Local Olympian prepares to hit the road in Tokyo Team USA cyclist, and Boulder Creek resident, Leah Thomas prepares for Tokyo Olympics Share Updated: 3:49 PM PDT Jul 23, 2021 usa cycling / casey b. gibson SOURCE: USA Cycling / Casey B. Gibson GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Team USA cyclist, and Boulder Creek resident, Leah Thomas prepares for Tokyo Olympics Share Updated: 3:49 PM PDT Jul 23, 2021 Team USA cyclist Leah Thomas has spent years living and training in the Santa Cruz Mountains.“I have ridden my bike all over the world and in all these different places. Boulder Creek is still by far my favorite place to ride my bike. The Santa Cruz mountains are amazing. It is varied and it is beautiful,” she said.Unlike many Olympians, Thomas did not dream of this moment as a child. She was introduced to the sport as an adult. It began as a hobby. She was working full-time as a teacher on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Slowly, her hobby grew into a passion. “I would be in class and my mind would start to wander to my ride and what I was going to do later,” said Thomas. After a strong performance at a national competition in 2015, Thomas decided to step away from teaching and fully commit to her budding career as a cyclist. Thomas raced for her first professional team in 2016. By 2019, she was a full-time cyclist in Europe. Now, she is an Olympian. “I just want to go out and have my best race. I want to be able to cross that finish line thinking 'I did everything I could to help put Team USA in the best possible position to win a medal,” said Thomas.Thomas splits her time competing professionally in Europe and living in Boulder Creek. Thomas and the U.S. women’s road cycling team will compete on Saturday at 9 p.m.