Rally Cycling has signed junior standout Katie Clouse for the 2021 season. Born and raised in Park City, Utah, Clouse is a true all-rounder. Over the last 10 seasons, Clouse has earned over 30 national titles across the road cycling, mountain biking, and cyclocross disciplines.
Alongside her studies in Exercise Science at Colorado Mesa University, Clouse has been with DNA Racing for the past few years, gaining experience in criteriums and domestic stage races. After a number of successful stints in Europe with the US National Team, she now feels ready to take the next step.
“When Jonas Carney reached out this season, I felt like I was ready to make the move to a bigger team and race bigger races,” said Clouse. “Rally Cycling has a big presence in Europe and I’m excited to take the next step in my career.”
The Utah native is an experienced bike rider, but she’s not yet learned what she’s best at. She’s hoping to discover where she’ll specialize in the coming seasons, and in the meantime, Clouse knows what she’s looking forward to most.
“European one-days are my absolute favourite kind of racing,” said Clouse. “My cyclocross background really comes in handy when racing short, punchy climbs over mixed terrain. I can’t wait to get over there with the team.”
Despite her significant haul of national titles, Clouse is most proud of her sixth-place finish at Trofeo Binda and fifth in Gent-Wevelgem, both Junior Nations Cup races she competed in for the US National Team in 2019. The taste of success in Europe was too hard to ignore.
“I’m very motivated to help people win big races against the best competition in the world,” added Clouse. “I believe that helping teammates win in Europe is what’s going to make me a stronger and better bike racer.”
Clouse recently had surgery to repair a torn labrum after dislocating her shoulder. Her recovery is going well as she faces six weeks in a sling and is confident she will be back on the trainer in the coming days. Clouse is expected to be fully healed and ready to join her new teammates at their first training camp in Oxnard, CA in two months.