What Distance To Empty Is Building

For those unfamiliar, my name is Starla Teddergreen, now entering my fourth year as a HUNT athlete. I raced professionally on the road for 15 years at the UCI level before transitioning into gravel and mountain bike racing.

In 2022, during a personal rebuilding year following my MS diagnosis, my husband and I launched Distance To Empty as a way to give back to the cycling community.
What began as a small privateer program has grown into a community driven platform supporting women at every stage of their cycling journey.

Today Distance To Empty includes:

• Pursuit Award riders, supporting new and developing athletes
• Development riders, gaining regional and national race opportunities
• Ambassadors, activating local communities
• Alumni, continuing mentorship and community building
• And now in 2026, our newly launched DTE Elite Team

The Elite Team represents the next step in our mission, increasing women’s participation, building visibility in racing, and shifting the culture around what women’s cycling can look like.

Why we chose to race the BWR Wafer distance

One of the intentional decisions our team made this season was to race the Elite Wafer distance.

DTE has always been about leading by example. Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with women who say,
“I’m just racing the shorter distance.”
“I’m only doing the Wafer.”

That mindset is something we want to help change.

Our goal is to get more women to the start line, help them have a positive race experience, and encourage them to invite their female friends to participate.

The Wafer distance plays a critical role in that.

For many women, from professionals to recreational riders, life is full. Many have full time jobs, families, and responsibilities that make training for the longest distance races unrealistic. The Wafer distance provides a competitive race that can be ridden hard from start to finish while still remaining accessible.

While the incredible women racing at the front of the Waffle distance receive well deserved attention, there are many strong athletes competing at other distances whose stories are rarely told.

By choosing to race the Wafer as an Elite team, we are helping build a competitive field, bringing media attention to more athletes, race programs, and sponsors, and telling stories that more women can identify with and be motivated by.

When women have a positive race experience, they come back.
And they bring their friends.

That is how the sport grows.

The first elite team race

BWR Arizona marked the first race for our new Elite squad.
We went into the weekend with no pressure around results. Our number one goal was simply to be together as a team, support each other through the life challenges each rider is facing, and race our bikes.

For fun. For the experience.
For the bigger goals ahead this season.
Each rider surprised themselves.

I believe one of the most important elements in racing is feeling supported. When athletes are not weighed down by performance pressure, they can show up, push their limits, and grow.
Before the race I suggested that if possible, riders try to stay together and support one another on course.

And that is exactly what happened.

No surprise, Lauren and I ended up riding together for most of the race. Having pre ridden sections of the course, I spent much of the day setting the pace and navigating lines through the technical terrain.

As the hours passed and the desert heat intensified, my body began to struggle. But having Lauren on my wheel kept me focused, and together we pushed all the way to the finish.

Racing the Arizona desert

The BWR Arizona course delivered everything desert racing should.

Dry dust. Deep sand. Loose over hardpack corners.

A twisting rollercoaster through McDowell Mountain Park.

The course wound through motocross trails, rocky sections, and technical singletrack, all under relentless dry heat. It demanded constant focus and rewarded riders who could stay composed and efficient.

It was the kind of terrain where equipment truly matters.

The Setup

For BWR Arizona we raced our Lauf Seigla with suspension fork, paired with Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race wheels.
The wheels delivered exactly what the terrain required, fast acceleration, stability in loose corners, and confidence when the course turned rough.

At the last minute we ordered Schwalbe G One R Pro 50mm tubeless tires from Performance Bicycle, running Fiberlink sealant, which proved to be the perfect combination for sand, chunk, and high speed hardpack.

Team results

For our first race together as a team, the results were a strong start.

I finished 2nd, with Lauren Zimmer in 4th.

Lindsey crossed in 5th, Rachel in 6th, and Shelley in 7th, giving DTE a strong presence throughout the Wafer field.

Joelle had an unfortunate run in with a moto that ignored closed course signage. She made the smart choice to step out of the race, but immediately shifted into support mode, cheering on teammates and being there at the finish.

That moment captured the spirit of this team perfectly.


A meaningful connection

Another powerful aspect of the weekend was BWR’s partnership with Bike MS.

As an athlete competing with multiple sclerosis, an invisible disease that many people do not fully understand, being introduced to that community meant a great deal to me personally.

Racing in extreme heat presents unique challenges for athletes with MS. Being seen and understood in that space was incredibly meaningful.

Looking ahead

The BWR Women Only Start is only the beginning.

Through Distance To Empty we are working to encourage more women to show up, line up, and experience the challenge and joy of racing.

When women are given the opportunity to race women, something powerful happens.

Confidence grows. Community grows.
Participation grows.

And we are just getting started. Join the BWR events to experience Women Only Starts!

Next stop, Sea Otter Classic.