In the world of cycling, few stories are as inspiring as that of a local cyclist who has made a significant mark in Indianapolis. When the Lawrence family decided to purchase a five-person quint bike online for a surprisingly steep price, little did they know it would be the start of an extraordinary journey. At just two years old, Stephanie Lawrence, who was barely tall enough to reach the seat, found herself struggling to stay balanced. Her mother often had to lift her back onto the seat as she teetered dangerously close to falling off with every pedal stroke.
Fast forward to today, and 22-year-old Lawrence may not recall those early days, but photographs capture her joy as she waves to curious neighbors while her family cycles through their Colorado Springs neighborhood. "She would fall asleep on the quint," reminisces her father, Jim Lawrence. "She’d be waving to people, smiling, and just having a blast. I’d be urging her, ‘C’mon, pedal! We’re climbing a mountain!’"
Now, as she enters her final year as a collegiate cyclist at Marian University, Lawrence's competitive journey is just beginning. With her sights set on world championships and the 2028 Olympics, she has already amassed an impressive 27 national titles, including five elite championships. Recently, she clinched the collegiate sprint title for the fifth consecutive year and played a pivotal role in leading her team to victory at Nationals in mid-September.
However, her path has not been without its challenges. Lawrence's cycling career has faced near-ending moments on two occasions: once after a severe crash during her teenage years and again a few years later when her passion for the sport began to wane.
### A Family Legacy in Track Cycling
Some of Lawrence's earliest memories involve her parents, both avid cyclists, taking their children to a velodrome in Colorado Springs. It was at the tender age of four that she fell in love with cycling. Her mother holds one Masters track title, while her father boasts an impressive 11 Masters track titles, racing at speeds comparable to elite female cyclists in the nation. As a child, Lawrence would watch her father and the women he trained with, dreaming, "That’s who I want to be when I grow up."
When her father wasn’t racing, they would analyze races from the infield, discussing strategies and mistakes, a practice that Lawrence credits for her own success on the bike. "Unmatched," her father describes her skills. "Tactically, she’s better than anyone I’ve ever seen."
Thanks to her strategic approach, she has avoided major crashes in recent years. Yet, at the age of 15, she faced her most significant physical challenge, one that nearly derailed her cycling career entirely.
### Overcoming Fear After a Devastating Crash
During a training session in Colorado Springs, Lawrence found herself at the back of the pack when disaster struck. She crashed hard, suffering a brain bleed, amnesia, severe facial injuries, and extensive road rash. After three days in the hospital, she spent two weeks bedridden, relying on medication to help her brain recover.
The thought of cycling again filled her with dread; she didn’t want to put her family through the trauma of another accident. "Everything was stiff, everything was sore," she recalls. "I was terrified of crashing again. I didn’t want to experience that pain once more."
Yet, just two weeks and one day after the accident, once her doctors cleared her, she made the brave decision to get back on the bike. She wanted to take control of her career's fate, refusing to let a crash dictate her future.
Initially, her training was not intense. Throughout high school, her competition results were average, and she admits to being less focused on the mental aspects of cycling. The idea of quitting began to seem increasingly appealing.
### A New Direction at Marian University
Everything changed when Marian University entered her life. In the summer of 2020, she attended a camp at the Indianapolis velodrome before the Juniors Track Nationals, initially planning to move to Pennsylvania for college without any intention of joining a collegiate cycling team.
However, upon meeting the coaches and athletes at Marian, her perspective shifted dramatically. "The way they spoke about cycling and being part of the team made me want to join," Lawrence shared. "It sounded so enjoyable, and they reignited my passion for cycling."
John Hoopingarner, the cycling director and head coach at Marian, hadn’t considered recruiting her before the camp, but Lawrence’s performance changed his mind. "When we first saw Stephanie, the coaching staff and I exchanged glances and thought, 'How did we overlook this talent?'" Hoopingarner recalled. "It has been a fantastic experience having her on the team."
Instead of heading to Pennsylvania, she enrolled at Marian that fall, pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering and computer science while also dedicating herself to cycling.
### Thriving in College Cycling
Over the past four years, Lawrence has pushed herself to excel both on the track and the road. In addition to competing at the collegiate level, she has raced internationally for the Star Track Union Cycliste Internationale track team and the Fearless Femme Racing professional road team, proudly sporting head-to-toe sponsorships during her races.
Now living 15 hours away from her childhood quint bike companions, Lawrence has turned to her teammates and coaches at Marian for support. Her boyfriend and teammate, Fred Meredith, assists her with bike setups and helps boost her confidence. The two met when Meredith moved from Wales to join the Marian cycling team two years ago. After starting his racing journey at 13, he and Lawrence now share a home in Indianapolis, where their bikes are neatly organized in the basement.
Over the last three seasons, Meredith has witnessed Lawrence’s passion for cycling flourish, even as she maintains her composure under pressure. "As a teammate, she’s one of the best people you can have in your corner," he said. "Steph remains calm two weeks before a race and just as composed two minutes before it starts."
However, once the race begins, Lawrence transforms from the cheerful toddler on the quint bike into a fierce competitor. "She has this switch that she flips, becoming incredibly determined," Hoopingarner noted. "She has no desire to lose, and it’s clear she’s in it to win."
Lawrence credits her speed and achievements to the unwavering support from her family, coaches, and the local cycling community, which has helped her rediscover her love for the sport and reach heights she never thought possible.
One of her favorite aspects of competition is the mental challenge it presents. "It’s like playing chess, where you’re making countless decisions in an instant," she explained. "You have to execute every move perfectly, and your strategy must be sound while also being fast enough to succeed."
But here's where it gets controversial: Is the mental aspect of cycling more crucial than physical training? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
