Christina Smith does it all when it comes to cycling.

The 34-year-old Denton resident started out as strictly a mountain biker, turning pro in 2005 and racing on a national circuit. She soon realized, however, that living and training in Texas would not allow her to reach her full potential, so Smith elected to take on road racing.

DRC/Gary Payne

Christina Smith of Denton races with Lone Star Works, a local cycling team, and also is one of the state’s top-ranked cyclists in both road and mountain biking competitions.

View larger More photos Photo store

"I am not saying it's easier," Smith said of road racing compared to mountain biking. "But you can be a professional road cyclist living in Texas and compete at the highest level and be competitive and be a contender."

It wasn’t like Smith struggled in mountain biking. She was the top-ranked mountain biker in the nation earlier this year in the marathon series.

When Smith turned pro in mountain biking three years ago, her goal was to go to the Beijing Olympics. Cyclists qualify for the Olympics in mountain biking based on the total number of points earned in official races, which requires riders to participate in races around the world.

"It was a points system," Smith said. "The bottom line is not having the funds. To do all the races they have, and then going over and doing the World Cup, which is in Europe, and chasing points down, that takes a lot of money."

Smith also found herself at a disadvantage when competing against other mountain bikers who live outside of Texas.

"Being a mountain biker in Texas is a little tough because you're competing with girls who live in the mountains and train in the mountains, so they have [experience with] altitude and the climb," Smith said. "I raced the national circuit for a couple of years, and I am just as fit as those girls and as fast. When we're on the same playing field, it’s one thing, but racing in Colorado and Utah, I just couldn't really compete.

"If I lived there, that would be different. But that’s the biggest thing – living in Texas.

That’s why the road suits me pretty well."

Smith has found equal – if not more – success in road racing as she did in mountain biking.

"She is amazingly consistent," said Christian Williams, Smith's coach. "She races often and she races many different disciplines. She'll do mountain bike racing and road racing, and she is consistently at the top. She is also consistent in being focused on her training."

Smith specializes in criterium racing, which is a type of road race usually held on a short course on city streets.

She placed second in a criterium race July 13 in downtown Louisville, Ky., and she finished third in a similar race the previous day. Both races were USA Cycling sanctioned. She has her sights set on capturing her third straight win in the Double D Criterium in Denton on July 26.

Smith's long-term goal for road racing is to compete in the London Olympics in 2012.

"Hopefully, that will be my big long goal – to go to the Olympics for road," she said.

Smith started racing in 2000 when her husband, Toby, introduced her to the sport. She lives and trains in Denton, and she also coaches cycling, providing private and group lessons, along with skills clinics. She is also a horse trainer, specializing in show hunters and jumpers.

Smith graduated from North Texas with a degree in kinesiology and health promotions, along with teacher education to become a teacher and coach. She said she wants to race competitively as long as possible, but that she also would like to do more coaching.

"Ultimately, I want to race my bike as long as I can," Smith said. "I would like to coach it, and I would like to see it more in the [high] school system."

Smith is also looking to build up her cycling team and coaching outfit, Lone Star Works, where Smith and Williams coach together. She said racing requires a lot of money and sponsorships.

"On our women’s team, we have some sponsors but we are looking for some for next year," Smith said. "It takes a lot of money, and without them [sponsors] a lot of stuff wouldn’t be possible."

Practicing about 20 hours a week, Smith is constantly on her bike. She competes in various series in mountain bike, road racing and cross country. Smith also competes in cyclocross, which is like a mix between mountain and road racing.

Williams said Smith has a unique ability to perform well in all cycling disciplines.

"It's not real common," Williams said about succeeding in nearly all forms of competitive cycling. "The very best tend to do well in anything, but not many people are in the top category in mountain biking and road.

"Usually, if you're pretty good at one you may be a category or two down in the other. But she is at the top category in both."

Smith is the top female cyclist in Texas for nearly all disciplines.

Smith has captured multiple state championships, including the state cyclocross championship the last two years. Smith won the state criterium championship in 2007, along with the 2007 state road race championship. She also captured a championship last year in Super D.

"I want to do it all," she said.

BRAD McDONNELL can be reached at 940-566-6869. His e-mail address is bmcdonnell@dentonrc.com.