Amber Neben was born February 18, 1975. She is 5' 4" tall with red hair, and somewhere around 110 lbs. She started racing in mountain biking first, then made the transition to road racing. Originally, she was a runner and played soccer, then converted to cycling. She has been competing in some form or another since she was small, so the transition to cycling was smoother for her.
Amber is an excellent climber, which she has proved time and again in some of Europe's toughest stage races as well as the nationals and a number of classics. Amber has won multiple UCI category 1 stage races, and the Tour De l'Aude two years in a row. She rode well in the Worlds recently in 2005 attacking off the front, and I think she would love nothing more then to hear national anthem played for her on the top spot of the podium.
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Amber is well educated, graduating from college before she started road cycling, and she was also a quick study learning the ropes during some of the hardest races in Europe. A well rounded rider worthy of selections needs to prove themselves in national and international events, and Amber has done that time and again. She is one of American's best hopes in just about every discipline from stage racing, classics, even the worlds. Amber is in a very elite company with the likes of Kim Baldwin, Dede Barry and others like Mari Holden when it comes to a handful of America women who race well on all continents.
Amber has teamed up with the best American women in the world, and early on in her career she rode against the likes of Geneviève Jeanson, Pia Sunsteadt, Judith Arndt, Lyne Bessette, Rasa Polikeviciute and the indomitable Jeannie Longo. Perseverance paid off when she won Stage 8 on June 19, 2001 in the HP Challenge. Previously temperatures were below freezing on Galena Pass and snow was on the slopes, adding to the war of attrition. Amber took the Burley to Magic Mountain ski resort stage by a minute and a half over Nicole Demars. If there were any doubts, they were cast aside, as she was now winning in the ranks of the big international contenders of Europe. She had made her mark on stage racing, and each year, her climbing abilities have become outstanding! 2001 was a good year for Amber, as she won the California state time trial championships and the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend Oregon.
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In 2002 Amber won the Gracia Cez stage race or known today as the Gracia Orlova in Czech Republic. This was a very big deal, as it is the prestigious stage race of the Czech Republic, and it always draws many of the top women from Europe. In stage 4, Amber rode brilliantly motoring up the steep 15 percent climbs to take the stage nearly 2 minutes ahead of the nearest contenders, notably Priska Doppman a good climber in her own right. The stage was set, and everyone’s eyes were on Amber to see if she would become the first America women to dominate stage racing in Europe.
In 2002 HP Challenge, Amber climbed valiantly in stage 5 to catch the wheel of Geneviève Jeanson, but the Queen of Lachine was already becoming known as the Canadian mountain goat, one of the few obstacles to Amber in the ranks of the great climbers. In the Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale, Amber mounted a brilliant bit of soldiering in her counter attack in stage 12 gaining as much as a minute 42 seconds before the peleton started reeling her back in. This was a strong message being sent to the rest of the peleton from someone who had just started to show her prowess in stage racing.
Back in the states, Amber won the Housatonic Valley Classic and took 2nd place in both the road and time trial national championships. Amber was becoming very well rounded, winning both one day classics, and stage races, not to mention doing well in the nationals. Amber crashed in the 2002 Worlds at Zolder in the road championships which took her out of the race, but she was a good sport about it, knowing these things happen, but I wonder just how well she would of done that day.
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In 2003, Amber was nominated for the road race and time trial, since she was the national road champion and highest ranked American rider in UCI standings. Amber won the 2003 national road Championships in Seven Springs, Champion Pennsylvania, a dream come true after being so close years before, and she also went on to win Le Tour du Grand Montréal stage race in Canada. Again, she was showing her prowess in stage racing besting not only Geneviève Jeanson, but Lyne Bessette and Magali Le Floch as well. This was a great victory in a field that contained the crème of top women pros. She had left her mark, and set the stage for better years to come as both a stage racer and a good climber, someone not to be taken lightly.
If anything proved that Amber was a great stage racer and climber, it came in 2004 when she won the Tour of the Gila by almost a whopping two minutes! This race previously dominated by Geneviève Jeanson was now in the hands of an America, and there was 7 Americans in the top ten that year. In stage 2, Amber escaped with Sara Carrigan on the finishing brutal climb to secure her spot on the GC. The Gila was one of her greatest victories to date, but the best was yet to come! Also in 2004, during the Geelong Tour in Australia, Amber held off the chasers in an impressive breakaway into a strong headwind.
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In 2005, Amber won one of the most prestigious stage races in all of Europe, Tour De l'Aude, which could only be compared with likes of the Grande Boucle or the Giro De Feminin. While the final GC was the closest I have seen, only 1 second, nevertheless the victory was hers! Amber escaped in stage 3b and managed to hang on through the final climb. Amber took the lead again in stage 7 and went on to win after a hard fought battle with Trixi Worrack. All bets were off, and no one could take Amber Neben for granted anymore. She had clearly proved herself to be one of the top stage racers and climbers in the world. Amber was now in a very elite club of only a handful of great climbers and stage racers worldwide.
2006 proved to be even better then before, as Amber went on to hold off all comers in the Tour De l'Aude winning it two years consecutive back to back, becoming only the second person in it's long history to do that. Amber also won Redlands Classic, one of California's premiere stage races. As of July 2006, Amber also went on to win the Pan American Cycling Championships.
Amber was named athlete of the Month in May 2006 by the U.S. Olympic Committee, after winning the Tour De l'Aude for the second time in a row after a close battle with Susanne Ljungskog.
While Amber is still in her prime now, she could continue with her winning form for many years to come. I wish her all the best, and she has certainly proved to be one of the greatest America women cyclists ever. May she have many more happy victories to come!
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2001 - 1st place in California State Time Trial Championships.
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Copyright or © Petite Raines
Links to articles about Amber Neben.
Amber Neben at Wikipedia
Interview with Amber Neben at Cyclingnews.
Interview with Amber Neben at Daily Peloton.
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Country: USA
 Amber Neben Petite Raines
Teams
2000 - SoBe-Headshok
1st - 3rd Expand
February 3-4, 2001 - Boulevard Road Race and Criterium at San Diego CA, USA. - 1st place. February 11, 2001 - St Valentine's Day Massacre Criterium, USA - 2nd place, Brea California. February 18, 2001 - Valley of the Sun, stage race in USA - 2nd place in stage 3 of Mercury Criterium, Phoenix Arizona. April 21, 2001 - Temecula Wine Country Road Race, USA - 2nd place, Temecula California. May 26, 2001 - USCF National Road Championships, USA - 2nd place in road race (RR), Redding California. 2001 - California State Championships, USA - 1st place in time trial (TT). June 19, 2001 - Hewlett Packard International Women's Challenge, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 8, Burley to Magic Mountain. July 12, 2001 - Cascade Cycling Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 1, Pacific Power Cascade Lakes Road Race, Bend Oregon. July 13, 2001 - Cascade Cycling Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2, Prime Equipment Pilot Butte time trial (TT), Bend Oregon. July 14, 2001 - Cascade Cycling Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place on final GC, Bend Oregon. August 2, 2001 - Tour De Toona stage race, USA - 3rd place in stage 2, Hollidaysburg Road Race, Altoona Pennsylvania. August 25, 2001 - GP Féminine International du Québec, stage race in Canada - 2nd place in stage 4, (TT) Bedford. August 26, 2001 - GP Féminine International du Québec, stage race in Canada - 1st place in stage 6, Sutton to Mount Sutton. August 26, 2001 - GP Féminine International du Québec, stage race in Canada - 3rd place in Mountains classification on the final GC.
May 3, 2002 - Gracia Cez, stage race in Czech Republic - 3rd place in stage 3, Detmarovice to Stramberk. May 4, 2002 - Gracia Cez, stage race in Czech Republic - 1st place in stage 4, Lichnov. May 5, 2002 - Gracia Cez, stage race in Czech Republic - 1st place on final GC. May 5, 2002 - Gracia Cez, stage race in Czech Republic - 1st place in Mountains Classification on the final GC. May 19, 2002 - Housatonic Valley Classic, USA - 2nd place, Danbury, Connecticut. May 19, 2002 - Housatonic Valley Classic, USA - 1st place, (QOM) Danbury, Connecticut. May 19, 2002 - Housatonic Valley Classic, USA - 2nd place, (Sprints) Danbury, Connecticut. July 18, 2002 - USCF Elite National Women’s Time Trial Championships, USA - 2nd place in Time Trial (TT), Franklin, Tennessee. July 21, 2002 - USCF Elite National Women’s Road Race Championships, USA - 2nd place in road race (RR), Nashville, Tennessee. August 16, 2002 - Grande Boucle Féminine International, stage race in France - 3rd place in stage 12, Le Mans to (Sarthe)—Châteaudun (Eure-et-Loir). 2002 - National Rankings - 2nd place.
March 6, 2003 - Pomona Valley Stage Race, USA - 2nd place in time trial (TT), San Dimas, Glendora California. March 8, 2003 - Pomona Valley Stage Race, USA - 3rd place in stage 3, San Dimas, Puddingstone road race. March 9, 2003 - Pomona Valley Stage Race, USA - 2nd place on the final GC. April 1, 2003 - Redlands Classic stage race, USA - 3rd place in Prologue (TT), Mt. Rubidoux, Redlands California. April 6, 2003 - Redlands Classic stage race, USA - 3rd place in stage 5, Road Race (RR), Redlands Business Central Sunset Road Race. May 1, 2003 - Gracia Orlova stage race in Czech Republic - 1st place in stage 2 (TT), Kuznia Raciborska. May 5, 2003 - Gracia Orlova stage race in Czech Republic - 3rd place in Points classification. May 21, 2003 - USCF Elite National Time Trial Championships, USA - 3rd place in Time Trial (TT), Seven Springs, Champion Pennsylvania. May 22, 2003 - USCF Elite National Women’s Road Race Championships, USA - 1st place in road race (RR), Seven Springs, Champion Pennsylvania. June 3, 2003 - Le Tour du Grand Montréal, stage race in Canada - 2nd place in stage 2, Ville De Rigaud. June 5, 2003 - Le Tour du Grand Montréal, stage race in Canada - 1st place on final GC. 2003 - National Rankings - 3rd place.
June 17, 2004 - US Elite Championships and Olympic trials, USA - 2nd place in Time Trial (TT), Redlands California. April 28, 2004 - Tour of the Gila, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 1, Tyrone Time Trial (TT), Tyrone, New Mexico. April 29, 2004 - Tour of the Gila, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2, Road Race (RR), Silver City to Mogollon, New Mexico. May 2, 2004 - Tour of the Gila, stage race in USA - 1st place in final GC, New Mexico. September 17, 2004 - Giro della Toscana Internazionale Femminile, stage race in Italy - 1st place in stage 3a, Porcari - Montecarlo - Porcari.
June 21, 2005 - USCF Elite National Time Trial Championships, USA - 2nd place in Time Trial (TT), Antelope Island Park City, Utah. May 16, 2005 - Tour de L'Aude Feminin, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 3b, Bram to Fanjeaux. May 22, 2005 - Tour de L'Aude Feminin, stage race in France - 2nd place in stage 9, Axat to Station De Ski Mijanes-Donezan. May 22, 2005 - Tour de L'Aude Feminin, stage race in France - 1st place on final GC. May 22, 2005 - Tour de L'Aude Feminin, stage race in France - 2nd place in Mountains classification on the final GC. 2005 - National Rankings - 2nd place.
March 24, 2006 - Redlands Classic stage race in USA, 1st place in Time Trail (TT), Panorama Point Time Trial, Redlands California. March 26, 2006 - Redlands Classic stage race in USA, 1st place in stage 3, Sunset road race (RR), Redlands California. March 24, 2006 - Redlands Classic stage race in USA, 1st place on final GC, Redlands California. April 23, 2006 - Tour De Berne, Switzerland - 1st in Sprint Classification, Berne Switzerland. April 27, 2006 - Gracia Orlova, stage race in Czech Republic - 2nd place in stage 1, Detmarovice to Štramberk. April 28, 2006 - Gracia Orlova, stage race in Czech Republic - 2nd place in stage 2, Lichnov. April 29, 2006 - Gracia Orlova, stage race in Czech Republic - 3rd place in stage 4, Kuznia to Raciborska . April 30, 2006 - Gracia Orlova, stage race in Czech Republic - 2nd place on final GC, Orlová Czechovakia. May 20, 2006 - Tour de L'Aude Feminin, stage race in France - 2nd place stage 9, Axat to Station De Ski Mijanes/Donezan. May 21, 2006 - Tour de L'Aude Feminin, stage race in France - 2nd place in Mountains classification. May 21, 2006 - Tour de L'Aude Feminin, stage race in France - 1st place on final GC, Limoux France. June 6, 2006 - Pan American Cycling Championships, Brazil - 1st place in Time Trail (TT), Cabreuva Brazil. July 22, 2006 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 3rd place in stage 4 time trial (TT), Schmolln. July 22, 2006 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 2nd place in stage 5, Schmolln. July 23, 2006 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 2nd place on the final GC. July 23, 2006 - International Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen, stage race in Germany - 3rd place in the sprints competition on the final GC. July 30, 2006 - Ladies Golden Hour, Denmark - 1st place in team time trial (TTT), Arhus. August 7, 2006 - Route de France, stage race in France - 3rd place in stage 2, Elbeuf (Seine-Maritime)–Argenteuil (Val d'Oise). August 9, 2006 - Route de France, stage race in France - 1st place in stage 4 team time trail (TTT), Checy (Loiret). August 13, 2006 - Route de France, stage race in France - 3rd place in stage 8 time trial (TT), Tonneins (Lot-et-Garonne). August 13, 2006 - Route de France, stage race in France - 2nd place on the final GC. September 12, 2006 - Giro della Toscana Femminile, stage race in Italy - 1st place in the team time trial (TTT), Viareggio (Lucca). 2006 - National Rankings, 1st place.
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