Several years ago, a very serious traumatic brain injury (TBI) landed Lauren in Craig Hospital for several months where she had to relearn basic things like how to walk. She went from being a pro cyclist to someone who said she was done with cycling forever... understandably, given the extent of her injuries.
She went back to school, getting her masters degree in epidemiology and then a short while later found herself on COVID task forces during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Feeling that itch once again, she decided to try cycling again and actually set the women's WR for Everesting --which is where a cyclist rides the equivalent of the elevation gain of Mt Everest on their bike in one sitting/one ride.
This sparked something inside her and the desire and urge to again race at the top of the sport returned … at the same time her paths crossed with CINCH Elite when she appeared on their podcast, and the next thing you know... Lauren won Unbound Gravel (formerly known as DK), then she won Steamboat Gravel, and then she won Gravel Worlds, setting a new women's course record. She’s had several other podium finishes in there as well. It’s been an incredible season for her.
Her team offered her full support so she was able to leave her dream job to focus on racing full time. All of these things sound like reasons to celebrate - -redemption, road to recovery, comebacks, overcoming the odds and so much more... Oh yeah and in the midst of all of this, she was also married this summer, in May.
And yet--this series of successes has been clouded by much online negativity and really caustic commentary about women's gravel racing.
Regardless of who is right or wrong, or what side you align with (if that's even a thing), the online and social media vitriol surrounding these events has really been something to witness-- and it's been heartbreaking to see, also. Lauren has been subjected to some really pointed criticism.
Somehow, she seems to thrive in adversity (which I think she readily admits about herself) and she's doing her best to put one foot in front of the other as she navigates this growing -pain-season in women's gravel bike racing … a relatively new sport which historically has been one race, where all racers start together.
Hear her chime in on her thoughts about TBIs and recovery, gravel racing, the online commentary and how she is processing all of this.
You can find and follow Lauren online at: https://www.instagram.com/laurenissima/?hl=en
And the Craig Hospital ride she mentions and supports:
https://craighospital.org/events/2021-pedal-4-possible
If you’re looking for some context for the gravel racing discussion, check out her recent interview with Cycling News: https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/lauren-de-crescenzo-you-cant-fake-gravel-racing/
She also recently appeared on Groadio - The Premier Gravel Cycling & Racing Podcast— here: https://www.podcastaddict.com/episode/127793749