MTB Girls Digital Magazine Issue 05 May 2025
Racing in One of the Toughest Regions—With a Baby on Board
This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating the fierce strength, emotional depth, and unstoppable drive of mountain biking moms—starting with Anne-Lise Taine of the Hella Mello Racing Team.
A competitive cyclist in Northern California—one of the most stacked and unforgiving regions for women’s endurance racing—Anne-Lise didn’t slow down when she got pregnant. She simply recalibrated.
I rode until I was about six months pregnant,” she shared during our interview, baby Luca cooing in the background. “After that, I hiked, I swam, and I focused on staying mentally strong and physically steady for birth.
A Comeback Measured in Minutes, Not Miles
Anne-Lise’s postpartum return wasn’t a dramatic sprint—it was a patient, purposeful ride back to strength. She began with neighborhood walks, pelvic floor therapy, and short indoor trainer spins. “Five minutes, then ten, then fifteen,” she said. “I treated it like any serious recovery.”
Her first big comeback moment came at the Grasshopper Low Gap in January, where she surprised everyone—herself included—by placing second in the final sprint. But it was a personal victory on the Los Alamos climb that really marked her return. “I beat my pre-pregnancy PR. That’s when I knew—I was back.”
Redefining Identity: From Racer to Mother and Back Again
Motherhood changes everything, including identity. “You’re not just an athlete anymore,” she reflected. “You’re a mom. You give your all, every day, and sometimes you lose yourself. Riding was a way to come back to who I am.”
It wasn’t just about fitness. It was about belonging. “I missed my friends. Our social lives used to revolve around riding. Suddenly, I was home alone, breastfeeding, and feeling isolated.” Cycling became her bridge back to community, connection—and self.
Training at Dawn, Racing with Intention
Anne-Lise and her husband—also a cyclist—found rhythm through planning and support. “We schedule our rides around each other. It’s a lot of communication and organization.”
She often trains early, hitting the trails at 7 a.m. before work begins. With a full-time job and a baby, every ride is a balance. “Now, I race more selectively. I choose the events that bring me joy—ones I can share with friends or fit into our family weekends.”
Next Up: Wente 8-Hour Endurance Race
This month, Anne-Lise will take on the legendary Wente 8-Hour Endurance Race with her Hella Mello teammates. The course features 1,100 feet of climbing and nearly 10 miles per lap. It’s a gritty challenge, but she’s up for it—and she’s already thinking of ways to include her son in the experience.
To Moms Who Ride: “Don’t Let the Guilt Win”
Anne-Lise’s message to other mothers is one of compassion and confidence:
“Don’t let guilt stop you. A happy, fulfilled parent is a better parent. Take the ride. The baby will be okay—and you’ll be more than okay. You’ll feel alive.”
The Legacy of a Mountain Biking Mom
Anne-Lise hopes her story helps other women believe in possibility. “If you’re willing to plan and work for it, you can do it all. You can be a mom, have a career, a social life, and still crush it on the bike.”
To Anne-Lise, and to every MTB mom redefining what it means to ride strong—we celebrate you. You are the heart of this sport.
