Theresa Cliff-Ryan

Date of Birth: June 19, 1978
Height: 5'8"/1.7m
Weight: 136 lbs./62 kg./9.7 st.
Place of Birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Hometown: Cedar Springs, Michigan
Residence: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Canberra, Australia
Teams: Colavita Forno d'Asolo, Colavita/Baci, Verducci/Breakaway Racing
Education: Cedar Springs High School

Olympic Experience/UCI World Championships Results

18th place road race - 2011 UCI Road World Championships, Copenhagen, Denmark
68th place road race - 2010 UCI Road World Championships, Geelong, Australia

National Championship Experience

2nd place elite criterium - 2011 USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships
6th place road race - 2011 USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships
5th place elite road race - 2010 USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships
2nd place, points race & omnium - 2009 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships
1st place criterium - 2006 USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships

Career Highlights

Gold medal — 2010 Pan American Continental Road and Track Championships, women's points race
2009 overall points champion Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Three-time Track World Cup bronze medalist: 2008 Copenhagen World Cup - Points Race, 2008 Copenhagen World Cup - Scratch Race, 2009 Melbourne World Cup - Scratch Race
2006 USA Cycling National Criterium Champion
1st place — 2010 Tour of Somerville, Somerville, New Jersey
1st place — 2010 USA Criterium Speedweek, overall + four-time stage winner
1st place — 2010 Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Crit, Charlotte, North Carolina
1st place — 2010 Glencoe Grand Prix
1st place — 2009 Perth International Grand Prix, track points race, Perth, Australia
1st place — 2007 Tour of Somerville, Somerville, New Jersey
1st place — 2007 Chris Thater Memorial

Points of Interest

Theresa's maiden name is Cliff and her husband's (Gary) middle name is Cliff.

She was an accomplished speed skater before she ever donned a cycling kit.

She cannot hold a conversation when there are animals around.

Personal

Before Theresa Cliff-Ryan ever pinned on a race number and rolled to the start line of a bike race, she had already won 29 world titles, was a Pan Am Games champion, and was champion - not once but twice - at the World Games. She also held numerous national titles. Before bike racing there was skating and Theresa's skating career spanned 25 year before she retired in 2005.

Almost as soon as she learned to walk, her parents put her on skates and she started competing at the age of two. Later in her career, to cross train for skating, she rode her bike so when she retired from skating, it was natural for her to keep riding and she started racing locally. An old skating sponsor, who had learned of her retirement, called Theresa and wanted to know if she would like to try cycling, presumably at the level of competition that she was accustomed to. At the time, May 2006, she was with her husband in Australia, so she flew back to the U.S. and, as she puts it, "here we are today."

Where that is often looks like the top of the podium, where Theresa has claimed victory in some of North America's most prestigious races. Based on her distinguished career as a skater and now as a cyclist, there doesn't seem to be much that Theresa can't do as an athlete however, when the critics speak Theresa listens, if only to silence them through her actions. She finds support through her family, friends, and sponsors but also through the people that think she cannot succeed. She detests it when people tell her what she cannot do but finds satisfaction in proving them wrong.

During her downtime, when she's not training, racing, traveling, or recovering, she spends time with her husband, Gary, and her pup, Gorda. Among other activities she enjoys doing, an ideal way to pass the time for her is a nice dinner and movie with Gary and playing at the park with Gorda.