Sharon Laws
Encyclopedia
Sharon Laws is a British professional cyclist, riding for . She is an environmental advisor for the mining company, Rio Tinto, in Australia. She was born in Nairobi
, Kenya
, and has lived in Uganda
, South Africa
, Zimbabwe
and the UK.
Laws previously competed in adventure racing and endurance mountain biking. She won the eight-day Cape Epic mountain-bike race in South Africa
in 2004. She began riding on the road to train for mountain biking and her form on the road was confirmed when she moved to Australia. She was approached to ride for Australia after coming second in the national championship in Ballarat, but the British official, Dave Brailsford
, signed her for Team Halfords Bikehut
.
Her first victory in the team came was the Cheshire Classic stage race, which she won after coming second on the first and second stages.
She got in the break on the first day in the Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin
but eased up on team orders to let Nicole Cooke
catch the leaders. Cooke won the stage with Laws fifth. Laws crashed on the fifth stage but rejoined the peloton
after a long chase. Her elbow needed a stitch but she could continue racing. She finished sixth overall.
Her addition to the British team, which included Cooke and Emma Pooley
, was expected to improve chances of a medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
but Laws crashed twice and came 35th of 62 finishers. Later in 2008 she won the British National Time Trial Championships
.
2006
2007
2008
2010
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and has lived in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and the UK.
Laws previously competed in adventure racing and endurance mountain biking. She won the eight-day Cape Epic mountain-bike race in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 2004. She began riding on the road to train for mountain biking and her form on the road was confirmed when she moved to Australia. She was approached to ride for Australia after coming second in the national championship in Ballarat, but the British official, Dave Brailsford
Dave Brailsford
David John Brailsford CBE is a Welsh cycling coach and is currently British Cycling's performance director, and the general manager of Team Sky.-Early life:...
, signed her for Team Halfords Bikehut
Team Halfords Bikehut
Team Halfords Bikehut was formed in January 2008 with Dave Brailsford, performance director of British Cycling, the general manager. It had been a pro/national team mooted as the first full British professional women's team but there were men such as Rob Hayles in the group...
.
Her first victory in the team came was the Cheshire Classic stage race, which she won after coming second on the first and second stages.
She got in the break on the first day 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....
but eased up on team orders to let Nicole Cooke
Nicole Cooke
Nicole Denise Cooke, MBE is a Welsh professional road bicycle racer for the Mario Cipollini - Giordana Team team, and is the current Olympic road race champion.-Early life:...
catch the leaders. Cooke won the stage with Laws fifth. Laws crashed on the fifth stage but rejoined the peloton
Peloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...
after a long chase. Her elbow needed a stitch but she could continue racing. She finished sixth overall.
Her addition to the British team, which included Cooke and Emma Pooley
Emma Pooley
Emma Jane Pooley is an English professional cyclist and Olympic silver medallist currently riding for . Pooley was the 2010 World Time Trial Champion and is a former British Road Race and Time Trial Champion.-Biography:...
, was expected to improve chances of a medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
but Laws crashed twice and came 35th of 62 finishers. Later in 2008 she won the British National Time Trial Championships
British National Time Trial Championships
The British National Time Trial Championships are held annually. The winners of each event are awarded with a symbolic white cycling jersey featuring blue and red stripes, which can be worn by the rider at other time trial events in the country to show their status as national champion...
.
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 130 km, elite women)
2007
- 1st Tour of Bright (road, elite women)
- 5th (fastest 22 km 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, 80 km ride, 30 km paddle, female solo)
2008
- 2nd Australian National Road Race ChampionshipsAustralian National Road Race ChampionshipsThe Australian National Road Race Championships, are held annually with an event for each category of rider: Men, Women & under 23 riders. The event also includes the Australian National Time Trial Championships since 2002...
, 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)
- 2nd Stage 6, 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....
, AxatAxatAxat is a commune in the Aude department in southern France.Axat is a pretty tourist town dituated on the D118 in the high valley of Aude. Surrounded by mountains and gorges, the narrowest Gorges St Georges is only 3 km away. The River Aude runs through Axat making a picturesque setting and a...
(FRA) - 2nd Stage 6, Tour Cycliste Féminin International Ardèche
- 1st British National Time Trial ChampionshipsBritish National Time Trial ChampionshipsThe British National Time Trial Championships are held annually. The winners of each event are awarded with a symbolic white cycling jersey featuring blue and red stripes, which can be worn by the rider at other time trial events in the country to show their status as national champion...
2010
- 1st 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....
Team Time Trial - 1st Stage 1, Tour Cycliste Féminin International