Cyclist Alison Tetrick ready for Amgen Tour of California road race

It’s been a busy nine months for professional cyclist Alison Tetrick.

Last September, she helped her team win a bronze medal in the team time trial at the road world championships in Spain. In April, she was selected to serve as the professional committee athlete representative to the USA Cycling board of directors.

On Friday, Tetrick will be among the competitors in the Amgen Tour of California women’s race, a three-stage event that includes two days of racing in South Lake Tahoe and one in Sacramento. There will also be an invitational time trial May 15 in Big Bear.

Riders representing 14 domestic and international teams will participate.

“This field is very deep,” Tetrick said in a phone interview. “There are a lot of heavy hitters here.”

Tetrick, 30, is riding for Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies, which features Canadian Leah Kirchmann, who is regarded as one of the top contenders.

Tetrick grew up in Redding, played tennis at Abilene Christian University in Texas, and competed in triathlons before taking up cycling full-time and turning pro.

She overcame a 2010 crash that left her with a broken pelvis and head injury. She then suffered a concussion in 2011.

“That was really a big struggle and humbling to go through,” she said of the physical and emotional recovery from injuries, adding that the process changed her perspective.

“Hopefully, I can impact others and give back,” she said.

Tetrick also is hoping for a good performance in the Tour of California. On Thursday, race organizers were evaluating road conditions in the wake of snow. A snowstorm in 2011 forced organizers of the Tour of California men’s race to cancel the stage.

But the weather did not seem to bother Tetrick or her teammate, Kirchmann.

“I’m pretty excited about the snow,” Kirchmann said during a news conference. “I was a cross-country skier training in Winnipeg. It’s a great challenge.”

Tetrick and other cyclists are also looking forward to September, when the road world championships will be held in Richmond, Va. It marks the first time since 1986 that the event will be staged in the United States.

Tetrick said competing at home and abroad has expanded her horizons.

“That’s the interesting thing about bike racing,” she said. “It can take you anywhere.”

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