All in a day's race: Cyclist Wren '03 pedals to victory

Tyler Wren '03 is an unassuming person.

You never would guess that he is Princeton's own three-time national champion, winner of collegiate national championships in road racing and short-track and cross-country, mountain bike racing this past year.

But if you then saw him out racing, it would all make sense.

It's no surprise that Wren is well-respected among his teammates.

"Tyler is one of the most modest, motivated and talented student athletes that I have ever met," Jason Houck '03 said.

When asked to use one word to describe Wren, Elliot Holland '04 replied, "Inexhaustible."

Wren's contributions to the team extend far beyond his athletic skills. Wren is co-captain, president and treasurer of the University Cycling Team as well as founder, captain, president and treasurer of the University Mountain Bike Team. He also serves as vice president of the club sports executive council.

In his various capacities, Wren is the one doing all the behind-the-scenes work.

"Tyler is not only our best rider, but the team's businessman, accountant and travel agent," Holland said. "Every week he is dealing with the enormous number of issues involved in running a cycling team — race registration, equipment orders, sponsorship issues and team finances."

"Tyler has his foot in every door," Jeremy Davis-Turak '04 agreed.

Wren said he spends a total of 40 to 50 hours per week on cycling, including training, bike maintenance and administrative duties.

"Tyler is the emotional leader of the team. Naturally people look up to him for his success, but he has successfully remained a friend and peer to the rest of the team through his enthusiasm for cycling, his patience and incessant joking, said Houck.

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"He's really in tune with the group. He never pushes the pace unnecessarily, he never shows off," Julia Svoboda '03 said.

Several cyclists remarked how Tyler cares about the you-nger team members.

Davis-Turak described Wren's role in "Inspiring and teaching new riders, motivating us to go out when it's freezing cold and pushing us to train harder."

"Tyler has been . . . encouraging me to come out, str-essing how much the team would like new riders, and just being a really proactive proponent for the cyclers," Meghan Prin '05 added.

Several teammates commented on the dichotomy of Wren's personality.

"His accomplishments on the bike have given his name near mythic status among riders in our conference, which is understandable but humorous given his relaxed, positive and jovial nature (when he's not racing)," Houck said.

Where did Wren's interest start? In high school in Philadelphia, Penn. — where he was valedictorian as well as captain of the cross-country, wrestling and track teams — he set the school's all-time cross country and mile-run records.

Before his freshmen year in college, he in-jured his shins, ending his running career. That summer, Wren's interest in cyc-ling began.

"Within a week I was in love with it," Wren said. "It had a lot to do with the team. I like the release it gives me."

He spoke fondly of five-hour rides that take his mind off the more mundane problems of life.

"At the same time, I have this competitive edge I need to fulfill," he said.

Wren also spoke of the complex tactics necessary to succeed in cycling.

"My cycling goals are numerous and ambitious," Wren's team bio reads, "You will not find another athlete more driven to excel in this sport."

And excel he has. Wren is now characterized as a neo-pro. Although not salaried, he is on the roster of the Mercury Professional Cycling Team. He competes with them around the country and will be touring with the group this summer. Wren is the first Princeton student to join Mercury.

Wren named as his greatest hero Lance Armstrong, a cycling superstar who, after suffering from testicular cancer, went on to win the Tour de France three times.

"He so clearly sees what's important in life," Wren said.

Wren respects Lance's inspirational power, not only as a cycler but also as a cancer survivor.

Perhaps someday Wren, too, will be at the Tour de France — he aims at being a professional cyclist."Cycling is my highest priority," he said.

Wren is an economics major who for a long time had aspirations to be a business entrepreneur.

"I used to have these ideas [for businesses] and I'd write them down," he said.

When asked where they see Wren ten years from now, teammates first mentioned Wren's shot at professional cycling.

"I would not be surprised if Tyler were one of the top cyclists in the United States, if not the world, if that is indeed what he decides to pursue after Princeton . . . He has the talent, the motivation and the intelligence needed to succeed. I'm sure he will," Houck said.

"Tyler is also a savvy businessman, and I think he will do something in that arena. Look for him in marketing or sales in a sports-related company," Holland said.

But, even if Wren ends up with a job in economics, said Jon Viventi '04, "He'll still be racing on the weekends and showing those young college kids how it's really done."