Portland's Hilary Billington, after late start as pro cyclist, set to ride for national title in Bend

*Billington competed as a member of the Pioneer cross country team during the 90's.

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BEND - Last year, Portland resident Hilary Billington followed an attack in the final miles of the women's elite road national championship race in Irvine, Calif. The move took her to the finish line with a select group of women, ultimately earning her the fifth -- and final -- position on the podium at the end of the day.
In her first year as a professional, it was a place she never imagined finding herself. Although it's not rare for fresh talent to take the professional peloton by surprise, it's not often that the shake up comes from a 37-year-old mother of two boys.

"I had no expectations going into nationals last year," Billington said. "I went out and raced aggressively -- it just happened that I made the break and went into the finishing kick with pretty fresh legs."

Whether it was luck, race savvy or some combination, Billington's performance proved pivotal. The result caught the attention of Rebecca Anderson, manager of Team Lip Smacker, who signed Billington for the 2009 season.

On Thursday Billington, who now rides full time, will be back for her second shot in the race where the nation's best riders will be chasing the coveted Stars and Stripes jersey awarded to U.S. title holders. And this time, the elite women's road race is being held just hours from her home, as part of the USA Cycling national championships going on in Bend through Sunday.

Not your typical pro
The women's professional ranks have their share of mature racers. Greats like 50-year-old French legend Jeannie Longo, a 56-time national and world champion who is still winning titles, have shown that age doesn't have to be a limiting factor on the bike. But, like most pro women, Longo started racing in her early 20s -- not her late 30s.

Although Billington came aboard lacking deep cycling experience, Anderson sees something special in the relatively new rider.

"Hilary is a perfect example of the longevity that women have in sport and in particular in cycling," Anderson said. "The sport itself is kind to people of all builds and body styles and abilities and strengths. ... Coming in at 37 after having a very successful career as a runner -- she brought with her a maturity about competition that came from another sport. If anything it emphasizes that cycling is an incredibly democratic sport.

"Her competitive spirit hasn't diminished at all as she's matured and she's clearly hungry to win and that's what we need on the team."

For Billington, it's just the kind of challenge she enjoys.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," she said. "I am having the time of my life right now."

Consistently racing women almost half her age with twice the experience, Billington has had a steep learning curve. Connecting with more experienced riders has been key.

"My teammate Anne Samplonius has been an incredible mentor to me. At 40, she really understands the challenges of being a little older -- like how our bodies recover differently -- and she has raced all over, including Europe. She's tremendously experienced and encouraging."

A former collegiate runner and longtime triathlete, Billington is no stranger to pushing her body to the brink of exhaustion. She celebrated her 21st birthday by running her first marathon, and at age 27 did well enough in her first Ironman competition to qualify for the world championships in Kona, Hawaii.

Later, when the demands of a family made time-intensive triathlon training increasingly difficult, she decided it was time for a compromise. Instead of training for three sports, she'd settle for one. With encouragement from her husband, Scott Powell, she shifted her focus to cycling.

She was used to chasing Powell around on the bike and started her racing career competing in men's ranks, throwing down with some of the fastest local riders every Tuesday at Portland's weekly leg-ripping circuit racing series.

That experience translated well when she eventually moved into the women's peloton in 2007. At a Willamette Valley stage race, riding in the Category 2 field that is one level below the pros, she made the winning break in the final stage and crossed the line in fourth place, earning fifth place overall for the general classification.

Billington's performance prompted Suz Weldon, a well-known local pro, to turn around and demand: "Who are you!? Where did you come from?!"

The following year, after several more impressive finishes, Billington hooked up with Veloforma, a local elite women 's racing team. She also hired renowned coach Michael Engleman who heads the U.S. Women's Cycling Development Program, whom she credits with much of her success.

"With Hilary, the talent was there," Engleman said. "She just needed to focus it with some coaching. My biggest challenge with her is getting her to take breaks -- like most great athletes she just pushes and pushes all the time. She's very driven."

This season's move to Lip Smacker has given Billington a fresh perspective on professional bike racing.

"Our roster is deep enough that we can really get into tactics and strategy. My job on this team is to work for others -- it's not about my results anymore. It pulls more out of me as an athlete than just sitting in by myself and waiting for the move at the end of the day."

A family affair
Balancing family life with the demands of a professional bike racing schedule is no easy task, but Billington and Powell find a way to make it work.

"As a racer (at lower level)," Powell said, "I understand her passion for it and if I had the same opportunity I'd want to be able to go and chase that down too. ... When she goes away to race, the boys and I follow her on the Internet. We like to think we're her biggest fans back at home."

Billington recognizes, and appreciates, the sacrifice her husband makes.

"He turns into a veritable Super Dad when I am on the road. He wants this for me so much -- there is absolutely no way that I could do this without his support."

It was Powell who convinced her to start racing originally, and he was instrumental in encouraging her to enter some more difficult stage races early on.

The two have shared a passion for endurance sports since they met in 1998 at the Wildflower Triathlon in California. They married at the same venue one year later -- he proposed with a bike in lieu of an engagement ring -- after completing the half-marathon in the morning.

"It was perfect," she recalls, "When I finished I staggered into the medical tent and the bed next to him opened up just as I came in, so we both got IVs right next to each other. We wanted to be able to function for our wedding later that afternoon."

Years later, Billington heads into today's race for the national championship again looking for an opportunity to move herself into a position to crack into one of the top spots.

But whatever happens, Billington will be happy.

"I've got nothing to lose at nationals this year. I'm in kind of a lucky place -- I've found a home in the peloton and a home with my team and at the end of the day, no matter if I have a good day or a bad day, I get to go home to a wonderful family.

"Being able to race at this level is kind of icing on the cake of life right now."