Women of the Grand Prix, part 3: Alexis Skarda, Bella Hyser, and Anna Yamauchi

Alexis Skarda - 6:24
Alexis has been climbing pro podiums for close to a decade. The multi-time collegiate national champ has won Marathon Nationals, the Whiskey 50, the Brek Epic, and holds the White Rim FKT. She’s in her second year racing the Grand Prix, and catches up with Payson to talk about coming back after a punishing experience at Unbound, what it’s like being teammates with Keegan Swenson and Tobin Ortenblad, and her secret musical side hustle. Stick around after the interview to hear one of her tracks.

Bella Hyser - 36:55
At 19, Bella is the youngest rider in the women’s field, but she discovered her talent for racing long distances three years ago. When the XC race circuit shut down during the pandemic, Bella started riding as far and as often as she could, and hasn’t stopped since. She tells Payson about how excited she was to get into the Grand Prix after her second try, how she and her coach have ramped up her training for the series, and how a phone call during Unbound kept her from pulling out of the race.

Anna Yamauchi - 1:00:31
Anna only started racing two years ago, but she’s already shown an aptitude for the sport, winning the Rock Cobbler earlier this year and placing second at BWR Arizona. She talks to Payson about how her difficult start in the Grand Prix has been a blessing in disguise, how her mentor Katerina Nash pushed her to stay in cycling, and why she’s jumping into the Andorra World Cup after Leadville.

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