Learning to ride a bike is a staple in most children’s childhoods, including Warrenton native Chloe Harisberger. However, while taking the training wheels off and biking as a causal activity is where it stops for most people, Harisberger took it a step further. 

At only 15 years old, Harisberger is a Freshman Missouri Mountain Biking State Champion. 

Harisberger has been riding a bicycle for as long as she can remember. It was not until fifth grade that she started to race competitively. 

“My dad was just always doing it [mountain biking] and I decided to do it with him one day. I also had some friends that did it as well, so I figured I should try it,” said Harisberger, who attends St. Dominic High School. “I’m so grateful that I did because I found this amazing cycling community.” 

Harisberger’s father, Harry, helped her find a love for the sport. 

“We have shared a lot of great memories on the bike. Our first couple trips to the mountain bike trails, I was so scared. But I remember he just helped me through every part and was super patient,” Harisberger said. 

In addition to recently being named a state champion, Harisberger has placed seventh in a women’s 51-mile race, she is a member of the St. Charles Bears, a member of a junior development team called Free Fly and she has raced locally, nationally and internationally. 

Harisberger is currently on a coaching plan and is on her bike six times a week ranging from one to three hours and races competitively from March to the end of October. Despite the long days of training and having the opportunity to travel all around the world, the community Harisberger has built is what means the most to her. 

“I enjoy the training and the racing, but for me, it’s mostly just about getting to see my friends and us pushing each other to be the best we can be,” Harisberger said. 

During the state championship, Harisberger not only won but she set a new personal record. In the hilly and windy nine-mile course, she finished in 45 minutes. Harisberger crossed the finish line with excitement and a little bit of surprise that she had won. She also had no idea she had set a personal record time. 

“I crossed the finish line at the end with a huge smile,” Harisberger said. “I did not know [I set a new time], so it was really, really exciting to find out when my dad told me.” 

Harisberger has numerous exciting stories from her sport, often finding herself in tight races with other bikers. 

“I went out and I was racing and a girl came up behind me and she stayed with me the entire race. It was kind of scary because at the last second we both sprinted up the hill to the finish line. I beat her at the very last second by maybe three or four feet,” Harisberger said. “It was pretty scary and crazy at the same time because we were going really fast. That happened about three times this season.” 

The sport has also taken Harisberger to beautiful places, including Switzerland, where her father grew up. However, Bentonville, Ark., is her favorite place and she will be racing there in March. 

“I really love the Bentonville course. It has some good climbs and some fun downhills with jumps,” Harisberger said. 

With the long season, on top of school work and navigating her teenage years, Harisberger says the sport can be mentally and physically taxing at times. 

“It’s hard to stay in the game if someone passes you and to try to keep up with them. But there’s also physical limits. You don’t want to go out super fast and then burn yourself out, and the long season can also be pretty mentally tough,” Harisberger said. 

However, when Harisberger has her teammates surrounded by her, it gives her all the confidence she needs. 

“It gives you a sense of empowerment because you know they are going to be there no matter what and they’re going to cheer you on whether you’re in first place or last place,” Harisberger said. 

While Harisberger is still young in her career, she has big goals. She would like to place top 10 in a national race, win the National Interscholastic Cycling Association league and race collegiately. In addition, Harisberger would like to finish the BT Epic Race in under five hours, as she recently completed the 51-mile race in five hours and 50 minutes. 

“Ultimately, I love riding my bike and I want to get more people on bikes so they can also share the joy I found in the cycling community,” Harisberger said.