Nat X Ross
Nat Ross (born October 8, 1971) is an American professional cross-country mountain bike racer. He was the first American to win a professional race on a 29-inch mountain bike and is a two-time World Champion with multiple national titles. In 2008, he was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Ross is known as a pioneer in mountain-bike racing and innovation.
He was born in Colorado Springs and grew up in Colorado. He attended Western Colorado University, earning a BS in Biochemistry in 1994. While he enjoyed skiing, he grew interested in mountain biking as the sport rose in popularity and soon found success in Ultra-Distance and 24-Hour Solo events.
Ross spent more than a decade as a key rider for the Subaru/Gary Fisher UCI Professional Cycling Team (now Team Subaru-Trek) and competed in the first Winter X Games in 1994. He accumulated national titles in Marathon, 100-Miler, and 24-Hour disciplines, along with two World Championship titles. He also helped advance the sport by working with Keith Bontrager on the first 29-inch wheelsets for mountain bikes.
In 2006-2007, Ross and Team Vail won Race Across America. Even after stepping back from full-time competition, he has remained active in endurance events, gravel racing, cross-country, and E-MTB challenges. He helped promote the sport as the Event Director for the Big Sugar Gravel Race in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Off the bike, Ross is married to Aimee Ross, the director of Bike Bentonville. He is the founder and CEO of Tough Guy Productions, a Golden, Colorado-based company that promotes cycling events, ski promotions, and extreme competitions, and he started the Tough Girl Cycling team for women. He is also a co-founder of Bike School Bentonville and works as a consultant for outdoor manufacturers and as a coach at The Academy in Bentonville.
Ross earned the nickname “King of Pain” with Rebecca Rusch after their win at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo. He also has a brewing connection: in 1997, while Brewmaster for Breckenridge Brewery, he won a Gold Medal in the American Wheat category at the Great American Beer Festival, using his biochemistry background.
Nat Ross’s career spans racing, innovation, entrepreneurship, and mentoring the next generation of athletes.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:18 (CET).