Ayesha McGowan explained

Ayesha McGowan
Fullname:	Ayesha Rosena Anna McGowan
Birth Date:	April 2, 1987
Birth Place:	Atlanta, Georgia^[1]
Role:	Rider
Ridertype:	Puncheur
Amateuryears1:	Apr 2019
Amateurteam1:	Amy D Foundation
Amateuryears2:	Aug 2019
Amateurteam2:	Alp Cycles
Amateuryears3:	2020
Amateurteam3:	Liv Racing
Proyears1:	2021
Proteam1:	(trainee)
Proyears2:	2022–

Ayesha Rosena Anna McGowan (born April 2, 1987) is an American professional racing cyclist who currently rides for UCI Women's World Team .^[2] She is also an activist and advocate aiming to improve diversity and inclusivity in cycling, especially for women and ethnic minorities.^[3] She is the first African American woman on a professional road cycling team.

Early life and amateur career

Unlike many professional cyclists who begin racing competitively at a young age, McGowan only started cycling as a commuter student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduation in 2010, she moved to Brooklyn, where she worked as a daycare teacher and taught private music lessons for five years.^{[4] [5]}

After seven years of commuting, McGowan made her racing debut at the 2014 Red Hook Crit in Brooklyn, the first edition to feature separate men's and women's races. Later that same year, she took her maiden victory in the Category 4 race at the New York State Criterium Championships in White Plains.

Professional career

In 2019, McGowan made her UCI professional-level racing debut when she competed in the Joe Martin Stage Race and in the Colorado Classic. On the third stage of the Colorado Classic, her attacking efforts garnered her significant attention and won her the Most Inspirational jersey for that stage.^[6]

Though McGowan had been a member of for the 2020 season while racing domestically, she made the step up to the professional UCI Women's Team in 2021 as a satellite/trainee rider. This allowed her to make her racing debut with the team after August 1, as per UCI regulations.^[7] This debut came in early September, when McGowan was selected for the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche.^[8] McGowan featured in the winning breakaway on stage 6, placing seventh,^[9] before eventually finishing 50th overall.^[10]

For the 2022 season,, now as, retained McGowan, who signed as a full-fledged professional.^{[11] [12]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ayesha McGowan. . 16 February 2021.
2. Web site: 'Satellite rider' Ayesha McGowan joins Liv Racing. . February 16, 2021. February 16, 2021.
3. Web site: Ayesha McGowan on her way to Women's World Tour with Liv Racing. José. Been. CyclingTips. Outside Interactive, Inc.. February 16, 2021. February 16, 2021.
4. Web site: Representation Matters: Ayesha McGowan. . February 16, 2021.
5. Web site: Meet Ayesha McGowan, the first Black American woman in pro cycling: 'The thing that we're working for isn't just existing in a space, it's thriving'. Sana Noor. Haq. CNN. April 20, 2021. April 20, 2021.
6. Web site: What Ayesha McGowan learned at the Colorado Classic. Fred. Dreier. Betsy. Welch. VeloNews. Outside Interactive, Inc.. August 31, 2019. February 16, 2021.
7. Web site: Ayesha McGowan to step up to Women's WorldTour with Liv Racing. Kirsten. Frattini. CyclingNews. Future plc. February 16, 2021. February 16, 2021.
8. Web site: Ayesha McGowan to make debut with Liv Racing at Tour de l'Ardeche. Kirsten. Frattini. CyclingNews. Future plc. September 6, 2021. September 16, 2021.
9. Web site: Korevaar finishes Tour de l'Ardèche with second place. . September 14, 2021. September 16, 2021.
10. Web site: Leah Thomas wins Tour de l'Ardeche. CyclingNews. Future plc. September 14, 2021. September 16, 2021.
11. Web site: 2022 Team Preview: Liv Racing Xstra. Kirsten. Frattini. CyclingNews. Future plc. January 31, 2022. February 22, 2022.
12. Web site: Ayesha McGowan. UCI. February 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220223020750/https://www.uci.org/rider-details/492020. February 23, 2022.