a flat grassy section one moment and then shouldering your bike to run up a steep, muddy hill the next. It is this variety and unpredictability that keeps me motivated and passionate about the sport.
Getting the right ingredients
One of the key factors that has helped me grow in cyclo-cross has been my training environment. I am fortunate to live in Tartu, where I can train twice a week close to my home. Even more importantly, I have the privilege of working with my coach, Caspar Austa. He is a multiple-time Estonian champion in mountain biking and also a talented cyclo-cross rider. His experience, knowledge, and dedication have guided me to improve not only my fitness but also my technical abilities and race tactics.
Whilst I’m now an experienced road racer, cyclocross requires a different approach and different tactics. Training under the supervision of Caspar has shown me how important it is to have a structured approach, and it has given me the confidence to set higher goals for myself each season. Yes, I like to constantly challenge myself, and I guess that every event in cyclocross is a unique challenge – physically, mentally and in terms of personal development.
Setting goals for the future
In Estonia, we are lucky to have our own cyclo-cross series, the CX Cup, which consists of five stages across the autumn months. The series always ends with the Estonian National Championships, which are the highlight of the domestic season. The atmosphere at these races is fantastic. Cyclo-cross in Estonia may not be as big as in Belgium or the Netherlands, but the community is passionate, supportive, and growing every year. The courses are demanding, the weather is unpredictable, and the competition is tough – but, all of this makes the racing exciting and rewarding.
This year, I am especially motivated because I plan to compete not only in the Estonian races but also on the international stage. My goal is to take part in the Cyclo-cross Masters World Championships, which will take place from November 28–30 in Varese, Italy. Preparing for this event gives me a new sense of purpose and a concrete target to work toward. It is both a challenge and a dream for me: to represent myself and my country at a world-level competition, to test my skills against riders from all over the globe, and to experience the unique atmosphere of a cyclo-cross World Championship.
Personal development through cyclo-sport
Cyclo-cross has taught me many valuable lessons. It has shown me the importance of resilience — ultimately because crashes, mechanical problems, or simply getting stuck in the mud are always part of the sport. It has taught me the importance of adaptability, since every course and every race demands a new strategy. It has also given me a greater appreciation for the community spirit in cycling: in cyclo-cross, the spectators, the organizers, and the riders themselves create a friendly and supportive environment that motivates me to keep pushing my limits.
Compared to road cycling, cyclo-cross feels more personal, more dynamic, and more unpredictable. It requires a different focus and mindset. It’s unrelenting and unpredictable in the extreme. Road racing is about endurance, tactics, and teamwork over long distances, while cyclo-cross is about surviving one hour of pure intensity, where every second counts and every mistake can cost you a place. This combination of technical skills, physical effort, and mental toughness is exactly what makes cyclo-cross so special to me. It makes me feel alive, from the moment I line up, to the finish of each race, when my mind is awash with thoughts and my body is splattered in the course debris, and my body aches – but I feel the emotion and exhilaration of it all.
Finding your soul in cycling
For me, cyclo-cross is not just another cycling discipline—it is a passion that challenges me, excites me, and inspires me to keep improving. As I look back at my five years in cycling, I realize that finding cyclo-cross has been the most important turning point in my journey. And as I look ahead, I know that I want to continue pursuing this sport, learning from every race, and hopefully achieving my best performance at the Masters World Championships in Italy later this year. I’ll take each race as an opportunity on the continual learning curve of this sport, and I’ll pause and reflect on every event, examining each intricate detail, each slope, each slippery descent and ascent; my nutrition plan, my kit choices and my mental preparation.
Hopefully, by the time I arrive in Italy, I will have honed my skills and my thinking into the athlete that I’ll need to be if I’m to stand on a podium, with my name being etched onto a medal. And, if the podium eludes me this year, I’ll be back again and continuing to test myself in this most brutal but beautiful and demanding of cycling disciplines – finding out who Kristi Kuldkepp is and what I’m capable of, and what makes my heart beat faster and in sync with my cycling soul.
