Great blog post: "The Luckiest Woman in all of Cyclocross"

[choricoff]

The Luckiest Woman in all of Cyclocross (http://in-tent1.com/2014/09/25/the-luckiest-woman-in-all-of-cyclocross/)

This is a short but great read.

[numbskull]

I don't know who Helen Wyman is, but her parents have more than one reason to be proud of her. Nice story.

[christian]

Helen Wyman rides a bike for a living. Here are her palmares the last few years:

2006
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
5th UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
1st in Cheltenham
3rd in Kalmthout (2006/07 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup)
1st in Verbania
2nd in Overijse
3rd in Veghel-Eerde

2007
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
3rd British National Road Race Championships
9th UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships

2008
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Olen Road Race Belgium
1st De Pinte Road Race Belgium
1st Schmerikon Cyclo-Cross - Switzerland
1st Wadenswil Cyclo-Cross - Switzerland
8th European Cyclo-Cross Championships

2009
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Star Crossed USA
1st GP Wetzikon
1st Ciclocross del Ponte (Italy)
3rd European Championships
4th Rad Cross USA
7th Cross Vegas USA

2010
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships[5]
1st GVA Trophy Koppenberg
1st Fidea Jaarmarktcross
1st National Trophy Round 1 (Abergavenny)
1st Ciclocross del Ponte (Italy)
2nd GP Wetzikon
2nd GVA Trophy Asper-Gavere
3rd European Championships
3rd Nacht van Woerden
3rd Zonhoeven

2011
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Women's Tour Series[6]
1st Charm City Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st Burlington Cross
1st Rochester Cross
1st Nittany Lion Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st GP Gloucester Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st Superprestige Ruddervorde
2nd Koppenberg Cross
3rd Superprestigue Gieten
3rd Smithfield Nocturne[7]

2012
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Charm City Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st Rochester Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st Nittany Lion Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st GP Gloucester Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st European Cyclo-Cross Championships

2013
1st Sheffield GP
1st Charm City Cross Day 1 and Day 2
1st European Cyclo-Cross Championships
1st Koppenberg Cross

2014
1st British National Cyclo-cross Championships
1st Overall sprint standings, Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series[8]
3rd World Cyclocross Championships

[choricoff]

The blog post was actually the first time I had heard of Helen Wyman as well. I might have to start following women's cross.

[numbskull]

Obviously a great athlete but apparently also a great person. The latter means more in the long run.

[Bruce K]

Having met her personally and having heard about her latest "High Tea" clinic over the last 2 days, I can confirm she is a class act.

Her husband, Stephen, is a pretty cool guy, too. He's her full-time wrench, coach, and he also designs tires for Challenge. He also is a director sportif for a women's continental team in Europe.

BK

[bcroslin]

This should be posted in the "I hate cyclocross thread." She sounds awesome.

[TBDSeattle]

This should be posted in the "I hate cyclocross thread." She sounds awesome.

Ha! You meet the darndest people at a CX race.

I got pulled at one of my first CX races, which was one one of the larger local races, at the exact same time as another guy. We had both just races our hardest, our hearts were pounding, and spit, snot, mud and tears were running down our faces. Of course, we had been lapped by guys much faster, and our night was over. We chatted for a minute, had a laugh, and went our separate ways.

Two nights later that same guy showed up at my house, responding to a roommate ad that we had put up on craigslist. It took us a minute to recognize each other in normal clothing, and in a house, not a race.

That was 2006... today he is the CEO and I am the CFO of a company we started together. Sure, running a business is a hell of a lot of work, and we are not always making great progress, but I've known from literally the minute that I met him that he always gives it his all. Great qualities for a friend, and a business partner.

Sometimes I wonder how things would have worked out had we not been pulled at the exact same time.

TBD

[PaMtbRider]

Very cool story. What's the chances of this ever happening in a men's race.

[Lewis Moon]

I'm a fan.

[malcolm]

What a story and what a person. Restores some faith in sport at that level. Kudos to both.

[JStonebarger]

Thanks so much for posting that. I met Helen at Jingle Cross a couple years ago -- she is delightful.

[pakora]

You can add 1st at Charm City both days this year to her palmares. Just an amazing rider.

Heh I was considering a bike with the frame she rides, and after last weekend I was like, "as if... you're no Helen Wyman."

[redir]

NIce :)

[gavingould]

Wyman's really cool. One of the few who races a good bit in the US that i haven't seen in person.

another really likeable person is Georgia Gould - i was at Trek Cup this past weekend, and besides taking 2nd on day one and 3rd on day two, she watched many of the amateur races, cheering (+ mild heckling) plus just chatting with other spectators.

[vqdriver]

wow. thanks for posting. i love stories of athletes that we look up to turning out to be just good normal people. excellent excellent excellent. we need more RAKs in this world, small and large.

tbdseattle, that's a great story that belongs on the lifetime channel. :p