Alison Sydor is a renowned athlete not only in Canada but also internationally. The Edmonton-born cyclist rose to fame in mountain biking and road racing, establishing herself as Canada’s most accomplished female cyclist. Over her career, she claimed 17 World Cup medals in cross-country cycling. Velo News repeatedly recognized her as International Cyclist of the Year. She also competed in road racing, winning four national championships. More at iedmonton.net.
Alison Sydor was born in 1966. Her father worked in the mining industry, and as a result, she spent much of her childhood moving from place to place. At two years old, she showed an interest in sports, and by school age, she displayed exceptional cycling abilities. In 1989, she graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.
Competitive Cycling Career
At 20 years old, Sydor began training seriously in cycling, initially preparing for triathlons while studying at university. However, she soon shifted her focus to road racing, where she found immediate success. In 1987, at the Western Canada Games, she won gold medals in all three cycling disciplines: mountain biking, road racing, and cyclo-cross.
By the end of 1987, she secured silver at the Canadian National Road Racing Championships and was selected for the Canadian National Road Racing Team. Over her career, she won four Canadian National Road Racing Championships.
In 1991, she became the first Canadian woman to win an individual medal at an international road racing competition, finishing third at the UCI Road World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. That same year, Sydor made her mountain biking debut, finishing fourth at the Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup. In just her second race, she claimed first place in a cross-country World Cup event in Switzerland.
In 1992, she ranked third globally in road racing. She also competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, finishing 12th in the women’s individual road race. In 1994, she took part in the Commonwealth Games, earning silver in the team time trial and bronze in the road race. Her victory at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships was a defining moment, proving to herself that she had the skill and endurance to dominate the sport. She went on to win three consecutive world titles, and in 2002, she shared the world championship title in the team relay.
One of Sydor’s most memorable performances came at the World Cup race in Plymouth, England. Despite battling the flu, she fought for a top position until, near the race’s end, her bike chain slipped off the gear. Determined to finish, she carried her bike on her shoulder and sprinted toward the finish line while a pack of racers chased her down. She crossed the finish line in third place, securing a bronze medal.
Sydor also won silver in the inaugural women’s Olympic mountain biking cross-country race at the 1996 Atlanta Games, completing the 32 km course in 1:52:36. In total, she competed in four Olympic Games and continued participating in stage marathon races across Europe well into her 40s.
In 2008, she won the Absa Cape Epic in the women’s category, followed by a mixed category victory in 2009. She officially retired from professional cycling in 2010.
Awards and Recognition
From 1992 to 2004, Sydor never finished outside the top five at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. In 2006, at 40 years old, she placed ninth at the UCI World Championships.
Her career achievements include:
- Four UCI World Championship titles
- Silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
- Three UCI World Cup titles
- 17 World Cup victories
In 2007, she was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
Sydor also received numerous prestigious awards:
- 1996 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award for Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year
- 1996 Velo News Cyclist of the Year
- Named one of Canada’s 25 Cyclists of the Century by Canadian Cyclist
- Awarded the Order of British Columbia in 1990
Alison Sydor’s legacy in Canadian and international cycling remains unmatched, and her resilience, determination, and success continue to inspire future generations of cyclists.