America’s Mara Abbott is one of the eight new signings for Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling for the 2015 season. The 29 year old is coming over from the American UnitedHealthcare team and has won the prestigious and toughest stage race for women, the Giro Rosa twice in her career (2010 & 2013). In 2010, Mara was the first ever American to win the race. Abbott also won the National Road Championship in 2007 & 2010. Starting as a competitive swimmer in her early years Abbott became a professional athlete in 2007 with the Webcor team and competed for Highroad, Peanut Butter & Co-Twenty12, Diadora-Pasta Zara, Exergy-Twenty16 and UnithedHealthcare over the years before signing her contract with Wiggle Honda. This year Abbott had a stellar season, amongst other impressive results, Mara won the Vuelta El Salvador, the GP de Oriente and, the Tour of the Gila for the fourth time in her career.
Mara’s climbing abilities and determination will make her one of our lead riders for the stage races and an indispensable member of the Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team in 2015. We have asked Mara a few questions in order to get to know her a little bit better.
We will publish a full feature story with her in the next couple of weeks. Here is a short intro:
Biggest Cycling Result: 2010/2013 Giro wins and my 2007/2010 US National Championship victories.
Happiest Cycling Memory: Every time I ride my commuter bike down the Boulder Creek Bike Path– and doing that with my dad on the way to swim practice growing up with stops for cinnamon rolls.
Favourite Race: Giro, Sunshine Canyon Hill Climb (its a local race up my favorite hill!)!
Why Wiggle Honda: They believe in me, have a great vision for the future, are well managed and take pride in their work. An opportunity to race with riders I respect and challenge myself.
Most exciting WHT product: A lot of stuff that says “WIGGLE” on it really big. 🙂
Loves: Mountains, Colorado, the outdoors, yoga, trail running, adventures, reading, the ABBOTTS, hooded sweatshirts, green juice, fresh air and freedom
Hates: cars, tuna fish, washing my bike (sorry!!), environmental destruction, over-dependence on internet, sitting still
Favourite Pre-race meal: OATMEAL Favourite Post race meal: Smoothies
Goals for next season: To return to defend the races that I love and increase my versatility and experience. Learn to work with and for new teammates and contribute to Wiggle Honda victories from all sides!
I tend to like to hold my cards close to my chest and not get super specific on goals in an arena where competitors might be reading 😉
