Lucia Mokres
Photo by Garrett Lau

I ran cross country and track in college, though a Cat 1 friend was always trying to get me to switch to cycling. I then went to veterinary medical school, where a former pro cyclist classmate tried to get me to start cycling. Instead I did nothing but study and get fat. Finally, in 2004, I broke my leg, ending my (non) running days, and at the same time moved to the bay area. I saw all the cyclists here, and was finally out of excuses. I knew that I would need instruction, so, in March 2006 I bought a bike and joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training. The competitor in me was fired up again, and I went on to join the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Clup. My first race was over Memorial Day weekend 2007, and I was hooked, despite going down twice in the race and being rear ended with my bike on a trunk rack on the way home. Now, I’m a Category 2 racer and loving every second of it. I love the team tactics and the sense of accomplishment when I can deliver a sprinter to the line. My greatest cycling achievement so far is my return to racing within 6 weeks of breaking my pelvis and wrist at the Burlingame Criterium. I made the podium in each of my first three races back, and initiated the winning break in two of the three races.

By day I am a Senior Clinical Scientist at Abbott, providing medical and clinical insight and research perspective for clinical trials data. I also instruct a class that uses horses to teach bedside manner and communication skills to medical students at Stanford School of Medicine. For cross training, I ride my horse Smoothie, a retired Grand Prix jumper.