Rachel Heal

Rachel Elisabeth Heal (born 1 April 1973) is an English former racing cyclist, who currently works a directeur sportif for UCI Women's Continental Team Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank.[3]

Rachel Heal
Personal information
Full nameRachel Elisabeth Heal
Born (1973-04-01) 1 April 1973
Bebington, Wirral, Cheshire[1]
Team information
Current teamTibco–Silicon Valley Bank
Disciplines
  • Road
  • Track
  • Cyclo-cross
Role
Amateur teams
1997–1999Birkenhead Northend Cycling Club
2000Letchworth Velo
2007Rapha Condor
Professional teams
2004Farm Frites
2005Team Cambridge
2006Team Victory Brewing
2007Team Webcor
2008Team Tibco
2009Colavita–Sutter Home
Managerial teams
2010–2011Colavita/Baci
2012–2013Optum Pro Cycling
2014–2018UnitedHealthcare (women)
2014–2018UnitedHealthcare (men)
2019–Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank[2]

Career

Professional career

Heal originally took up cycling when she was at Birmingham University as a means of transportation.[4] She joined British Cycling's World Class Performance Plan in 2001[4] to become a full-time cyclist. She turned professional and rode for the Farm Frites team after obtaining a degree in chemical engineering. She has competed in world championships, Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games. Heal is also a British Cycling level 2 coach, and a qualified personal trainer.

Management career

Heal switched to management when she became co-director of the Colavita/Baci team in 2010 alongside team-mate Tina Pic, replacing Iona Wynter.[4][5] After the Colavita team disbanded at the end of 2011, Heal became director of the new Optum Pro Cycling team for 2012.[6] Heal left the team at the end of 2013 to join UnitedHealthcare,[7] where she made history in 2014 as the first British woman to direct a men's team at a world tour event.

Major results
2001
2nd Points race, British National Track Championships
4th Road race, National Road Championships
2002
1st Stage 5 Gracia–Orlová
National Road Championships
2nd Road race
3rd Time trial
2nd WCRA 2 day, Leicestershire
3rd Road race, Commonwealth Games
2003
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
National Track Championships
2nd Points race
3rd Individual pursuit
3rd Ronde van Drenthe
2004
1st Stage 7 Tour de l'Aude Féminin
1st Stage 1b (TTT) Holland Ladies Tour
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
3rd National Cyclo-cross Championships
3rd Points race, National Track Championships
7th Australia World Cup
2005
1st Omnium, Aztec Track Meet
National Road Championships
2nd Road race
2nd Time trial
National Track Championships
2nd Scratch
2nd Individual pursuit
2006
1st Tri Peaks Stage Race
1st Tour of Elk Grove Crit
4th Overall Tour of the Gila
Commonwealth Games
5th Road race
5th Time trial
2007
1st Stage 1 (TTT) Tour de Toona
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
2nd Overall Tour of the Gila
1st Stage 1 (ITT)
7th Women's Cycling Criteriums
2008
1st Stage 4 Tour of the Gila
3rd Sea Otter Classic
2009
7th Sea Otter Circuit Race

References
  1. "Profile". BBC.
  2. Frattini, Kirsten (27 February 2019). "Tibco-SVB unite in California for pre-season training camp - Gallery". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 3 March 2019. The team have also hired former pro Rachel Heal as the head director for the 2019 season.
  3. "Team Tibco - Silicon Valley Bank". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  4. Holtzman, Whitney (17 August 2011). "Rachel Heal is Leader". EspnW. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  5. Frattini, Kirsten (19 August 2009). "Pic to direct Colavita-Sutter Home women's team in 2010". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  6. Weislo, Laura (31 January 2012). "Colavita riders find reprieve in Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  7. "UnitedHealthcare names directors for 2014 squad". VeloNews. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
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