Giana Roberge

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Giana Roberge


image_caption = Giana Roberge in November 2004 with an
Independent Fabrication Titanium Crown Jewel Bicycle
birthname = Giana Roberge
fullname = Giana Roberge-Goldberg
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1970|12|16
height = height|m=
weight = convert|0|kg|lb|abbr=on
country = USA
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype = All-rounder
amateuryears =
amateurteams = US National Team
proyears = 1996–1999
proteams = Timex Women's Team
majorwins = flagiconUCI World Masters Cycling Champion (2004)
flagicon|USA US Masters National Cycling Champion (2003)
updated = July 1 2008

Giana Roberge (b. December 16, 1970, New Hampshire) is an American female road cycle racer from who after retiring from professional cycling in 1999 due to a heart condition [ [http://www.teamspeedqueen.com/Coaching/home.html Giana Roberge - Cycling Coach ] ] , began another successful career as a team director, leading the Saturn Women's road team to become one of the most successful teams in the world. In 2003 she returned to cycle racing and has now competed in every major women's one day and stage race in the world.

On August 5th 2005 Giana was inducted into the International Cycling Hall of Fame in Utica, New York. Roberge was honoured for both her racing career and her contribution to the sport as the Director of the Saturn Womens Cycling Team and the president and owner of Team Speed Queen.

uccess

Early Racing Career (1992-2003)

Entered the world of cycling in 1992 when she worked for Paradox Bicycle Center in Saratoga Springs, New York [ [http://www.womencyclists.com/about.php Women Cyclists ] ] . After two years as manager and purchaser, she bought the shop. Simultaneously to owning the shop, Giana began to foray into road and mountain biking, quickly rising to the top of the women’s road peloton. In 1996 she turned pro with the Timex Women’s Cycling Team, and was met with good successes. She went on to become a member of the US National Team and raced with Timex until 1999 when a heart condition determined my premature retirement.

Manager and Director Sportif

Tom Schuler (Team Sports) hired Giana in August of 1999 as the manager of the Timex Team, and in 2000 she was both manager and Director Sportif of the team. In 2001 she merged the Timex Team with the Saturn Team and became the Assistant General Manager of the Saturn Team as well as the women’s Director Sportif [ [http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=4753 Daily Peloton - Pro Cycling News ] ] . She led them to become the #1 UCI ranked women's team and ensured back to back World Cup series titles, as well as assisting in the qualifying over 20 Saturn and Timex Team men and women athletes for the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

Return to Racing (2003 onwards)

In 2003, Roberge was given a clean bill of health and returned to racing when she had time between directing the Saturn Women to the #1 ranking in the US and managing both the men’s and women’s teams. She won the Master’s US National Time Trial Championships and was Silver Medalist at the Master’s World Championships. She was later quoted in interview say that "I'm really bummed that I got silver at Masters World's last year - I really wanted to get gold." [ [http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2003/interviews/?id=giana_roberge03 www.cyclingnews.com news and analysis ] ]

In 2004, a life long ambition to compete in the RAAM was put on hold because of three broken ribs and mono. In lieu of RAAM, she focused on winning the World Championship title, which she did in August riding an Independent Fabrication XS. Along with racing in 2004, she focused time on her new company, Team Speed Queen] and managing the Quark Team. She also lead European coaching tours, which included five weeks in Spain and four weeks at the Tour de France.

Other Work

*Leads clinics at bike shops and for cycling clubs (most specifically but not only for women) and coaching tours.
*Coaches individual athletes (men and women).
*Serves as a spokesperson for women’s road racing in the US
*Works as a Cycling industry consultant for products including Louis Garneau, Independent Fabrication, Athlete Octane and Gatorade.
*Race consultant for events including Redlands and Nature Valley.
*Has been called upon as an expert in the industry in magazines such as “Parenting,” “CA Outdoor,” “Horizon Air,” “Bicycling,” several newspapers leading into races, as well as within the industry “VeloNews,” and “CyclingNews.com.”
*Has represented cycling as a bike shop owner, a professional cyclist and a spokes-person for the community since 1994.

Teams and victories

;2003 - Team Speed Queen: flagicon|USA US National Time Trial Champion

;2004 - Team Speed Queen: flagiconUCI World Master's Time Trial Champion - UCI Masters Time Trial World Championships:L'Etape du Tour 12e édition (1st overall):Presque Isle Time Trial (1st place):Midi Pyrenees Time Trial Championships (1st place):Lance Armstrong Time Trial (1st Place):First Place Pinole Time Trial, CA (1st place):First Place Pine Cone Road Race, NJ (1st place)

;2007:Northern California/Nevada TT Championships (1st place):World Master's Time Trial Championship (2nd place)

;2008 - Proman/Paradigm:Valley of the Sun Stage Race (1st overall)

*

References

External Links

* [http://www.museum4kids.net/Int%27lHallsOfFame03.htm International Cycling Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.teamspeedqueen.com/ Team Speed Queen]