Three-time mountain bike world champion Mona Mitterwallner has signed with Human Powered Health, marking a significant shift in focus for the Austrian rider as she transitions to the road for the 2024 season and beyond. The 22-year-old, who also holds junior and under-23 cross-country MTB world titles, will split her time between road and trail racing until 2026.
Speaking about the move, Mitterwallner explained her motivations for stepping into professional road cycling. “I want to become the best cyclist in the world, so I’ve always said road racing is part of my future. It was always on my radar and now, after the Olympics, I wanted to try something new. I wanted to get out of my old routine and see if I could improve as a rider.”
Human Powered Health General Manager Ro De Jonckere was equally enthusiastic about the signing, describing Mitterwallner’s skills as a perfect fit for the team. “Mona’s impressive achievements in mountain biking showcase her exceptional talent and determination,” said De Jonckere. “Her ability to excel in one of the most demanding disciplines of cycling at her young age is a testament to her strength and resilience. We are excited to support her as she transitions to the road, and we are confident her winning mentality and versatility will make her a formidable presence in the peloton.”
Mitterwallner’s mountain biking career includes an impressive five rainbow jerseys, 45 career victories, and several elite national and continental titles. Her silver medals at the last two European Championships saw her finish behind Puck Pieterse, whose success on the road as a Tour de France stage winner further inspired Mitterwallner to test her potential on tarmac.
Photo Credit: Human Powered Health“I wanted a new challenge and to develop myself,” she admitted. “I love climbing. In MTB, you’re climbing for two or three minutes, but in road racing, you do it for over an hour. That’s something I want to try, and I think I will be good at.”
Although her experience on the road remains limited—her most notable result was a strong showing at the under-23 European Continental Championships in 2021, won by new teammate Silvia Zanardi—Mitterwallner is optimistic about stage racing. “I’m looking forward to stage races. I’m good at doing repeated efforts day after day, and in MTB, you don’t get that so much. Racing full gas over a week is exciting. I want to see if I can recover as quickly as I think I can for racing the next day.”
Mitterwallner’s pathway into cycling began at age 14 when her father introduced her to mountain biking. Having tried various sports, including volleyball, hockey, ballet, and break dancing, she quickly found her stride on two wheels, finishing second in her first race in Italy. “I’m used to racing only 90 minutes, so I’m used to going over the limit a lot, but over a longer race, I hope I can taper and go into the red at more precise times,” she said. “I have good handling skills from MTB too, so I’m hoping to be in the top 10% of riders on descents and just be super explosive too.”
Mitterwallner first trained with Human Powered Health during a December camp, giving both her and the team a preview of what the future might hold. “I want to see how I can improve as a rider and what I can achieve on the road,” she reflected.
