Kirk won the USPro Criterium Championship for the second time in his career in 2007. He also posted impressive stage wins in the Cascade Classic and the Nature Valley Grand Prix. The sprinter and classics specialist can get over the climbs and still have enough left in the tank after 200 km to finish it off with a sprint win.

Date of Birth/Location: April 9, 1977 Grand Rapids, MI

Height: 5'9" 175cm

Weight: 154lbs/ 70kilos

Current Residence: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Education: Forest Hills Central High School, Marian College one semester (half year)

Years Racing: 17

Years Pro: 9

Previous Teams/Years: Health Net p/b Maxxis (2006-07), Navigators Insurance (2001-2005), U.S. Postal Service (2000), Mapei Stagiare (1999)

Strengths on the bike: Classics/One-day races

Strength off the bike: Listening to people and being a dad

Family Status: 5-year-old son Samuel and another one on the way

Favorite Movies: Seabiscuit, As Good As It Gets, Vannila Sky, Beerfest

Currently on my iPod: Nothing since I washed my iPod in the washing machine

Little known fact about Kirk: I am an only child and my parents are a former Catholic priest and nun.

Palmares

Career Highlights
USPro Criterium Champion, 2007; 2001

Wins:

2007
USPro Criterium Champion
1st Stage 2, Nature Valley Grand Prix
1st Stage 4, Nature Valley Grand Prix
1st Stage 6, Cascade Classic
1st Tour de Gastown
1st Giro di Burnaby

2006
1st Overall, Tour of Taiwan
1st Stage 5, Tour of Taiwan

2005
1st Overall, Tour de Delta
1st Stage 4 Cascade Classic
1st Stage 6 Cascade Classic
1st Stage 2, Tour de Delta
1st Tour de White Rock Road Race
1st Overall, Canada Cup Road Race Series
KOM Ronde von Drenthe
KOM Tour de White Rock

2002
1st GP Pino Cerami
1st GP de Rennes
1st Sea Otter Sprint Jersey

2001
USPRO Criterium Champion
1st Sprint Competition, Saturn Classic

1999
1st Hasselt-Spa-Hasselt

Other Major Results:

2007
2nd Stage 1, Nature Valley Grand Prix
2nd Stage 4, Cascade Classic
2nd Stage 2, Tour de Delta
3rd Overall, Nature Valley Grand Prix
5th Stage 6, Nature Valley Grand Prix
5th Stage 3, Tour de Delta

2006
2nd Overall, Tour de Delta
2nd Stage 1, Tour of Taiwan
2nd Stage 2, Tour of Taiwan
2nd Stage 7, Tour of Taiwan
2nd Stage 2, Tour de Delta
2nd Yaletown G.P., British Columbia
3rd Stage 6, Peace Race (Czech Republic)
3rd Tour de Gastown
4th Stage 6, Tour of Taiwan
9th Stage 3, Four Days of Dunkerque, France
9th Philadelphia International Championship
10th Overall, Jayco Herald SunTour

2005
2nd CSC Invitational
3rd Stage 2 TTT, Settimana Internazionale - Coppi & Bartali
5th Wachovia USPRO Championships

2004
2nd American, Wachovia USPRO Championships
2nd Giro della Liguria Criterium
3rd Rund um Koln
3rd GP de Rennes
3rd Stage 6, Tour of Britain
5th T-Mobile Invitational

In his own words

You focused a lot on track racing this off-season. Is this a discipline you've spent time with in the past?

About 10 years ago I raced on the track with the National Team but it wasn't my first love like road racing. Since Vancouver has an indoor track the Burnaby Velodrome, I've been taking advantage of it. Now that most of the international track racing takes place in the winter I can focus on the track at the end of the year.

Other than track racing, how did you spend this off-season?

My son started kindergarten this fall so I've been riding him to school when the weather is nice.

What are your goals or expectations for the 2008 season?

Foremost I want to help keep the team the number one team in North America, whether that means helping teammates win races or winning them myself. Also I'd like to defend my USPRO Crit. jersey and be able to wear it again in 2009.

When did you start racing, and why?

I started racing when I was 13. I did it because it was different and I was bored of all the typical sports (basketball, baseball and football). For some reason racing bicycles interested me ever since the first time I saw one in a bike shop.

Who were/are your cycling mentors and/or influences?

My parents are my number one influence as they supported me and drove to races all over the country for me as a junior. They new nothing about cycling but they supported me to no end. When I was first starting out Greg Lemond was the man. He was the first big poster I had hanging up on my wall. When I was first starting out a lot of local cyclists in Grand Rapids, Michigan were my mentors and helped me grow and improve in cycling over the years. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I am today.

What was your first bike?

A Schwinn Premis was my first racing bike. My first real bike was some type of Schwinn. I can't remember what kind or when I got but I was young and loved riding it around the block.

What was your first win?

I won my first race when I was 13. I think there was one other guy I was racing against but it still counts as a win.

What would you consider your finest moment on the bike?

Winning the USPRO Criterium Championships. It was very unexpected for me and since it's in Chicago I had a lot of friends and family there.

What was your worst or most embarrassing moment on the bike?

I crashed on my track bike while riding it on the road in street clothes going down a very steep hill. No one else saw it but it was one of the dumbest things I've ever done on the bike and I have a scar that will never let me forget.

What's the strangest thing you've seen on a bike ride?

At the 2004 Tour de Georgia, I was in a groupetto with Mario Cippollini. Out of the blue on a vacant stretch of road a well endowed woman lifted up her shirt and flashed us her breasts. Mario didn't speak much English but after seeing the woman he could say, "I love Georgia!"

What's the strangest thing you've done on a bike ride?

My previous story about riding my track bike on the road might qualify as strange if not dumb.

What's the one thing you've done on a ride that you will absolutely never do again?

Obviously, never ride my track bike on the road.

When you're not on your bike, what do you like to do?

Spend time with my son and watch him ride circles around other kids. Golfing also occupies my time.

If you weren't a pro cyclist, what would you be doing?

I have no idea.