John Tomac: The Essence of Mountain Biking.

A bike, a slope, and a goal; that was all John Tomac needed to be happy. Considered a legend of Mountain Bike (MTB) for his tenacity, versatility, power, and bravery; John achieved 10 national championships (USA) in almost every discipline he competed in during his 20 years as a professional elite.

 photo: www.galeon.com

This legend was born in 1967 in the city of Owosso, Michigan, and from a young age, he knew the love of his life; it was small, light, and had two wheels, that BMX he rode at eight years old on his parents' farm captured his heart. At 17, John was already competing professionally in this category, but gradually transitioned to longer distances, eventually reaching Mountain Bike (MTB).

                          Photo: retrobike.co.uk

By 1988, Tomac was fully dedicated to MTB, winning the national championships in that category that year and the following. Just before achieving his greatest feat in 1991, when he became the world champion in Cross Country (XC) and the world runner-up in Downhill (DH) in Italy, using the same bike, something that would be unimaginable in our days.

 photo: esmtb.com

Tomac won the XC world championship in 1992 using a completely rigid bike with road handlebars, a setup he had implemented since 1990. That same year, he won the overall World Cup, earning a well-deserved place in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.

 Photo: esmtb.com

His excellent physical condition and great technique for descending steep slopes at high speed led him to be considered the best cyclist in the history of MTB and to be part of great teams like Yeti, Tioga-Raleigh, Giant, and Tomac Racing. During the golden age of North American riders, John had to compete against other MTB stars like Tinker Juarez or Ned Overend, with whom he had glorious battles. His last medal at the World Championships was in 1997, achieving the runner-up in Switzerland in the DH discipline.

 Photo: Tumbler.com

He retired from competition in 2000, although he returned to compete four years later, winning the Kamikaze Downhill that year and the following.

 Photo: sicklines.com

John Tomac has been an inspiration to many athletes; his drive, determination, and daring are the essence of every MTB cyclist. We can only imagine what Tomac could have achieved in our days with the technological advancements in the sport, but one thing is certain: mountain biking is a sport that runs in the blood.

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