Savilia Blunk And U.S. Mountain Bike Teammates Poised To Shift Into High Gear at Paris Olympics

As Savilia Blunk charges up and down steep and sinuous mountain bike courses, navigating physically and tactically demanding terrain in quest of victories, she also seeks to inspire others to embrace the lifestyle sport, whether competitively or recreationally. 

“The beauty of mountain biking is about enjoying the process, enjoying the ride, and the small things that you see when you’re out on your bike,” Blunk tells Team USA, in an interview from Girona, Spain. 

“I have to remind myself of that now, sometimes getting so locked in on the preparation and intensity of the workouts. You forget the basic fundamentals that you’re riding a bike and you get to be outside.

“It’s incredible what we get to do and those are parts of it that everyone can enjoy,” she adds.

The highly-skilled 25-year-old athlete who calls the mountain bike crazed community of Durango, Colorado, home is stoked to be en route to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, her first representing Team USA.

“It feels amazing – it’s slowly sinking in,” Blunk says about the honor. “It’s been a big goal for many years. Slowly, the pieces have been put into place and with that confidence has built and momentum has been gained”

Blunk – an eight-time U.S. national champion – will suit up in France alongside an equally youthful, talented and ever-progressing group of internationally competitive mountain bikers. Joining her will be 2021 Olympian Haley Batten, 25, and on the men’s side, Christopher Blevins, 25, and Riley Amos, 22. It is a foursome with loads of untapped potential.

“We’ve been racing very well all season and we’re putting the U.S. in a position that maybe it’s never been in before leading to the Olympics,” Blunk says. “We’re all super strong, super talented and capable of top results.”

“Savilia and Haley are young, but they’ve been knocking on the door for awhile,” Amos says about his female teammates. “Savilia’s progression has been massive over the last three years, from under-23 to competitive elite.”

Blunk, like her teammates, have perfected their métier with superb results on the world cup this season. Propelled by three third-place finishes (two in short track & one in cross-country) including on opening weekend in Araxa, Brazil, Blunk is fourth in the 2024 UCI Cross-Country Olympic Women Elite World Cup standings. 

The Colorado mountain biker – who competes for the Rockrider Ford Racing Team and trains at a summer base in Girona, Spain – narrowly trails U.S. teammate Batten, in addition to Puck Peterse of the Netherlands and tour points leader Aleksandra Keller of Switzerland. Blunk and Batten also rank among the top 10 in the short course world cup standings.

Blunk and U.S. teammates will strive to ride strong and smart while tackling the turny 4.4-kilometer circuit at the Elancourt Hill Olympic Mountain Bike venue, located about 25 miles southwest of Paris. The number of laps is still to be determined, but the world’s elite mountain bikers can expect to be in the saddle for roughly one hour and twenty to thirty minutes. 

The man-made course ascends to a peak elevation of over 750 feet, with views of the Eiffel Tower, La Défense and forests surrounding the elegant French capital. It promises to provide a gripping test of strength, skill and endurance.

“I didn’t race the test event last year, but I rode the course earlier this year so that was a really beneficial experience,” Blunk notes. “To see it, gather a bunch of data and information, about the course has allowed me to train very specifically for it.”

The Olympic bike riders will be gunning for medals at the relatively unfamiliar venue on the outskirts of Paris, as opposed to the more traditional mountainous terrain like in the French and Swiss Alps, and Italian Dolomites that they are more accustomed to pedaling.

“It is different than a world cup track – it’s very artificial, man-made, but it’s unique and interesting, and that makes it exciting,” she says, describing Elancourt Hill.

Blunk, Batten and the ladies will have the honors, racing on Sunday, July 28, while the men hit the course the next day, on Monday, July 29. 

U.S. mountain bikers have only medaled two times across seven editions of Olympic cross-country races – Georgia Gould rode to a bronze medal at the Olympic Games London 2012, while Susan DeMattei earned a medal of the same color as the sport debuted at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996. 

“We are going to these Olympics with a great opportunity bringing such a strong team,” Blunk says. “For me, the goal is always to medal. You were selected because you are one of the top riders in the world, so I’m going and I’m going for a medal. I think the whole team can share that.”

Swiss riders dominated the women’s bike races at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, sweeping the medals, with Jolanda Neff winning gold. Since Atlanta 1996, French and Swiss athletes have combined to win 16 of 42 medals awarded in the discipline. Blunk and teammates have their sights set on slowing down that streak. And on the world cup too.

“The competition on the world cup circuit has changed and I would argue right now that we’re at an all-time high," Blunk says. "The level of competition and courses too are pretty insane."

“It’s just a combination of things that have led us to having such a strong U.S. team now. Every time one of us has success, it is inspiring to the others and just brings our level up.

“The better one of us is, the better it makes all of us, and I hope we can continue this growth because it’s really cool place to be. It’s the only way the U.S. can be competitive to Europe on that level.”

A spectacular ride on race day at Elancourt Hill could bring home elusive Olympic medals. Blunk and her highly motivated U.S. teammates appear all geared up for the immense challenge.

“It’s intense, it’s big, but it’s all about sticking to your process,” Blunck says, asked about the keys to successful rides at the Olympic Games.

“It’s very exciting for us and for the U.S. – I’m really looking forward to being part of this team.”

And don’t be surprised if Blunk inspires a few new mountain bikers along the ride.