Team Halfords Rider Profiles

 

Team Riders as of January 9, 2008

Source: Face Management

Female

Nicole Cooke
Catherine Hare
Tanja Slater
Wendy Houvenagel
Joanna Rowsell
Lizzie Armistead
Katie Curtis
Emma Trott
Jessica Allen
Katie Colclough

 

Male

Rob Hayles
Tom Southam

Rider Biographies

 

Nicole Cooke

DOB:   13.04.1983
Height:   167 cm
From:   Wick, Vale of Glamorgan

 

Major Results:  
2007
Winner - Tour de France Feminine

 

2006
World ranked No. 1
1st - World Cup Series
Bronze – Road Race - World Championship
5th – Time Trail – World Championship
Bronze – Road Race - Commonwealth Games
Winner - Tour de France Feminine
1st – Road Race – British Championships

 

2005
Silver – Road Race - World Championship
1st – Road Race – British Championships
1st – Points Race – British Championships

 

2004
Winner - Giro D’Italia Feminine
5th – Road Race – Athens Olympics
1st – Road Race – British Championships

 

2003
Winner - World Cup Series
Bronze – Road Race - World Championship
1st – Road Race – British Championships

 

2002
Gold – Road Race - Commonwealth Games
1st – Road Race – British Championships

 

2001
Junior World Champion – Cross Country - MTB
Junior World Champion – Time Trial
Junior World Champion – Road Race
1st – Road Race – British Championships

 

2000
Junior World Champion – Road Race
3rd – Junior World Championships – Cross Country – MTB

 

1999
1st – Road Race – British Championships

Brief Biography
Nicole started cycling in 1994 when she was 11 years old, began racing internationally in 2000 and has been a professional cyclist since 2002. Following her dream to become the best cyclist she can, Nicole has an impressive palmares featuring some of the biggest racing in the world of Cycling. The hlights of Nicole’s young carrear include being ranked World No 1 at the end of the 2006 series, winning the World Cup Series overall in both 2006 and 2003, numerous medals at Senior World Championships, Commonwealth Gold (2002), Bronze (2006) and an amazing 8 British Championships.

 

Her talents streatch into the Stage Races too and Nicole became the youngest ever winner of the Giro D’Italia in 2004 and also become the 2 times winner of the Tour de France Feminine in 2006 and 2007. As a Junior, Nicole had unprecedented success winning 4 Junior World Championships at Mtb, Time Trial and Road Race (2000, 2001). 

Catherine Hare

DOB:   13.3.1983
Height:   163 cm
From:   Whitby, North Yorkshire

 

Major Results:  

2007
4th – National Championship
17th – World Cup – Sweden
30th – World Championship
8th - Stage 3 & 9th - Stage 6 - Tour of New Zealand
KOM, 5th - Stage 1, 6th – Stage 2 & 4th – Stage 3 - La Grande Boucle Feminine

 

2006
1st – Newcastle Criterium

 

2004
2nd – U23 National Championship

 

Brief Biography
Catherine has loved cycling for many years and still has a pink bike she used to take on holidays! Her career began as a Triathlete and her results included 5th at the Junior World Championships and 2nd U23 European Championships. With swimming not being a key strength, Catharine turned her focus to cycling in 2004. She rode for Bianchi Aliverti in 2005, FBUK in 2006 and spent 2007 with Rapha Condor.  

Tanja Slater

DOB:   09.05.1978
Height:   165 cm
From:   Preston, Lancashire

Major Results:  

2007
1st – Stage 4a – Tour De France Feminine
23rd – GC Tour de L’Aude Stage Race

 

2006
2nd – National Circuit Race Championship
5th - National Road Race Championships
1st – National Womens Series Road Race – Capernwray

 

Brief Biography
Tanja started her career as a Triathlete and took up cycling just two years ago following a virus. 

 

Wendy Houvenaghel

DOB:   27.11.1974
Height:   
From:   Cornwall

 

Major Results:  
2007
4th – Individual Pursuit – World Track Championships
1st – Individual Pursuit – World Track Cup, Manchester

 

2006
5th – Pursuit – World Track Championships
6th – Time Trial – Commonwealth Games
1st - Pursuit – World Track Cup, Moscow
2nd – Pursuit – World Track Cup, Sydney
1st – Pursuit – British Championships

 

2005
Winner – Pursuit – World Track Cup Champion
1st – Pursuit - World Track Cup, Sydney
2nd - Pursuit – World Track Cup, Moscow

Brief Biography
Wendy only started cycling in 2002 after taking part in the London Marathon - her background was predominantly cross country running. Introduced to cycling as a recovery method from running by her husband, Wendy was spotted by British Cycling when she won the National Pursuit Title in 2005 and having been selected to ride for Britain at the World Cup went on to win a Silver Medal at her first ever international competition! Wendy is now a hot favourite to medal in the Pursuit at the Beijing Olympics.

Joanna Rowsell

DOB:   5.12.1988
Height:   177 cm
From:   Cheam, Surrey

 

Major Results:  
2007
Silver - CTT National 10mile Time Trial Championship
Silver – Circuit Race – National Championship
Bronze – Pursuit Race – National Track Championship
Bronze – Points Race – National Track Championship
14th – Road Race – European Championships

 

2006
9th – Time Trial – Senior World Championship
11th – Pursuit – Senior World Championship
4th – Time Trial – Junior European Championship
5th – Pursuit – Junior European Championship
3rd – Road Race – National Championship
1st – Road Race - U23 National Championship
1st – Pursuit – Junior National Championship
5th – Points Race – Junior National Championship
7th – Scratch Race – Junior National Championship

Winner – National Road Race Series
1st – Bedford two day stage Race

 

2005
1st – Pursuit - Junior National Championship

 

Brief Biography
Joanna started cycling in 2004 after Talent team visited her school. Despite having barely ridden a bicycle before, she was selected and began her first season road racing in 2005. She’s since competed for Britain at European and World level and rode for Global Racing Team in 2007. 

Lizzie Armistead

DOB:   18.12.1988
Height:   168 cm
From:   Otley, near Leeds

 

Major Results:  

2007
1st – Scratch Race – U23 European Championships
2nd – Points Race – U23 European Championships
6th – Road Race – U23 European Championships
4th – Scratch Race – UCI World Track Cup
17th – Points Race – UCI World Track Cup  
1st – Circuit Race – National Championships  

 

2006
4th – Scratch Race - Junior World Championships 
12th – Road Race – Junior World Championships
7th – Individual Pursuit – Junior European Championships
4th – Points Race – Junior European Championships
4th – Scratch Race – Junior European Championships
1st – Criterium – National Championships
2nd – Scratch Race – National Championships
2nd – Pursuit Race – Junior National Championships
3rd – Scratch Race - Junior National Championships
2nd – Points Race - Junior National Championships

 

2005
2nd – Scratch Race – Junior World Championships
7th – Points Race - Junior World Championships
11th – Pursuit – Junior World Championships
10th – Pursuit – Junior European Championships
1st – Points Race – Junior National Championships
2nd – 500m TT - Junior National Championships
4th – Scratch Race - Junior National Championships
   
Brief Biography
Lizzie has been riding and racing for the last three years. Prior to her selection for Talent Team, she was competing in various team sports and running. 

Katie Curtis

DOB:   01.11.1988
Height:   
From:   Cardiff, Wales

 

Major Results:  
2007
8th – Scratch Race – World Track Championships

 

2006
2nd – Points Race – Australian Junior International
2nd – Scratch Race - Australian Junior International
2nd – Pursuit - Australian Junior International

 

2005
1st – Scratch Race – British Championships
2nd – Points Race - British Championships
3rd – Sprint - British Championships

 

2004
4th – 500m TT – Youth Commonwealth Games
7th – Points - Youth Commonwealth Games

Emma Trott

DOB:   24.12.1989
Height:   165 cm
From:   Welwyn Garden City, Herts

 

Major Results:  
2007
CCT 10mile Championship
3rd - National Junior Road Race
3rd – Individual Pursuit - National Junior Track Championship
2nd – BC National Time Trial Championship
3rd – Womens National Road Race Series – Capenwray
3rd – Womens National Road Race Series – Brentwood

 

2006
National Junior Road Race Champion
National 800m Grass Track Champion
2nd – GHS National Final
2nd - Womens Team Series – Coalville Wheelers
1st – Pursuit - WCRA Track Championships

 

2003
CTT 25 mile Champion

 

Brief Biography
Emma is a keen sportswoman and first started cycling when she was just five years old. Her parents took her for a track taster session at Welwyn when she ten years old and she was instantly hooked. Since then, she’s juggled cycling with school work and is in her last year of school, taking English Literature and Sports Studies. 

Jessica Allen

DOB:   21.08.1989
Height:   160 cm
From:   Brecon, Wales

 

Major Results:  
2007
British Junior Time Trial Champion
British Junior Points Race Champion
National RTTC 25miles Junior Champion
19th – Time Trial – Junior European Championships
29th – Road Race – Junior European Championships

 

2006
British Junior Time Trial Champion

 

Brief Biography
Jessica has been cycling for four years and after being spotted by the Welsh Talent Team was selected for the Olympic Development Programme in 2006.

 

Katie Colclough

DOB:   20.01.1990
Height:   168 cm
From:   Grantham, Lincolnshire

 

Major Results:  
2007
10th European Junior Points Race
22nd European Junior Road Race
5th Senior Track Nationals Points Race
2nd Olveston National Series Road Race
3rd Warwick Criterium
3rd Sutton Criterium

 

Brief Biography
Katie started cycling in 2004. She was selected for Talent Team in 2005 and moved onto the ODP programme at the end of 2006.

Rob Hayles

DOB:   21.01.1973
Height:   187 cm
From:   Portsmouth

 

Major Results:  
2006
Gold – Team Pursuit – Commonwealth Games
Silver – Individual Pursuit – Commonwealth Games
Silver – Individual Pursuit - World Cup

2005
  Gold – Team Pursuit – Manchester World Cup
  Silver – Individual Pursuit – Manchester World Cup
  Gold - Team Pursuit – World Track Championships
  Gold – Madison – World Track Championships

2004
  Silver – Team Pursuit – Olympics
  Bronze – Madison - Olympics
  Silver – Pursuit – World Championships
  Silver – Team Pursuit – World Championships

2003
  Silver – Team Pursuit – World Championships
  6th – Stage – Etoile de Bessege

2002
  1st - GP du Chequers
  2nd – Stage – Tour of Sweden
  2001
  2nd – Road Race - National Championships
  7th – Tour of Sweden
  9th - Pays de Waes

2000
  Bronze – Team Pursuit – Olympics
  4th – Individual Pursuit – Olympics
  1st – Stage – Circuit des Mines
  3rd – Pursuit – World Championships

Brief Biography
As a multiple national champion on the track in Pursuit, Scratch, and Points events, Rob’s international career really blossomed at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. A key member of the Team Pursuit squad which picked up a bronze medal, he narrowly missed another medal in the Madison when he crashed in the final moments of the race when holding second place.

 

He then went on to win a bronze medal in the individual pursuit at the 2000 World Championships in Manchester. Rob rode as a road pro for the French Cofidis team between 2001 and 2003, but returned to ride full-time for the GB Team in 2004 as he prepared for the Olympic Games. He returned to the track in 2003, playing a vital role in the Team Pursuit event at the world championships where the team picked up a silver medal and broke the national record. 

 

He also took silver in the Individual Pursuit at the World Championships in 2004. At the Olympics in Athens, Rob exacted his revenge for that near miss in Sydney by riding an incredible Madison where, despite crashing again, he managed to pick himself up and ride with team mate Bradley Wiggins to a hard earned bronze. Rob also won silver in the Team Pursuit and was an integral part of the team throughout the qualifying and in the final.Following the success at the Olympics Rob achieved a lifetime objective by becoming World Champion at the 2005 World Track Championships in Los Angeles.

 

He picked up one rainbow jersey in the Team Pursuit and then went on to win another world title in the Madison topping off a superb track season. The Commonwealth Games in 2006 saw a continuation of form with Rob picking up a silver and gold in his two specialist areas – individual and team pursuit. His focus is now clearly set on the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and beyond to London 2012.

Tom Southam

DOB:   28.05.1981
Height:   183 cm
From:   Cornwall

 

Major Results:  
2007
Winner K.O.M, 4th GC, 2nd Stage 3 - Tour of Tasmania. (AU)
2nd - Herald Sun Tour Prologue (AU)
2nd stage 1, 3rd GC - De Bortoli Tour (AU)
7th - Tour of Taiwan

 

2004
2nd - Great Britain National Road Race Championships
Represented Great Britain at the World Road Race Championships, Verona (IT)

 

2003
1st Stage 2 T.T., 2nd GC - Circuit des 3 provinces
Winner Sprints jersey, 2nd points jersey, 2nd Stage 3,
7th Stage 2 Tour du Giron
Winner Sprints jersey, 10th GC, 10th Stage 3- T.T. Tour de Porte Ocean
2nd GC, 2nd stages 2 and 3 T.T., Tour de Haut Anjou

 

2002
1st - Stage 6 - Surrey International 5 day
1st K.O.M & Points classments Surrey 5 day & 3rd Overall
2nd - G.B. Elite Open National Championships

 

2001
1st G.P. de St. Luce
1st K.O.M and 13th overall - Trophy de la Liberation

 

2000
1st - Overall & 1st U21 - GB National U23 series
1st - Colour tech R.R. - Round 3 National series
1st - U23 GB national T.T. championships
 
Brief Biography
A confident, outspoken rider Tom was an established UK domestic rider for many years, selected for team GB on numerous occasions for the World Championships.  Tom moved to Australia in 2006 and has spent 2007 racing in there for domestic teams.  He will be returning to the UK in February to commence his contract with Team Halfords Bikehut.