Mike Borda

Mike Borda has been a lifelong athlete, a 3-sport athlete in high school and continuing his wrestling career at La Salle University. Mike also has an affinity for rugby, playing and coaching from HS through graduate school. Mike played for the Philadelphia-White Marsh, a premier squad, as part of the Harp® Super League.

From 2000 to 2003, Mike shifted his energy to completing his doctoral degree in geochemistry and moved away from athletic endeavors, resulting in a fairly significant weight gain. In 2004, he lost over 60 pounds and started the road back to competitive athletics. He ran 5-15k events and won several running races in his age group.

He also started riding a road bike again for the first time since high school.

Mike started racing bikes in 2009, racing the MASS mountain bike series for Action Wheels MTB Team. He won four races in his first season and placed 2nd overall for the series. Mike continued racing mountain bikes in 2010 but started to transition to road racing.

In 2010, Mike joined the Viking Yachts/Action Wheels road racing team. Mike has enjoyed a successful racing career at a Cat-3 road racer and for 2015 he race with MAMBO Kings Racing, one of the most successful Masters teams in the region.

In 2011, Mike added cyclocross to his racing repertoire – he had a successful first season in the Cs, followed by a tough inaugural season in the Bs in 2012. For the past two years, Mike has raced for Elite Endurance Training Systems and is looking forward to a serious campaign in the MAC Series in 2015, while also returning to the dirt for more serious MTB racing action.
 
Height: 6’1” 

First Job: “Lifeguard.”
 
Favorite Vacation Spot: “New Orleans and New Hampshire.”
 
Pre-Race Feeling: “Some nerves, but far less than before. Mostly focus and excitement.” 
 
Early Racing Memory: “I did a mountain bike race called the Cascade Classic. The course was horrible and I missed a turn and went off course, downhill of course, and had to really dig deep to stay mentally in the race. I crossed the finish line completely despondent and sure I blew the race. It turned out that I won the race. I didn’t even realize I was in the lead…”
 
Funny Racing Memory: “This year at the Smoketown Crit the weather just kept deteriorating until it was just absolutely pouring rain while I was in a two-man break and there was about a quarter-inch of water on the tarmac. It was so epic that I shot this goofy look at a photographer which ended up being one of the funnier race photos I’ve seen.” 
 
Greatest Racing Moment: “I’m sure most people will put a race win here or at least a good result. For me, my greatest racing moment to date is finishing the NJ Elite Road Race this year as a Cat. 3 who never raced in major 1,2,3 race or over a 90 mile distance. I only placed 25th, but a lot of good riders didn’t finish at all. It is my proudest moment on the bike so far. Maybe this just means I haven’t had my greatest moment yet???”
 
Most Painful Moment In Life: “In 1994 five of my high school classmates were killed in a car wreck including a good friend and the lead singer in my band. That moment shaped my teen years.” 
 
Worst Injury from Racing: “Just road rash, cuts and bruises. I did hit my head pretty good in a crash at the Granogue CX race in the starting sprint. I finished the race to find out my head had swollen into the air vents of my helmet.” 
 
Closest Racing Friends: “Sean Mooney and TJ DiTullio. I’m not sure I would have raced without them. Also, the Viking Yachts/Action Wheels boys, BOSS Team, and my Heart House teammates.”
 
Funniest Racer: “Joey Iacona, he’s always smiling and positive, for some reason that makes me laugh.” 
 
Favorite Race: “Wilmington Grand Prix.”

Embarrassing Racing Memory: “Not sure I have a good one, although some of my results have been pretty embarrassing…”
 
Toughest Competitors: “Tom Gibbons.”
 
Favorite Athletes to Watch: “Sylvain Chavanel, any collegiate wrestler, Tim Johnson.” 
 
Qualities You Most Admire in People: “Honesty, compassion, fortitude.” 

What You Love Most About Riding Your Bicycle: “The ability to shut out everything else except the road and your bike. There is a strange freedom that comes from killing yourself on the bike. It puts a lot of things into perspective.”