Name: Shelley Olds 

Birthdate: September 30

Hometown: Groton, Massachusetts

Education: B.S. Health and Human Performance

Top 5 Professional Cycling Accomplishments:

2x U.S. National Criterium Champion and 2x U.S. National Scratch Race Champion

1st - 2010 Pan-American Road Championships, Mexico

1st - 2012 UCI Road World Cup, China

2nd - 2009 UCI Track World Cup Australia, Points

3rd - 2014 UCI Road World Cup, Drenthe (NED)

7th - 2012 London Olympic Games, Road Race

About Shelley:

Shelley Olds grew up in Groton, Massachusetts and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Exercise Science. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Roanoke College in Virginia where she served as the Captain of the Women’s Soccer Team for two consecutive years. She was named All-State, All-Region, and was nominated as an All-American. She was introduced to cycling by riding on the back of a mountain bike tandem in 2005. She went on to become one of the highest ranked road and track cyclists in the World.

Shelley was noted for her sprinting abilities and raced professionally for teams based in the United States, Italy, Switzerland, and Holland. Shortly before retiring from the sport, Shelley won the first ever La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta in September of 2015. Other career highlights include victories in the Giro di Burnaby one day race in Vancouver in 2015 and the Giro Toscana stage race in Italy in 2014. She won stage 2 and finished 2nd overall in the Tour of Norway in 2015. In 2012, she won the UCI World Cup Event in China, which led to her qualifying for the Olympic Games. She had stage victories in the women’s Giro d’ Italia in both 2010 and 2012. She was the Pan-American Road Race Champion in 2010 and two-time National Criterium Champion in 2010 and 2011. She was also a two-time National Scratch Race Champion on the track. In the early stages of her career, Shelley raced some mountain bike events and several cyclo-cross national events, including U.S. Grand Prix races across the country and the National Championships.

What inspired you to become a coach? 

In February of 2022, Shelley began working as the Director Sportif of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24 Cycling Team. The team was founded by her long-time friend and colleague, Nicola Cranmer and is based in Roanoke, Virginia. The arrival of the professional team in Virginia inspired Shelley to relocate from her home in Arizona to become the Head Coach of the first-ever Roanoke College Cycling Team. Her vision for the future of the team is to be recognized as one of the most prestigious collegiate cycling teams in the country. Shelley also coaches a local youth mountain bike team in Roanoke and still maintains some of her personal training clients from her previous job in corporate fitness. 

Best tip for a new bike racer?

Ride with other people as often as possible, especially those who are more experienced and a little stronger than you. Observe how they corner, pedal, how their position looks on the bike and how they descend. 

Favorite ride food?

Black Cherry CLIF Bloks

Favorite post ride/race meal? 

Mexican Restaurant

Motivational warm up song: 

Nora en Pure Purified

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Sing out loud to yourself whenever you are scared on the bike, like on a steep descent.  

Tell us something about yourself that people may not know. 

I lived on the coast of Spain for 5 years in a small town called L’Estartit and I had a French bulldog named Jazz.

Favorite words of inspiration:

“Always believe in yourself and your dream. There is no security in life, only adventure. The choice is yours to believe in yourself. If you think you can, you will...”

How can you help a client reach their goal? 

I have a true passion for helping others achieve their dreams, however big they may be. I have been working as a coach my whole life, in various sports besides cycling. I believe my experience and educational background, as well as my true love of the role of a coach can help clients of all levels achieve success.

Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Tele-Consultation with Shelley