Sharon Laws

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Sharon Laws


fullname = Sharon Laws
nickname =
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1974|7|7
country = GBR
height = height|m=1.64cite web| url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/5/225125.shtml| title=Athlete Biography - LAWS Sharon| publisher=Beijing Olympics official website]
weight = convert|54|kg|lb st|abbr=on|lk=on
currentteam = Halfords Bikehut Team
discipline = Road & MTB
role = Rider
ridertype =
amateuryears =
amateurteams =
proyears = 2008
proteams = Halfords Bikehut Team
majorwins =
updated = 30 May 2008

Sharon Laws (born 7 July 1974) [cite web| url=http://www.cyclingwebsite.net/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=42803|title=Sharon Laws|publisher=Cycling Website] is a British professional cyclist, riding for the Halfords Bikehut Team for the 2008 season. Born in Kenya, Laws is employed as an environmental advisor for the mining company Rio Tinto in Australia, she has lived in Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the UK. [cite web|url=http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/matt-lloyd-and-oenone-wood-win-aussie-nationals-13980| title=Matt Lloyd and Oenone Wood win Aussie nationals|author=Paul Verkuylen|publisher=Cyclingnews.com|date=30 May 2008]

Laws previously competed in adventure racing and endurance mountain biking. She won the gruelling eight-day Cape Epic mountain-bike race in South Africa in 2004. She began riding on the road to train for mountain biking, but her form on the road was confirmed when she moved to Australia 18 months ago. She was approached to ride for the Australian team following her second place in the National Championships in Ballarat, but Dave Brailsford already had his eye on her and she was quickly signed to the Halfords Bikehut Team.

Her first victory as part of the Halfords Bikehut team came in the Cheshire Classic stage race where she finished second on the first stage before taking the second stage the same day, along with the overall victory. [cite web|url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/EventReports2008/20080427_Cheshire_Classic.asp| title=Cheshire Classic Women’s Road Race| publisher=British Cycling|date=27 April 2008] She started well in the Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, getting in the break on the first day, but following team orders she sat up to allow Cooke, who was chasing, to catch them up. Cooke took the stage victory with Laws coming in 5th.cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/may08/aude08/?id=results/aude089|title=24th Tour de l'Aude - 2.2|publisher=Cycling News|date=25 May 2008] Laws was caught up in a crash on the fifth stage, but got up and managed to rejoin the peleton after a long chase. She needed a stitch in an elbow wound after the finish but her injuries were not serious enough to put her out of the competition. [cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/tour_de_laude_laws_has_stitch_in_elbow_after_crash_article_256842.html?aff=rss| title=TOUR DE L'AUDE: LAWS HAS STITCH IN ELBOW AFTER CRASH|author=Lionel Birnie|publisher=Cycling Weekly|date=21 May 2008] She went on to finish 6th overall.

Her addition to the British squad, as part of a strong team which included Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley, was expected to improve their chances for an olympic medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/7352496.stm|title= Cooke medal hopes boosted by Laws|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 April 2008] On the day, Laws was brought down twice by other riders, but rejoined the race on each occasion to finish 35th out of 62 finishers.

Palmarès

;2004:1st Cape Epic mountain-bike race (SA) (8 day MTB International stage race, female pair):8th Cape Argus, (SA)

;2006:5th TransAlps (8 day MTB International stage race, female pair):6th Grand Raid Crist Alp, Switzerland (MTB 130km, elite women)

;2007:1st Tour of Bright (road, elite women):5th (fastest 22km MTB leg) Anaconda Adventure Race (solo women):1st Gravity 12 hour (MTB enduro, mixed pair):2nd Chase the Sun 5 hour (MTB enduro, female solo):3rd Tour of Coleraine (road, elite women):1st Big Hill event (MTB enduro, elite women):2nd Mars Challenge (21km run, 80km ride, 30km paddle, female solo)

;2008:10th Tour of New Zealand (UCI 2.1):23rd Tour of Geelong (Women’s Road World Cup):2nd Australian National Road Race Championships, Ballarat (AUS):1st Cheshire Classic (GBR)::2nd Stage 1, Cheshire Classic (GBR)::1st Stage 2, Cheshire Classic (GBR):1st Olveston Women's Road Race (GBR): Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Axat (FRA)::5th Stage 1, Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Axat (FRA)::5th Stage 4, Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Axat (FRA)::2nd Stage 6, Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Axat (FRA)::7th Stage 9, Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Axat (FRA)

References

* [http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/News2008/20080416_Halfords_Laws.asp "Sharon Laws signs for Team Halfords Bikehut"] (15 April 2008) British Cycling (Palmarès)