Joanna Rowsell Shand MBE
Joanna entered the sport of cycling at a young age, when she was picked up by British Cycling's Talent Team programme in 2004 - it is impressive that her first major wins came shortly after in 2005 and 2006.
As a junior, she won the British National Track Championships pursuit in both these years, and whilst in senior competition on the road she won the 2006 British National Women's Series competition. Also in 2006, she represented the UK at the European and World Junior Track and Road Championships.
Joanna went on to achieve incredible results in international competitions, including winning her first World Title at the 2008 World Championships in Manchester as part of the women's pursuit team. In 2012, she was a member of the team pursuit squad winning the team pursuit event and setting a new world record at the 2011–12 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in London. She also became an Olympic Champion in the 2012 London Olympics, after which she focussed on individual events.
In 2014, she completed the World Championships and Commonwealth Games double with gold medals at both events in the Individual Pursuit that year.
Joanna made Team GB again in 2016 for the Rio Olympics, and despite entering as the underdogs, the team took a gold medal plus three new World Records in the process!.
After retiring from the sport in 2017, Joanna continues to support and motivate more women to experience cycling as a trained Breeze ride leader.
What is 100 Women in Cycling?
Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling is an annual list celebrating inspirational women who are encouraging others to cycle.
