Cycling: Local Girl Gets A Shot at World Championships

Walnut Creek junior female cyclist Ruth Winder has come a long way from just riding a bicycle for kicks.

By winning the seven kilometer scratch race at the Junior Track National Championships on July 10, Winder earned a spot in the Junior World Track Championships in Montichiari, Italy Aug. 11-15. She will compete in the two kilometer individual pursuit and the seven kilometer scratch race.

"This is a completely new experience for me. I've never done this before," Winder said. "I'm just looking forward to having the experience really."

Winder has just gotten into cycling in the last few years.

"I started about three years ago. I used to horseback ride and play soccer…My parents rode their bikes around a lot so I just joined them and I got hooked on it.

Winder has competed with some of the best in the country and Northern California. Prior to winning the scratch race this year, she pulled off victories at the Snelling Road Race in Oregon in February and the Golden State Criterium. She also clinched gold last year in the 15/16 year-old National Road Race.

The opportunity at world fame also comes with the cost. Winder's family had to pay a $3000 service fee to USA Cycling along with the costs for equipment and along with other expenses associated with a trans-Atlantic voyage.

Sports Basement in Walnut Creek will be hosting a fundraiser for her this Thursday, Aug. 5 to help offset some of the costs. Twenty percent of the sales that evening will go to Winder, along with a raffle for a pair of gift certificates to the store. Tickets will be a $1 for the raffle, with all ticket sale proceeds going to her.

According to her mother, around 50 people have already committed to coming out later this week.

"I've got quite a few friends coming and it's looking really good," she said.

Winder takes off for Italy the next morning, departing Friday morning from San Francisco International Airport and will land in Rome early Saturday.

For more information on Thursday evening's event, visit the evite.

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