Ayesha McGowan facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ayesha Rosena Anna McGowan |
| Born | April 2, 1987 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Liv Racing TeqFind |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Puncheur |
Ayesha Rosena Anna McGowan (born April 2, 1987) is an American professional cyclist. She rides for a top women's cycling team, Liv Racing TeqFind. Ayesha is also a strong voice for change. She works to make cycling more welcoming for everyone. This includes women and people from different backgrounds. She is known as the first African American woman to join a professional road cycling team.
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Ayesha's Early Cycling Journey
Many pro cyclists start racing when they are very young. But Ayesha McGowan began her cycling journey later. She first used a bike to get around. This was when she was a student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
After finishing college in 2010, Ayesha moved to Brooklyn. There, she worked as a teacher for young children. She also gave private music lessons for five years.
First Races and Wins
Ayesha had been riding her bike for seven years. Then, in 2014, she entered her first race. It was the Red Hook Crit in Brooklyn. This race was special because it had separate events for men and women for the first time.
Later that same year, Ayesha won her first race! This victory happened in the Category 4 race. It was part of the New York State Criterium Championships. This event took place in White Plains.
Becoming a Professional Cyclist
In 2019, Ayesha McGowan started racing at a professional level. She competed in big events like the Joe Martin Stage Race. She also raced in the Colorado Classic.
During the Colorado Classic, Ayesha showed her strong racing style. Her efforts caught a lot of attention. She even won the "Most Inspirational" jersey for one stage. This award showed how much she motivated others.
Joining a Pro Team
Ayesha was part of the Liv Racing team in 2020. She raced with them in the United States. In 2021, she took a big step forward. She officially joined the professional UCI Women's Team as a trainee rider.
This allowed her to race with the team after August 1st. This is a rule set by the UCI. Her first race with the team was in September. It was the 2021 Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche. Ayesha even joined a winning group on stage 6. She finished seventh in that stage and 50th overall in the race.
For the 2022 season, Liv Racing kept Ayesha on their team. They are now known as Liv Racing–Xstra. Ayesha signed on as a full professional rider. This was a big achievement in her cycling career.
