Velo jeannie longo biography

Although she’s now competing at smaller races, (she rode her last National Championship in 2016 – coming in just shy of top 10 in time trial) she continues to be a cycling tour de force and apparently just can’t stop racing. A passion like that deserves to be shared so, in honour of her recent success, we’re looking at the career and legacy of this indisputable legend of women’s cycling.

From skis to wheels

Born in a small village in the French Alps, Longo essentially grew up at the foot of Mont Blanc and began her dazzling career as a downhill skier. A natural athlete from the beginning, she handily won the French schools’ ski championship and went on to take three university skiing titles before switching gears. Ready for a new challenge, she made the transition to cycling at the urging of her coach (and later husband) Patrice Ciprelli. The taste of success she had been introduced to on skis was quick to follow her into her new pursuit and within a few months, Longo won the French road race Championship at the age of 21. She has pretty much been on a crusade of victories ever since.

A laundry list of accomplishments

Hard as it might be to believe that all these wins can be attributed to one athlete, let’s give it a go. Jeannie Longo has been world champion 13 times, five times in the road race (1985-87, 1989, 1995), four times in the time trial (1995-97, 2001), three times in the individual pursuit (1986, 1988-89) on the track, and once in the track’s points race (1989). Never one to shy away from a challenge, in 1993 she also medalled at the World Championships in mountain biking, finishing second in the cross-country.

Having also competed in seven Olympic games, she has laid claim to four medals, including a gold in the road race of 1996. She was a mainstay during the brief run of the women’s Tour de France, winning three times in a row (1987-89) and has 24 French titles to her name, her latest as recent as 2010 – bringing her total of nati

French cyclist

Jeannie Longo (born 31 October 1958) is a French racing cyclist, 6-time French champion and 13-time world champion. Longo began racing in 1975 and was active in cycling through 2012. She was once widely considered the best female cyclist of all time, although that reputation is now clouded by suspicion of doping throughout her career. She is famous for her competitive nature and her longevity in the sport – when she was selected to compete for France in the 2008 Olympics, it was her seventh Olympic Games; some of Longo's competitors that year had not yet been born when she took part in her first Olympics in 1984. She had stated that 2008 would be her final participation in the Olympics. In the Women's road race, she finished 24th, 33 seconds behind winner Nicole Cooke, who was one year old when Longo first rode in the Olympics. At the same Olympics, she finished 4th in the road time trial, just two seconds shy of securing a bronze medal. She is currently number two on the all-time list of French female summer or winter Olympic medal winners, with a total of four medals including one in gold, which is one less than the total number won by the fencer Laura Flessel-Colovic.

Early life and education

Longo was bor

If not the greatest female cyclist of all time, Jeannie Longo certainly has had the longest career. As of 2011, she is still active, having won her first national title in 1979. Originally a skier (both alpine and cross-country), Longo has won all available titles in the sport. She has been world champion 13 times, five times in the road race (1985-87, 1989, 1995), four times in the time trial (1995-197, 2001), three times in the individual pursuit (1986, 1988-89) on the track, and once in the track’s points race (1989). In 1993 she also medalled at the World Championships in mountainbiking, finishing second in the cross-country. Jeannie Longo is the winner of four Olympic medals, including a gold medal in the road race of 1996 after four failed attempts as a favorite. Longo has competed in Olympic cycling all seven times the sport has been held for women (1984-2008). She has won the Grande Boucle three times in a row (1987-89) and has 24 French titles to her name, her latest as recent as 2010. Longo has also broken the world hour record a total of six times. Longo has retired, or been assumed to retire, several times, but except for a break between 1989-91 has always continued racing, often against competitors who were not even born when she won her first titles. Despite her successes, Longo is not very popular in the peloton, due to her competitiveness and preference to make her own decisions in preparation and during the race.