KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Dozens of cyclists pedaled by means of downtown Knoxville on Friday evening for Usa Cycling’s Criterium National Championships.
Amongst individuals was Monk Feehery, a qualified cyclist who calls Knoxville residence.
WATE 6 On Your Side’s Elizabeth Kuebel satisfied up with Feehery as he bought ready to race in his own backyard.
“You can take a look at so a lot of amazing spots. I would have by no means thought I would be going to East Tennessee, East Knoxville,” he said. “I had a mate that lived out in Knoxville and we did some cycling collectively and just fell in love with the space. And the distinctive places the bike can get you is just remarkable.”
On Friday night time, Feehery’s bicycle took him downtown. He competed in the Criterium Nationwide Championships.
The race is his speed—pun supposed.
“That’s my specialty,” he claimed. “Short, quick. I enjoy the training course in Knoxville, it is the kind of course that hardly ever lays off. Even though you have that downhill, you can fly by the downhill component, but you are rather much on the gas the full time, it under no circumstances lays off.”
Feehery is no stranger to the Knoxville Crit. He raced in 2019 and 2021, but his biking journey started extensive before that.
“My father commenced racing when he was 23. The total household would go to the races. We would all hop in the motor vehicle, we would have our bikes. My dad would have his racing bicycle, we’d go to the races. I just fell in appreciate with the activity, fell in really like with the crowds, fell in enjoy with just becoming in a position to experience inside out. See where I can push my limitations whether or not it is seeing how tough I can go into a turn, or looking at how higher I can get my coronary heart fee. So, I just fell in enjoy with the sport and started out seriously racing when I turned 10,” Feehery claimed.
Now he’s been racing skillfully for a decade and hopes to return to the area he enjoys.
“I appreciate getting professional biking Nationals right here,” Feehery mentioned. “It’s these kinds of a wonderful location, the massive crowds. The complete city really gets associated. Knoxville has come to be a large cycling group, not just for racing but riders that just want to go out on a stroll on their bicycle. Obtaining it below, this is home for me. I do not see myself leaving Knoxville, I appreciate Knoxville. Hopefully have a household one working day in Knoxville, so I love acquiring nationals right here.”