“All of these incredible athletes, that’s what makes this such an honor,” said Overend. “You talk about Dara Torres, there’s no end to it. Jim Ryan, Dave Scott, Chrissie Wellington. Crowie’s not here, but Chrissie and [Craig Alexander’s] performances were inspirational this year.”
In his prime, Overend won six NORBA national championships and the first-ever world cross-country championship, in Durango, Colorado. The Specialized spokeman hasn’t slowed down much, however; at 56, he is still winning world championships, and has already done so this year, at the Masters World Cyclocross Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. Overend attributes his victory at the 1991 mountain bike worlds and his lengthy career to his relationship with Specialized Bicycles. “The pressure from sponsors can lead to short careers,” he said. “I’ve never felt that pressure from Specialized.”
