This week, June 22-25, the US Pro Road National Championships return to Knoxville for the sixth time in seven years, ending a long run of races in Tennessee. A familiar face on the women's road race podium over the past few years has been Colin Labecki, who finished second three times and won in 2018, took bronze in the Pro Criterium in 2021, and finished fourth or fifth in four other appearances.

Labecki returned to the U.S. in early June, ready to try again for the stars and stripes jersey. She had a full spring classic in the Jumbo Visma, and early in the season she finished on the podium and in the top 10 in two stage races. Now back in North America, she plans to compete in both professional criteriums and road races.

Either title is fine with her, Labecky said.

"I'm definitely motivated for this year's Nationals, especially since it will be my last year here. Knoxville has been good to me and I want to finish my time here in good shape," she told Cycling News.

Prior to Knoxville, she had two second-place finishes in road races, for a total of five, "which broke me out of the spell of second place but ended up going the wrong way.

Last year, Labecki returned to the U.S. after falling ill shortly after the Women's Tour of Britain. This year, however, she says she is healthy and ready to go.

"Last year I certainly suffered in the second half of the season. I had a stomach virus before the All-Japan Championships and had to go straight from Knoxville to the high country to prepare for the Tour de France. I tried to rebuild for the World Championships, but I broke my collarbone at the end of August and had to end the season early and miss the World Championships," Lavecky recalls. [After recovering from the off-season, I started training early for this season, but still struggled this spring. I did my best to help the team with my form. I had a good training session at home in the U.S. and am looking forward to what's next for me this season."

That domestic training block included a trip to the Armed Forces Cycling Classic outside Washington, D.C., where she competed in the first leg of the race. This time she finished in sixth place.

"I grew up racing crit. That's how I learned my racing skills. 'Being local, I raced for Air Force and got the feeling of racing in the States back. It felt good to get back to racing in the States. It was different than when I used to race the crit circuit.

A native Californian, she feels at home in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. The hot and humid terrain is where she trained every spring with the Marian University cycling team, and although the Appalachian Hills are a bit cooler in March, the roads are familiar and allow her to relax at the Nationals.

"I really love riding in this area, and I'm thankful I had the opportunity to learn these roads while attending Marian University during spring break," she told Cycling News. 'Honestly, I love this area. I've traveled all over the world, but I always come a week early to get used to the heat."

"Coming to Knoxville in better health than last year is already a great start. I am also grateful that my family and friends are coming to watch me race. I love this event because it brings together people who are important to me."

The Nationals have no Jumbo Visma teammates in Knoxville. However, she will again be supported by the Professional Cycling Foundation, and those who qualify will receive the mechanical, logistical, and ground support that foreign trade teams are unable or unwilling to provide.

From the lofty road of Tennessee to the lofty goals of Europe, she hopes to re-take the Tour de France Femme in the summer and then move on to the World Championships.

"Winning the Tour de France women's, that's a big goal," Lavecky said of her pursuit of a stage victory in the French race.