Alison Sydor is one of the most well-known names in mountain biking today. She has firmly established herself as a legend in the sport with an impressive resume full of victories. She has won three World Championship titles, the Silver Medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, three UCI World Cup titles and seventeen World Cup wins, and more NORBA races than you can count. In 1996 she won the International Cyclist of the Year from Velo News beating out 5 Time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain. Top this off with 12 World Championship Medals in her career.
The Canadian born Sydor started her career in cycling racing on the road. She won four Canadian National Road Championships and earned a spot on the Canadian National Road Team. Soon after joining the national team she became the first Canadian woman ever to earn a World Championship medal, with a Bronze Medal
Sydor was extremely successful on the road, but with her love for the mountains and trails, she realized her passion was for off-road racing. She began her mountain bike racing career in 1991 and took first place at the World Cup Cross-Country round in Chateu D’Oex, Switzerland.
The first time Alison won the Mountain Bike World Championships in 1994 was a major turning point for her. Prior to the win, Alison wondered if she would ever be talented enough to achieve such major victories in Mountain Biking. She says that when it sunk in that she had won such a huge title and achieved a lifelong personal dream, the accomplishment gave her confidence in her racing as well as in her outside life.
Through her success, she has become a role model for mountain-bikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and young athletes. She says she takes her inspiration from her teammates and training partners. “I draw from their energy, motivation and tremendous work ethic as they train to pursue their own dreams, and that is something that inspires me.” She is very popular at races, taking time to talk to fans and being especially available for the media. She believes part of her job is to promote mountain bike racing and its image to better the sport overall.
Career Highlights
2007
- 1st place Trans Alp Challenge (mixed category with Carsten Bresser)
- 3rd Ischgl Ironbike marathon
2006
- 9th place world championships Rotorua
- 3rd overall Sea Otter
- 1st Fontana NORBA short track
- 1st roc dazur
2005
- 6th place world championships Livigno
- 1st overall Sea Otter
- 1st overall Boerne NORBA
- 2nd place overall Trans Alp Challenge (mixed category with Andeas Hestler)
- 1st Marathon world cup finals roc dazur
2004
- 4th place Olympic Games Athens
- Bronze medal World Championships Le Gets
- 1st overall Waco NORBA
- 1st overall swiss cup national series
- 4th overall world cup series
- 1st roc dazur
- 1st Vermont NORBA short track
2003 Key Results
- 2nd World Championships Lugano, Switzerland
- 1st Continental Championships Columbia
- 2nd World Cup XC Vancouver, Canada
- 1st Norba Short Track, Durango CO
- 2nd Norba XC, Durango,CO
- 1st Norba Short Track Idaho
- 2nd Norba XC Idaho
2002 Key Results
- 4th Place World Championships, Kaprun, AUT
- 3rd World Cup XC, Grouse Mtn., Canada
- 4th World Cup Finals XC, Les Gets, France
- 5th World Cup XC, Madrid, Spain
- 9th World Cup XC, Houffalize, Belgium
- 2nd Norba NCS XC, Mt. Snow, Vermont
- 3rd Swiss Cup Granichen
- 3rd Norba Short Track, Troy, Wisconsin
- 3rd Norba Short Track Durango, Colorado
- 3rd Norba Short Track, Mt. Snow, Vermont
- 4th Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, California
- 4th Norba XC, Troy, Wisconsin
- 5th Norba NCS XC, Durango, Colorado
2001 Key Results
- 2nd, World Championships, Vail, Colorado
- 3rd, UCI World Cup, Napa Valley, California
- 8th, UCI World Cup, Houffalize, Belgium
- 6th, UCI World Cup, Grouse Mountain, Canada
- 8th Overall, UCI World Cup Series
- 1st, Canadian National Championships
- 3rd, NORBA XC, Mt. Snow, Vermont
- 3rd, NORBA Short Track, Mt. Snow, Vermont
- 4th, NORBA NCS STXC, Deer Valley, Utah
- 5th Overall, Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, California
2000 Key Results
- 5th, Olympic Games, Sydney, Australia
- 2nd, World Championships, Spain
- 3rd overall, World Cup
- 1st, World Cup, Mazatlan, Mexico
- 3rd, World Cup, Sarentino, Italy
- 2nd, World Cup, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
- 1st, Whistler International Classic Stage Race
1999 Key Results
- 2nd, World Championships, Are, Sweden
- 1st overall, World Cup Series
- Silver Medal, Pan American Games
- Order of British Columbia
- 3rd, World Cup Napa, California
- 1st, World Cup Sydney, Australia
- 2nd, World Cup Madrid, Spain
- 2nd, World Cup St. Wendel, Germany
- 3rd, World Cup Plymouth, England
- 1st, World Cup Big Bear, California
- 3rd, World Cup Canmore, Alberta, Canada
- 3rd, World Championships, Mt St-Anne, Canada
- 1st overall, Cactus Cup, Arizona
- 1st, Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, California
- Canadian National MTB Champion
- 2nd, Canadian National Road Race Championships
- 1st overall, World Cup Series
- 1st, World Cup Napa, California
- 2nd, World Cup Silves, Portugal
- 3rd, World Cup Plymouth, England
- 1st, World Cup Canmore, Alberta, Canada
- 2nd, World Cup Conyers, Georgia
- 2nd, World Cup Bromont, Quebec, Canada
- 1st, NORBA Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
- 1st, NORBA Red Wing, Minnesota
- 1st, NORBA Finals, Mt. Snow, Vermont
- 1st, Mercury Tour, Colorado
- Canadian Female Mountain Bike Athlete of the Year
- Woman Mountain Biker of the Year, VeloNews
