From Paris to Girona: Tandem Pilot Skyler Espinoza Enjoys Her New Retired Life

Tandem pilot Skyler Espinoza had planned all along to step away from competitive cycling following the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.

Then, the day arrived.

She sold her track and road bikes.

She packed her traveling bags.

And she signed up for Spanish classes.

You’ll now find Skyler and husband Nico in Girona, Spain, a city located in the northeast portion of the country removed from the bustle of Barcelona and known for its medieval architecture and filming locations for “Game of Thrones” 10 years ago.

“The move to Europe is one we’ve been thinking about for a long time,” Espinoza, 30, said by email from Girona, “and the timing just aligned for us to make the jump across the ocean. We wanted a little bit of a change of pace from life in the Bay Area (California), and so far we’ve been loving a life that’s a little bit more relaxed with siestas and getting to live in a beautiful old city.”

Skyler has been volunteering in Girona and taking a Spanish class.

Nico is a bike mechanic in a local shop.

The lifestyle is a significant change from the last two years, when Espinoza became the tandem pilot for Hannah Chadwick, and the partnership turned into a fast-moving journey that resulted in  Paralympic debuts for them last summer in Paris. Along the way they won bronze medals in back-to-back track world championships and a pair of gold medals at the 2023 Parapan American Games.

In Paris, they posted a sixth-place finishes in the 1,000-meter time trial and 3K pursuit.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was so magical,” said Espinoza, who was a rower at Columbia University and an assistant rowing coach at Stanford before turning to cycling. “I woke up with tears in my eyes a lot of days while in the (athletes) village. Until you’ve been through it, either as an athlete or a supporting person, it’s hard to really understand how much work goes into that goal.

“I just still feel so grateful,” she added. “Getting to have my name called and wear the USA kit is something I’ll treasure forever.”

The partnership turned into a close friendship, and even now, Espinoza and Chadwick talk frequently, one Paralympian to another.

“We catch up on the phone regularly, and it’s really nice to still be talking through this transition,” Espinoza said.

“Skyler and I were able to create a lot of memories together,” Chadwick said. “It was definitely a bittersweet experience for me.

“I’m really, really happy for her,” added Chadwick, whose new tandem partner is Liz Stevenson, a 2024 national champion in women’s pursuit who moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to train with Chadwick. “We have a life to do and things we want to do, too. I’m really happy for her and really excited to see what’s next for her.”

It all started with a farm in France a few years ago.

“My husband and I spent some of the first few months of our relationship working on a farm in southern France,” said Espinoza, who holds a master’s degree in Russian, Eurasian and East European studies, “and since then we’ve always dreamed of coming back to Europe. My husband has European Union citizenship through his mom, so we are very lucky in that aspect.

“The pace of life is more relaxed, and the cost of living compared to the Bay Area is so affordable. We’ve always been drawn to a life where we get to live a little more and work a little less, and I feel incredibly grateful that we’ve found that here.”

The cycling still may not be done for Espinoza. There are reminders of that every day in eastern Spain.

“I did get a gravel bike, which I’ve ridden to get out in the gorgeous countryside around Girona,” Espinoza said, “and also to join friends on the occasional coffee ride. I’ve also been running a lot and lifting, mostly doing whatever feels good for me and my body these days. I’ll always ride my bike, but definitely taking a step back for now.”

The journey has clearly slowed down in just a matter of months. A year ago, Espinoza and Chadwick were cranking up for a path toward the Paralympic Games.

“I’m still in a bit of a transition period and learning to be OK with not having a big goal in front of me,” Espinoza said. “Some days are harder than others with that, for sure. It’s been nice to feel more settled and connected to a local community. For now, I’m focusing on improving my language skills, soaking in the Spanish sunshine and just enjoying retired life. Any time U.S. Para-cycling has a competition in Europe, I’m going to try to be there.”

In the meantime, Chadwick and Stevenson have been named to the 2025 national team and are working toward the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in October.

“I do know Liz a bit, and obviously she’s a very talented young athlete — I wish I was as talented as she is!” Espinoza wrote. “I think the sky’s the limit for Hannah and Liz together in terms of results, but obviously my greatest wish is that they have a partnership that’s meaningful and caring in both directions. I know they’ll do great.”

Paul D. Bowker has been writing about Olympic and Paralympic sports since 1996, when he was an assistant bureau chief in Atlanta. He is a freelance contributor to USParaCycling.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.