Fort Lewis College announces the retirement of Elke Brutsaert, the longtime women’s cycling coach whose leadership and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping the Skyhawks into a powerhouse in collegiate cycling.
Brutsaert joined Fort Lewis College cycling in 2011, bringing with her a wealth of experience from a distinguished professional racing career.
As a member of the Schwinn/Toyota mountain bike racing team from 1994 to 2001, she was a 10-year veteran of the U.S. national downhill team and achieved numerous top-10 finishes in World Cup and World Championship events. Notably, she clinched the Pro Super-D National Championship title in 2009.
Under her guidance, the Skyhawks women's team secured multiple national titles and developed riders who advanced to professional and international competition. Brutsaert's coaching philosophy emphasized not only athletic excellence but also personal growth, fostering a supportive environment that empowered athletes to reach their full potential.
“When Dave Hagan left the program, I knew it wouldn't take too much longer for me to follow behind him, because he and I were a well-oiled machine,” Brutsaert said. “We worked together really well, and the program grew a lot in that era when he and I were running the team … but I felt like I needed to stay to help Ian (Burnett) somewhat with that transition. There's just a lot of institutional knowledge that comes along with that job that was kind of walked out the door when Dave left and retired, and then I put my time in there and helped.”
Brittany Cowan is taking over for Brutsaert. A FLC graduate in 2014 and former student-athlete under Brutsaert, the transition from Brutsaert to Cowan has been amazing, according to Brutsaert.
“It's been an honor to succeed her and follow in her footsteps,” Cowan said. “They're some big shoes to fill, but she's been such a big part of my cycling career and has been there for so much of my life. She’s been my idol from the day I met her.”
Cowan cherishes the memories of fighting her teammates to be the first rider on Brutsaert’s wheel during practice. Cowan remembers how Brutsaert knew all the right lines and was such a talented rider.
The new FLC women’s cycling coach is thankful for all the time and effort that Brutsaert put into the program.
At 56 years old, Brutsaert doesn’t have the energy to keep up with her student-athletes on the bike every day. Recently, she’s taken a step back from riding with her student-athletes and she has been in more of an administrative role as a “desk coach.” Brutsaert has been working on strength and conditioning with the student-athletes and everything off the bike.
Brutsaert has enjoyed winning the national titles but realizes it’s not as important as it used to be. There are schools out there with more money than FLC so Brutsaert has focused on the relationships and building lifelong cyclists.
She’s enjoyed seeing her student-athletes grow and flourish in the community and the workforce. Brutsaert has enjoyed working with Hagen, Burnett and Chad Cheeney; the bond they have has been the glue of the program. She’ll miss the relationships she builds with the student-athletes.
Brutsaert's impact extended beyond the collegiate arena; she was actively involved in local cycling initiatives, including coaching clinics and youth programs, contributing to the growth of the sport in the Durango community.
“Elke’s impact goes far beyond podiums,” said Ian Burnett, FLC Cycling Director. “She empowered generations of riders with a diverse skill set and care that pushed riders to believe in themselves. Her legacy is woven into the culture of this team.”
Brutsaert plans to stay involved in the Durango cycling community with Durango Devo when Devo needs a substitute coach. She’s looking forward to coaching some women her age who want to get into the sport. Brutsaert is happy to have a little time to relax before she starts the next chapter of her career.
