Sydney Brown



Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Education: BS News-Editorial Journalism; MA Curriculum & Instruction
Occupation: Instructional Designer Technology Specialist
Discipline: Road, Cyclocross
Strengths: Time Trial
Former Team: Mercy Cycling Team, Team Revolution
Category: Road 1, CX 2
Years Racing: CX 4, Road 3
2010 Objectives: Since doing my first race in 2006, I've worked to develop as a racer. Initially, I raced MTB, Road and CX to try everything and see what I liked best. In 2008, I narrowed it to CX and Road. 2009 marked the decision to focus solely on road, doing CX and other racing only if I felt like it and it didn't undermine my road goals. This brought improvements across the board and helped me to a Nature Valley Grand Prix best amateur win with the Nature Valley Pro Ride team as well as a National Masters TT championship.

As a 2009 guest rider for DFT p/b Treads, I know what a great group of women I'm getting mixed up with for 2010 and I couldn't be more pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to DFT's ambitions.

I am also looking forward to doing justice to all the support I receive locally. Without all of these people willing to invest in me, there would be no top level racing for me. A huge thank-you to my 2010 local sponsors: Rightway Personal Training; Pepsico; Kayte Tramel, nutritionist; Nancy and Carl Brown with Woods Bros. Realty; John Peterson Photography; and of course, my sons, who take care of things when I'm gone and keep me on my toes.

My most embarrassing moment: Gosh. I don't know. I feel constantly embarrassed by all the errors I've made cycling. Might even be part of the motivation for doing it at all. I mean, what would it be like to ride an error-free race? Is it even possible?

Admired athlete: Les lanternes rouges - those athletes who go to the line not aiming for top ten or twenty, but who are rather simply determined to finish - no matter what. When things aren't going right and I want to quit, these are the racers who inspire me to suck it up and persist.