Sharon Laws

Sharon Laws
	Laws in the 2009 UCI Road World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland
Personal information
Full name	Sharon Laws
Born	7 July 1974 (age 50); Nairobi, Kenya
Height	1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	54 kg (119 lb; 8.5 st)
Team information
Current team	Podium Ambition Pro Cycling
Discipline	Road & MTB
Role	Rider
Professional teams
2008–2009	Team Halfords Bikehut
2010–2011	You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead: Alerting users {{alert/first}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/first}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the contentious topics system if they have never received such an alert before. In this case, this template must be used for the notification.; {{alert}} ({{Contentious topics/alert}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the fact that a specific topic is a contentious topic. It may only be used if the user has previously received any contentious topic alert, and it can be replaced by a custom message that conveys the contentious topic designation.; {{alert/DS}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/DS}}) is used to inform editors that the old "discretionary sanctions" system has been replaced by the contentious topics system, and that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; {{Contentious topics/aware}} is used to register oneself as already aware that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; Editnotices {{Contentious topics/editnotice}} is used to inform editors that a page is covered by the contentious topics system using an editnotice. Use the one below if the page has restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction editnotice}} is used to inform editors that the page they are editing is subject to contentious topics restrictions using an editnotice. Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; Talk page notices {{Contentious topics/talk notice}} is used to provide additional communication, using a talk page messagebox (tmbox), to editors that they are editing a page that is covered by the contentious topics system. The template standardises the format and wording of such notices. Use the below if there are restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction talk notice}} is used to inform editors that page restrictions are active on the page using a talk page messagebox (tmbox). Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; If a user who has been alerted goes on to disruptively edit the affected topic area, they can be reported to the arbitration enforcement (AE) noticeboard, where an administrator will investigate their conduct and issue a sanction if appropriate. {{AE sanction}} is used by administrators to inform a user that they have been sanctioned.; Miscellaneous {{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia.;
2012	AA Drink–leontien.nl
2013	Lotto Belisol Ladies
2014	UnitedHealthcare
2015	Bigla
2016	Podium Ambition Pro Cycling
Major wins
	2008 British National Time Trial Champion; 2012 British National Road Race Champion; 2004 Absa Cape Epic Women's Category; 2009 Absa Cape Epic Women's Category
Medal record
Representing You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead: Alerting users {{alert/first}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/first}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the contentious topics system if they have never received such an alert before. In this case, this template must be used for the notification.; {{alert}} ({{Contentious topics/alert}}) is used, on a user's talk page, to "alert", or draw a user's attention, to the fact that a specific topic is a contentious topic. It may only be used if the user has previously received any contentious topic alert, and it can be replaced by a custom message that conveys the contentious topic designation.; {{alert/DS}} ({{Contentious topics/alert/DS}}) is used to inform editors that the old "discretionary sanctions" system has been replaced by the contentious topics system, and that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; {{Contentious topics/aware}} is used to register oneself as already aware that a specific topic is a contentious topic.; Editnotices {{Contentious topics/editnotice}} is used to inform editors that a page is covered by the contentious topics system using an editnotice. Use the one below if the page has restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction editnotice}} is used to inform editors that the page they are editing is subject to contentious topics restrictions using an editnotice. Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; Talk page notices {{Contentious topics/talk notice}} is used to provide additional communication, using a talk page messagebox (tmbox), to editors that they are editing a page that is covered by the contentious topics system. The template standardises the format and wording of such notices. Use the below if there are restrictions placed on the page.; {{Contentious topics/page restriction talk notice}} is used to inform editors that page restrictions are active on the page using a talk page messagebox (tmbox). Use the above if there are no restrictions placed on the page.; If a user who has been alerted goes on to disruptively edit the affected topic area, they can be reported to the arbitration enforcement (AE) noticeboard, where an administrator will investigate their conduct and issue a sanction if appropriate. {{AE sanction}} is used by administrators to inform a user that they have been sanctioned.; Miscellaneous {{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia.;
Road bicycle racing
UCI Road World Championships

Sharon Laws (born 7 July 1974)^[2] is a British former professional cyclist, who currently works as an environmental consultant.

Early life

Laws was born in Nairobi, Kenya, grew up in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire^[3] and has lived in Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the UK.^[4]

She gained an MSc in conservation and worked both before and during her cycling career as an environmental consultant to organisations including the British Government, the United Nations and for mining company Rio Tinto in Australia.

Cycling career

Laws previously competed in adventure racing and endurance mountain biking. She won the eight-day Absa Cape Epic mountain-bike race in South Africa in 2004 with partner Hanlie Booyens. She then competed again with Booyens in the Women's Category in 2009, once again claiming 1st prize.

She began riding on the road to train for mountain biking and her form on the road was confirmed when she moved to Australia. She was approached to ride for Australia after coming second in the national championship in Ballarat, but the British official, Dave Brailsford, signed her for Team Halfords Bikehut. After turning professional at the age of 33, she made her base Girona, Spain, and undertook winter training in Stellenbosch, South Africa.^[5]

Her first victory in the team came was the Cheshire Classic stage race, which she won after coming second on the first and second stages.^[6] She got in the break on the first day in the Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin but eased up on team orders to let Nicole Cooke catch the leaders. Cooke won the stage with Laws fifth.^[7] Laws crashed on the fifth stage but rejoined the peloton after a long chase. Her elbow needed a stitch but she could continue racing.^[8] She finished sixth overall.^[7]

Her addition to the British team, which included Cooke and Emma Pooley, was expected to improve chances of a medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing^[9] but Laws crashed twice and came 35th of 62 finishers. Later in 2008 she won the British National Time Trial Championships.

Laws winning the women's 2012 Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge

In 2012 she won the British National Road Race Championships.^[10]

In October 2015 she was announced as part of Podium Ambition Pro Cycling's squad for the 2016 season.^[11] Subsequently in June 2016 she confirmed that she would retire from competition at the end of the year.^[3]

Personal life

Laws retired from professional cycling in August 2016. In October 2016 Laws announced that she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer, for which she had started on a six month course of chemotherapy.^[12]

Palmarès

2004: 1st, Women's Category, Absa Cape Epic, South Africa (8 day International MTB stage race); 8th Cape Argus Cycle Race, South Africa

2006: 5th TransAlps (8 day MTB International stage race, female pair); 6th Grand Raid Crist Alp, Switzerland (MTB 130 km, elite women)

2007: 1st Tour of Bright (road, elite women); 5th (fastest 22 km MTB leg) Anaconda Adventure Race (solo women); 1st Gravity 12 hour (MTB enduro, mixed pair); 2nd Chase the Sun 5 hour (MTB enduro, female solo); 3rd Tour of Coleraine (road, elite women); 1st Big Hill event (MTB enduro, elite women); 2nd Mars Challenge (21km run, 80 km ride, 30 km paddle, female solo)

2008 – Team Halfords Bikehut 2008 season

2nd Australian National Road Race Championships, Ballarat (AUS)

1st Cheshire Classic (GBR)

1st Stage 2, Cheshire Classic (GBR)

1st Olveston Women's Road Race (GBR)

1st British National Time Trial Championships

2009: 1st, Women's Category, Absa Cape Epic; 5th Australian National Road Race Championships, Ballarat (AUS)^[13]

2010: 1st Stage 1, Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin Team Time Trial; 1st Stage 1, Tour Cycliste Féminin International

2012 – AA Drink-leontien.nl 2012 season: 1st British National Road Race Championships; 1st Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, South Africa; 3rd Team time trial, 2012 UCI Road World Championships

2014: 1st Mountains classification The Women's Tour^[14]

2016: 1st Overall Pirineus 3-day Mountain Bike Race^[15]; 3rd Overall Alpentour Trophy^[16]

References

^ ^a ^b "Athlete Biography – LAWS Sharon". Beijing Olympics official website. Archived from the original on 2008-09-09.
^ "Sharon Laws". Cycling Website.
^ ^a ^b Hall, Danny (23 June 2016). "CYCLING: Olympian Sharon Laws from Bourton enjoying her farewell season with Podium Ambition". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^ Paul Verkuylen (30 May 2008). "Matt Lloyd and Oenone Wood win Aussie nationals". Cyclingnews.com.
^ http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/sport/11564278.CYCLING__Sharon_Laws_signs_for_Bigla___and_leaves_door_open_for_Olympics_bid/
^ "Cheshire Classic Women's Road Race". British Cycling. 27 April 2008.
^ ^a ^b "24th Tour de l'Aude – 2.2". Cycling News. 25 May 2008.
^ Lionel Birnie (21 May 2008). "TOUR DE L'AUDE: LAWS HAS STITCH IN ELBOW AFTER CRASH". Cycling Weekly.
^ "Cooke medal hopes boosted by Laws". BBC Sport. 17 April 2008.
^ Cycling Weekly (2010-11-17). "Sharon Laws wins national road race title | Latest News". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
^ "CYCLING: Former Bourton star Sharon Laws makes Podium Ambition's team for 2016". HeraldScotland.com. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/37614468
^ "Ryan doubles up with solo break". cyclingnews.com. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
^ "Marianne Vos wins inaugural women's race". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
^ "MOUNTAIN BIKING: Sharon Laws triumphs in Pirineus three-day race in Spain". Evening Times. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^ Hall, Danny (13 June 2016). "CYCLING: Bourton's Sharon Laws finishes third in the prestigious Alpentour Trophy in Austria". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

External links

Sharon Laws at Cycling Archives (archived)
Sharon Laws at CQ Ranking
Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Sharon Laws". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2016-12-04.
Sharon Laws signs for Team Halfords Bikehut (15 April 2008) British Cycling (Palmarès)

[Beijing-1] "Athlete Biography – LAWS Sharon". Beijing Olympics official website. Archived from the original on 2008-09-09.

[2] "Sharon Laws". Cycling Website.

[argus-3] Hall, Danny (23 June 2016). "CYCLING: Olympian Sharon Laws from Bourton enjoying her farewell season with Podium Ambition". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

[4] Paul Verkuylen (30 May 2008). "Matt Lloyd and Oenone Wood win Aussie nationals". Cyclingnews.com.

[5] ttp://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/sport/11564278.CYCLING__Sharon_Laws_signs_for_Bigla___and_leaves_door_open_for_Olympics_bid/

[6] "Cheshire Classic Women's Road Race". British Cycling. 27 April 2008.

[aude-7] "24th Tour de l'Aude – 2.2". Cycling News. 25 May 2008.

[8] Lionel Birnie (21 May 2008). "TOUR DE L'AUDE: LAWS HAS STITCH IN ELBOW AFTER CRASH". Cycling Weekly.

[9] "Cooke medal hopes boosted by Laws". BBC Sport. 17 April 2008.

[10] Cycling Weekly (2010-11-17). "Sharon Laws wins national road race title | Latest News". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 2012-06-24.

[11] "CYCLING: Former Bourton star Sharon Laws makes Podium Ambition's team for 2016". HeraldScotland.com. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

[12] ttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/37614468

[13] "Ryan doubles up with solo break". cyclingnews.com. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

[14] "Marianne Vos wins inaugural women's race". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.

[15] "MOUNTAIN BIKING: Sharon Laws triumphs in Pirineus three-day race in Spain". Evening Times. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

[16] Hall, Danny (13 June 2016). "CYCLING: Bourton's Sharon Laws finishes third in the prestigious Alpentour Trophy in Austria". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

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