SPOTLIGHT-ANNA YAMAUCHI
Anna Yamauchi on why she competes, the parallels between competition and creation, and finding balance in a sport that is constantly pushing optimization...
Anna is a professional cyclist from Truckee, California. Growing up spending time in the mountains skiing, hiking, running, and building things with her hands, she landed at Cal Poly to study architectural engineering.
Why she competes:
“It’s always been about asking myself: what am I capable of? It’s never been about winning. I get burned out when it’s me vs. them. For me, sport is a place to fail safely — and to push my own limits.”
When asked about the interaction of sports and art -
“The approach to sport and art is very synonymous.”
“Both are about learning. And it’s this addictive form of repetition where each version and iteration is different, but you’re moving toward the same goal. Peeling the layers back as you go.”
There’s no fixed endpoint. Just the process — the creative pursuits are just another way to see what she’s capable of.
What does it mean to do it your own way?
In an industry that constantly pushes optimization, Anna is carving out space to enjoy the other sides of life.
“I’ve tried sacrificing everything for performance. And it just made me unhappy. I realized I race better when I’m enjoying my life.”
Finding community through competition:
“There’s something really beautiful about sharing this hard pursuit with other people.” You create these distinct memories when you do these 12 hour races with people.
Anna finds just as much inspiration in watching those who don’t ride professionally show up to the start line of these gravel races.
“I would encourage my younger self to stay well-rounded, not to specialize too early. Each sport I’ve done — running, surfing, skating, skiing — they all contribute to how I ride my bike.”