Shanaze Reade

Cyclist infobox
ridername = Shanaze Reade


image_caption =
image_size =
fullname = Shanaze Danielle Reade
nickname = Speedy Ready, Shindog
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|9|23|df=yes
height = height|m=1.72
weight = convert|76|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
country = UK
currentteam = Redline
discipline = Bicycle Motocross (BMX)
role = Racer
ridertype = Off Road
protourrank =
europetourrank =
amateuryears = 2001–2003
2004–2005
2005–2006
2006
amateurteams = Bulldog Bikes UK
Team Persil BMX
SIS/Adidas
Koxx Racing
proyears = 2007–Present
proteams = Redline Bicycles
majorwins =
updated = 9 July 2008

Shanaze Danielle Reade (born 23 September 1988 in Crewe, Cheshire, United Kingdom) [cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7025690.stm| publisher=BBC Sport| title=Olympic Dreams - Shanaze Reade| date=3 October 2007] is a professional British Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years began in 2002. She has the nicknames "Speedy Ready" and "Shindog", [cite web| url=http://www.dirtbikesupply.co.uk/news/story/100056| publisher=dirtbikesupply.co.uk| title=World 01 For Shanaze| date=30 July 2006] cite web| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/wheel-deal-bmx-racing-makes-its-olympic-debut-767984.html| publisher=The Independent| title=Wheel deal: BMX racing makes its Olympic debut| date=5 January 2008] . Reade is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Irish mother. [cite web| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/othersports.html?in_article_id=492108&in_page_id=1781| publisher=Daily Mail| title=The BMX Factor - Shanaze now four years ahead of schedule as she eyes golden double| date=6 November 2007]

Early years

Reade began racing in 1998 at the age of 10, at Tipkinder Park in Crewe. A local track operator named Bob Field, whose son also raced at the time, became her mentor. [cite web| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article3602522.ece| publisher=timesonline.co.uk| title=Shanaze Reade, pedalling to Beijing| author=Andrew Longmore | date=23 March 2008] She was influenced by BMX professional racer, Jamie Staff, who was also from Crewe and raced at Reade's home track before Reade's careercite web| url=http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/othersports.html?in_article_id=541989&in_page_id=1781| publisher=Mail on Sunday| title=Tough on the track... and off it, Shanaze is golden hope at BMX| author=Neil Wilson| date= March 2, 2008] and during its early stages. She bought her first race bmx for £1. [cite web| url=http://www.btplc.com/BTLondon2012/Ambassadorsprogramme/ShanazeReade/ShanazeReade.htm| publisher=BT Group| title=BT London 2012 > Our ambassadors > Shanaze Reade] and fell in love with the sport ever since. She was previously a Track & Field enthusiast but apparently got bored with 100 m sprint running and the Shot Put after five years in those sports before discovering BMX. [cite web| url=http://www.touchonlineuk.com/news/139/ARTICLE/1176/2008-02-13.html| publisher=Touch| title=Two Wheels Good…Shanaze Reade PREVIEW| author=Roger Ajogbe| date=13 February 2002]

BMX career to 2007

In 2005 she raced the National series with the men all year, despite being only 17 years old. [cite web| url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/12/30/brightest_hopes_primed_to_make.html| publisher=The Guardian Online, Sport Blog| title=Brightest hopes primed to make a big noise in 2007| date=December 30, 2006] [cite web| url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=3664&sID=3576| publisher=British Cycling| title=BC BMX National Series Rnd 6 - Event Report| 14 August 2006] She commented on racing the males in a "Descent World" interview:

Shanaze Reade fractured her knee two weeks before the UCI World Championships in July 2005 at a national event in England. She raced the World Championships with her knee wrapped up and on pain killers but crashed in the quarter finals.cite web| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/03/25/somysp125.xml| publisher=Telegraph| title=My Sport: Shanaze Reade| author=Gareth A Davies| date=25 March 2008]

Known for her power, she developed her strength racing boys and older amateurs, including men up to the present time. She won her first professional race in the Girls Pro at the American Bicycle Association (ABA) Winternationals in Phoenix, Arizona on 1 April 2006. She also won the following day. ["BMX Plus!" July 2006 Vol.29 No.7 pg.69 (results)] In 2006 she became British National No.1 in 19 & Over Elite Men after racing the National series with men all year, despite being only 17 at the time, 1.72 metres tall and 76kg.

In June 2006, Reade broke a metatarsal bone in practice. Her first race back was the 2006 European Championships where she competed only in the last two race events before the final Event. The cast came off four days before the European Championships Final Event.cite web| url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article2152270.ece| publisher=times.online.co.uk| title=Wheel trail blazer| author=Laura Deeley| date=28 July 2007]

She won the World Championships in Brazil in August 2006 despite an earlier injury to her foot.

Her BMX victories at junior level include three World, eight European and five British BMX championships. Reade is also a champion track racer, riding on Velodromes. In July 2007 she became the Women's Senior UCI BMX World Champion and at the 2007 UCI Track World Championships, [cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUKL0239605320070403 |title=British track team set the gold standard |first=Simon |last=Baskett |publisher=Reuters |date=3 April 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-03] she won the gold in the women's team sprint with Victoria Pendleton. It was only her second track race ever. [cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article1589084.ece |title=Women sprinters quick to follow gold standard of Wiggins |publisher=The Times |first=Jeremy |last=Whittle |date=2007-03-30 |accessdate=2007-04-03] Not only was she the first ever to win a track championship in her rookie year, she completed the feat after only six weeks of training. [cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7427251.stm| publisher=BBC Sport|date= May 30, 2008| title=In pictures (click blue box for 9th image)] She had originally taken up the sport to keep her fit for BMX competition.

Track racing

Supplemental Cyclist infobox
secondtype = Track Cycle Racing


image_caption =
image_size =
nickname =
height = height|m=1.72
weight = convert|76|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
country = ENG
GBR
currentteam = Redline Bicycles
discipline = Track
role = Rider
ridertype = Sprinter
protourrank =
europetourrank =
amateuryears = 2007–Present
amateurteams = Redline Bicycles
proyears =
proteams =
majorwins = flagiconUCI Team sprint world champion (2007, 2008)
updated = 7 August 2008
medaltemplates =Reade started track racing on 24 February 2007, her first ever competition on the velodrome was in the Manchester round of the 2006–2007 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics. She took second place with Anna Blyth in the Team Sprint in a time of 34.294 seconds. The Gold Medal winning Dutch team of Yvonne Hijgenaar and Willy Kanis' time was 33.966 seconds. Like Reade, Kanis is also a champion BMX racer. Reade and Blyth's qualifying time was the fastest of the event at 33.802 seconds. In the final round, the Dutch team made a false start, however, Reade didn't notice the call back to the start and completed a lap at full sprint. In an post race interview, Reade said:

A month later, on the 29 March, Reade went on to take first place in Team Sprint at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Palma de Mallorca along with Victoria Pendleton. [cite web| url=http://www.bmxcommunity.com/article.html?2075| publisher=bmxcommunity.com| title=Olympic Countdown: Shanaze Reade| date=6 March 2008] It was also the first ever Women's Team Sprint Gold Medal title in that event. Their winning time was 33.631 seconds. [cite web|url=http://www.velonews.com/article/11952| publisher=Velonews.com| title=Huff scores bronze in omnium as Wiggins takes pursuit final| author=Andrew Hood| date=29 March 2007] Reade was a last minute replacement for Anna Blyth, [cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/track.php?id=riders/2007/interviews/shanaze_reade07| publisher=cyclingnews.com| title=An interview with Shanaze Reade: Dream Debut on Track| author=Shane Stokes| date=27 April 2007] Reade's partner at her first track racing event a month prior.

This success in Velodrome racing follows the example of the former professional BMX racer, Jamie Staff, who had a successful career both in Velodrome track racing and BMX racing. At the 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester, she again won the gold in the women's team sprint with Pendleton. Reade was named one of the "Magnificent 7" by the "Daily Mail" in 2005, and on November 20, 2007 Reade was named "The Sunday Times" Young Sportswoman of the Year. [cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2910170.ece |title=MCC Young Sportswoman of the Year.|publisher=Times Online |first=Rob |last=Maul |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2007-12-13]

Olympic Games

Reade is still active in track racing but concentrated on BMX for the event's first ever inclusion in the 2008 Olympic Games. Having successfully defended her crown at the 2008 world championships, [cite web| url=http://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/shanaze_reade_world_champion/| publisher=UK Sport| title=Shanaze Reade defends world BMX title| author=Jessica Whitehorn| date=2 June 2008] Reade was named the sole women's member to the United Kingdom BMX Olympic team by British Cycling on 9 July 2008. [cite web| url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/olympics08/news.php?id=/news/2008/jul08/jul09news3oly| publisher=cyclingnews.com| title=Great Britain names strong Olympic squad| date=9 July 2008] She was the favourite to win the gold medal in the women's BMX event.

She crashed in the first qualifying heat time trial, but the second heat saw Reade set second fastest time, as it was the best of both times which counted; she went throught to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were run in three heats, with riders accumulating points depending on their placings. Despite crashing in the first heat, Reade gained enough points to put her through to the final. The final round saw Reade ride slightly more conservatively conceding the lead to Anne-Caroline Chausson on the first berm. She crashed again in the final berm when she clipped Chausson's rear wheel, conceding the chance of a medal; she did not finish the race but would, as a result of the incident which she caused, in any event have been relegated to last place had she done so. [cite web| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2600201/Shanaze-Reade-crashes-out-of-BMX-final-in-bid-for-golden-glory-at-Beijing-Olympics.html| title=Shanaze Reade crashes out of BMX final in bid for golden glory at Beijing Olympics| publisher=telegraph.co.uk| date=22 August 2008] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/cycling/7575946.stm|title=Reade crashes out of BMX medals|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2008-08-22|accessdate=2008-08-22]

Titles and awards

BMX titles

Amateur

British Cycling;2000:11-12 Girls and 12 Girls Cruiser BCFBMX National Champion. She also came in 4th in 12 cruiser against the boys that year;2001:Senior Women's Champion:13 Girls European Champion;2003:15 Girls European Champion;2004:16 Girls European Champion:16 Girls and 18 & Under Women's Cruiser World Champion;2005:18 & Under Women's Cruiser European Champion:17 Expert European Champion;2006:Junior Elite Women European Champion

Professional

British Cycling;2002:Superclass girl National Champion;2003:Superclass girl National Champion;2006:19 & Over Elite Men British National No.1

Union Cycliste Internationale;2006:flagiconUCI Junior Women World Champion;2007:flagiconUCI Elite Women World Champion:Elite Women European Champion:Elite Women Supercross World Cup Champion - This was the "Good Luck, Beijing" race held on August 22, 2007 on the Olympic track in Beijing, China exactly 362 days before BMX Olympic competition started in Beijing. [cite web| url=http://www.redlinebicycles.com/globalteam/?cat=9| publisher=redlinebicycles.com| title=Shanaze Reade - U.K] ;2008:flagiconUCI Elite Women World Champion:Elite Women Supercross World Cup Champion

Track results

;2007:1st flagiconUCI Team Sprint, World Championships, with Victoria Pendleton:2nd Team Sprint, UCI Track Cycling World Cup, with Anna Blyth:5th 500 m TT, World Championships;2008:1st flagiconUCI Team Sprint, World Championships, with Victoria Pendleton

Notes and References

External links

*Official|http://www.shanazereade.com/
*cite web|url=http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2001/8/6/210127.html| publisher=This is Cheshire|title=So close to a World Title for Shanaze|date=6 August 2001
*cite web| url=http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/news/20765/First-ride-for-Persil-backed-BMX-team| publisher=bikebiz.co.uk| title=First ride for Persil-backed BMX team| date=14 June 2004
*cite web| url=http://www.daleholmes.com/newspro/arc4-2005.shtml| title=UK National Burnham| publisher=daleholmes.com| date=2 May 2005]
*cite web| url=http://www.onebicycles.com/shanaze.htm| publisher=One Bicycles| title=Rider Interview – Shanaze Reade| date=15 July 2005
*cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2005_33_wed_05.shtml| publisher=BBC Radio 4| title=Woman's Hour (interview)| date=17 August 2005
*cite web| url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bmx/EventReports2006/20060813_bmx_national_series_round_5.asp Britishcycling.org.uk| title=Event report 2006 National Series round 5| publisher=British Cycling| date=13 August 2006
*cite web| url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/gbr/News2007/20070131_Shanaze_Interview.asp| title=BMX Star Takes to the Boards at Manchester World Cup| publisher=British Cycling| date=31 January 2007
*cite web| url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/gbr/News2007/20070321_Shanaze_Reade.asp| title=Pre-World Championship Interview: Shanaze Reade| publisher=British Cycling| date=21 March 2007
*cite web| url=http://www.industryoutsider.com/?p=69|publisher=industryoutsider.com| title=This girl will kick your ass (on a BMX)| date=24 March 2007
*cite web| url=http://www.eastergroup.co.uk/News_Detail.aspx?id=109| publisher=Easter Group| title=Easter Sponsors Young British Athletes| date=22 May 2007
*cite web| url=http://redlinebicycles.com/rlblog/index.php?p=294| publisher=redlinebicycles.com| title=Shanaze Reade Interview: Update going in to Euro Finals| date=27 June 2007
*cite web| url=http://www.lightthetorch.net/2007/shanaze-reade-aims-to-compete-in-bmx-and-team-sprint-in-beijing| publisher=lightthetorch.net| title=Shanaze Reade Aims to Compete in BMX and Team Sprint in Beijing| author=Sasha Manuel| date=5 April 2007
*cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/cycling/7179147.stm| publisher=BBC News| title=Reade targets golden year| date=11 January 2008
*cite web| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,2267541,00.html| publisher=The Observer| title=Quicksilver Reade busy doubling up| author=William Fotheringham| date=23 March 2008
*cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/cycling/7575967.stm| title=Video - I put everything into the race - Reade| publisher=BBC Sport| date=22 August 2008