- by Marianne Werz Obrien

Andrea’s father was an ardent cycling enthusiast. One of her favorite memories is going to see the Steamworks Tour de Gastown with him when she was only eight years old! At that time she had no idea that one year she would be racing in that historic district herself! However, with her dad’s love of the sport it was only a matter of time before Andrea (and now her little sister Stephanie) clicked into the pedals.  Andrea is a crit queen, having been the 2002 Canadian National Criterium Champion, and runner-up in the Criterium at the National Championships in 2000 and 2001.

This year Andrea won the Tour de White Rock, placed 2nd in the Tour de Delta, and 3rd in the Steamworks Tour de Gastown, the combination of which saw her crowned as the winner of the BC Superweek!  

Just the Facts

DOB: May 8th, 1973

Place: Vancouver, BC

Resides: Wichita Falls, Texas

Height: 5’7”

Weight: 145 lbs

Last Book Read: Cold Mountain

Review: Really good!

Last Movie Seen: The Italian Job

Review: Pretty good.

Looking Forward To: Lord of the Rings 3 

What were the highs for you this year?

I would have to say that going to Europe with the team this year was a definite highlight.  We first did the World Cup in Plouay, France.  Then we competed in the Trophee d'Or, a five day stage race in central France.  As a team, we hadn't raced in Europe together, so in that way it was a new experience for all of us.  We had several good results, and it was exciting to see how our team faired against some of the strong European teams.

Have you raced in Europe before? How does racing in Europe compare to racing stateside?

I have done some racing in Europe in the past, including some races in France, Holland and Italy.  My best result was in 1998 at the Tour International Feminin Bretagne in France.  There I placed 4th in the prologue, 5th in two of the stages, and 15th in the overall general classification.  I think what makes racing in Europe so difficult are the narrow roads and the depth of the competition.  There are so many strong teams with great riders!  You don't always see that same kind of depth in the states.

What is your favorite type of race and your favorite race this year?

I really enjoy all types of races.  But if I had to choose, criterium races would rank high on my list.  So, it's not surprising that my favorite race this year was the Steamworks Tour de Gastown in Vancouver, Canada.  This race brings together elite Canadian and international cyclists for a criterium race through the cobblestone streets of Gastown, an historical downtown district.  It was great to compete in my hometown in front of so many people!  I think close to 28,000 people were there.  Although this was my first time competing at this event, I do remember watching the race when I was eight years old with my father.  Back then I never imagined that I would be racing it years later.  I was really happy to manage a third place finish! 

Are you pleased with your results this year? What are your major goals for next year?  

I am really pleased with the results and improvements I've made this year.  Overall, I think  I have become a better cyclist.  Hopefully I will continue to improve next year.  My main goal for next year is to improve my climbing ability even further.   

The team had excellent results this year, and really seems to work together amazingly well. How does RONA foster such team spirit? How much do you see your teammates aside from at races? Do you train together?

It's quite amazing how all of us get along so well.  I think we have a lot of team spirit because all the girls are focused and dedicated to the team.  We don't actually get to train together too much because we live in different areas.  But we do get to know and train together at the start of the season when we are at training camp. And, we still manage to call and email each other occasionally.

I understand you are studying for a Masters Degree in Biology, with hopes of a career in genetics after cycling. How do you find time & energy for classes, study, research, and training/racing on your bike? I am amazed - it has to be quite a challenge!

It was definitely a challenge to find enough time to train, race, and work on my thesis.  I actually managed to graduate this past summer, so next season I am looking forward to focusing more on my cycling.  I'm really excited to have school finished with.....for now anyways.

Can you describe an average "day in the life" of a pro-cyclist for us? How many hours do you spend training?

The amount of time spent training varies depending on what phase of training I'm currently in.  In the "off-season", I do a bit of cross-training with weights and try to incorporate other sports for general fitness.  I still ride, of course, but other activities add some variety to my training.  During the racing season, sometimes you are racing more than you are training!  But generally, I train anywhere from two to five hours a day. 

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(_)/ (_)   Andrea

 Thanks much for talking with us, Andrea!  Enjoy some well deserved R&R!