Mara Abbott
Encyclopedia
Mara Abbott is an American professional women's bicycle racer who currently rides for the Diadora-Pasta Zara-Manhattan team. In 2010, Abbott became the first American ever to win the Giro Donne
, one of the Grand Tours of women's bicycle racing.
races, at Whitman College
, which is where she took up road bicycle racing as a springtme activity. After competing for Whitman in two straight National College Cycling Association Division II championships, where the team won back-to-back championships in both the team time trial and the team omnium, and Abbott won back-to-back championships in the road race and also won the criterium and the individual omnium in 2006, Abbott placed fifth in the USA National Championship Women's Road Race
. She also won back-to-back championships in the Mount Evans Hill Climb in 2005 and 2006.
She turned professional in 2007 and joined the Webcor Builders
team. In addition to a repeat of her college successes, she won one stage and the overall title in the Tour of the Gila
and the 2007 National Cycling Championships women's road race championship, defeating former champions Kristin Armstrong
and Amber Neben
in a sprint to the finish. She also continued to swim for Whitman in the fall and graduated with a degree in economics from Whitman.
Abbott joined the HTC-Columbia Women's Team in 2008 and began to excel in European races, winning a mountain stage in the Giro della Toscana. The next year, she won stage 3 and the King of the Mountains
jersey in the Giro Donne
, finishing second overall. In 2010, Abbott joined the Peanut Butter & Co.
TWENTY12 team and repeated her victories at the Tour of the Gila
and the USA NAtional Championship Women's Road Race
. She won two more stages and the overall championship at the Giro Donne
, which was the only women's Grand Tour event held in 2010. That same month, she won one stage and the overall title at the Cascade Cycling Classic
. She also won one stage and finished second in the Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin
.
For 2011, Abbott moved to the Diadora-Pasta Zara-Manhattan team. She won one stage and finished second overall in the Tour of the Gila
, behind 1996 Canadian Olympic medalist Clara Hughes
.
In addition to cycling, Abbott is a certified yoga instructor and enthusiast who spends at least an hour a day at yoga, even during race days.
2010: Peanut Butter & Co.
TWENTY12
2009: HTC-Columbia Women's Team
2008: HTC-Columbia Women's Team
2007: Webcor Builders
Giro d'Italia Femminile
The Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
, one of the Grand Tours of women's bicycle racing.
Background
Abbott was born and still lives in Boulder, Colorado. She was a competitive swimmer, primarily specializing in distance freestyleFreestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
races, at Whitman College
Whitman College
Whitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
, which is where she took up road bicycle racing as a springtme activity. After competing for Whitman in two straight National College Cycling Association Division II championships, where the team won back-to-back championships in both the team time trial and the team omnium, and Abbott won back-to-back championships in the road race and also won the criterium and the individual omnium in 2006, Abbott placed fifth in the USA National Championship Women's Road Race
2006 National Cycling Championships
Most of the 2006 national road cycling championships took place in June, although there were a few exceptions such as the Australian and American championships which take place in January and September respectively.-Jerseys:...
. She also won back-to-back championships in the Mount Evans Hill Climb in 2005 and 2006.
She turned professional in 2007 and joined the Webcor Builders
Webcor Builders
Webcor Builders is a commercial construction contractor with headquarters in San Francisco, California. The firm also has regional offices in San Mateo, California, Alameda, California, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and is among the largest builders in California with clients including Starwood...
team. In addition to a repeat of her college successes, she won one stage and the overall title in the Tour of the Gila
Tour of the Gila
The Tour of the Gila is a cycling stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987....
and the 2007 National Cycling Championships women's road race championship, defeating former champions Kristin Armstrong
Kristin Armstrong
Kristin Armstrong is a professional road bicycle racer and Olympic gold medalist, the winner of the Women's Time Trial at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Before temporarily retiring to start a family in 2009, she rode for in women's elite professional events on the National Racing Calendar ...
and Amber Neben
Amber Neben
Amber Neben is an American racing cyclist who won the UCI world time trial championship in 2008 and the U.S. national road race championship in 2003. She is the only active American female cyclist to win multiple UCI category 1 stage races, having won the Gracia Tour in 2002, theTour du Montreal...
in a sprint to the finish. She also continued to swim for Whitman in the fall and graduated with a degree in economics from Whitman.
Abbott joined the HTC-Columbia Women's Team in 2008 and began to excel in European races, winning a mountain stage in the Giro della Toscana. The next year, she won stage 3 and the King of the Mountains
King of the Mountains
The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...
jersey in the Giro Donne
Giro d'Italia Femminile
The Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
, finishing second overall. In 2010, Abbott joined the Peanut Butter & Co.
Peanut Butter & Co.
Peanut Butter & Co. is a sandwich shop in Greenwich Village, New York City that was founded in 1998 by Lee Zalben. Its menu primarily consists of peanut butter sandwiches and other items made with peanut butter....
TWENTY12 team and repeated her victories at the Tour of the Gila
Tour of the Gila
The Tour of the Gila is a cycling stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987....
and the USA NAtional Championship Women's Road Race
2010 national cycling championships
The 2010 national road cycling championships began in January in Australia and New Zealand. Most of the European national championships take place in June.-Jerseys:...
. She won two more stages and the overall championship at the Giro Donne
Giro d'Italia Femminile
The Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
, which was the only women's Grand Tour event held in 2010. That same month, she won one stage and the overall title at the Cascade Cycling Classic
Cascade Cycling Classic
The Cascade Cycling Classic is the longest consecutively run elite road bicycle racing stage race in the United States . It takes place in the Central Oregon region and is based in Bend, Oregon. It is a regular fixture for most of North America's top cyclists and teams. In recent years the race has...
. She also won one stage and finished second in the Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin
Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Feminin
The Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin was the longest running UCI event on the women's elite cycle racing calendar. It had been held annually in the Aude region of south-central France since 1985 until its cancellation after the 2010 edition....
.
For 2011, Abbott moved to the Diadora-Pasta Zara-Manhattan team. She won one stage and finished second overall in the Tour of the Gila
Tour of the Gila
The Tour of the Gila is a cycling stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987....
, behind 1996 Canadian Olympic medalist Clara Hughes
Clara Hughes
Clara Hughes, OC, OM is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater, and has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. Hughes won two bronze in the Summer Olympics in 1996 and four medals over the course of three Winter Olympics...
.
In addition to cycling, Abbott is a certified yoga instructor and enthusiast who spends at least an hour a day at yoga, even during race days.
Palmares
2011: Diadora-Pasta Zara-Manhattan- Tour of the GilaTour of the GilaThe Tour of the Gila is a cycling stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987....
, Stage 1 - 2nd overall, Tour of the GilaTour of the GilaThe Tour of the Gila is a cycling stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987....
2010: Peanut Butter & Co.
Peanut Butter & Co.
Peanut Butter & Co. is a sandwich shop in Greenwich Village, New York City that was founded in 1998 by Lee Zalben. Its menu primarily consists of peanut butter sandwiches and other items made with peanut butter....
TWENTY12
-
Giro DonneGiro d'Italia FemminileThe Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
, Overall - Giro Donne, Stage 8
- Giro Donne, Stage 9
-
USA National Championship Women's Road Race2010 national cycling championshipsThe 2010 national road cycling championships began in January in Australia and New Zealand. Most of the European national championships take place in June.-Jerseys:... - Tour of the GilaTour of the GilaThe Tour of the Gila is a cycling stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987....
, Overall - Tour of the Gila, Stage 1
- Tour de l'Aude Cycliste FémininTour de l'Aude Cycliste FemininThe Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin was the longest running UCI event on the women's elite cycle racing calendar. It had been held annually in the Aude region of south-central France since 1985 until its cancellation after the 2010 edition....
, Stage 4 - 2nd overall, Tour de l'Aude Cycliste FémininTour de l'Aude Cycliste FemininThe Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin was the longest running UCI event on the women's elite cycle racing calendar. It had been held annually in the Aude region of south-central France since 1985 until its cancellation after the 2010 edition....
- Cascade Cycling ClassicCascade Cycling ClassicThe Cascade Cycling Classic is the longest consecutively run elite road bicycle racing stage race in the United States . It takes place in the Central Oregon region and is based in Bend, Oregon. It is a regular fixture for most of North America's top cyclists and teams. In recent years the race has...
, Overall - Cascade Cycling Classic, Stage 3
2009: HTC-Columbia Women's Team
- Giro DonneGiro d'Italia FemminileThe Giro d'Italia Femminile is one of the Grand Tours in women's cycle road racing. It is currently called the Giro Donne. The Giro Donne is a 10-stage event taking place in Italy in early July each year, which means that it generally competes for attention with the men's Tour de France.With the...
, Stage 3 -
Giro Donne, King of the MountainsKing of the MountainsThe King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...
classification - 2nd overall, Giro Donne
- 3rd overall, Emakumeen BiraEmakumeen BiraThe Emakumeen Bira is a women's cycling race held in the Basque region of Spain. It has been held annually since 1992, starting out as a two stage race and building up to five stages in 2007. One of these stage is always a double stage.-Past winners:...
2008: HTC-Columbia Women's Team
- Giro della Toscana, Lari-Volterra stage
- Tour de Feminin Krasna Lipa, Stage 1
- Redlands Cycling Classic, Prologue
- Mount Hood Stage Rage, Stage 4
2007: Webcor Builders
Webcor Builders
Webcor Builders is a commercial construction contractor with headquarters in San Francisco, California. The firm also has regional offices in San Mateo, California, Alameda, California, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and is among the largest builders in California with clients including Starwood...
- USA National Championship Women's Road Race
- Tour of the GilaTour of the GilaThe Tour of the Gila is a cycling stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987....
, Overall - Tour of the Gila, Stage 2
- Redlands Cycling Classic, Stage 1
- 2nd Overall, Montréal World Cup