Sue Novara (Reber) was born in Flint Michigan on November 22, 1955. Novara like Heiden was a speed skater who switched to cycling and quickly became an outstanding rider. Sue won her first sprint competition at age 16 at the 1972 nationals and at 20 years of age, she became the younger cyclist to win the sprint championships. Sue had a fierce rival in Sheila Young and they had a number of exciting head to head competitions. Sue also won the nationals in 74, 75, 77, 80. Through 1981 Sue had won 7 gold medals and 3 silver at the sprint nationals.

Sue won 7 world championship medals including two gold as a sprint champion. Sue had collected more medals in the world championships then any rider in US history. She won 2 gold, 4 silver, and a bronze, (1975-1981). She never failed to finish in the top three during those years. At the 1975 world championships in Belgium, Sue won the match sprint, with Shelia Young coming in 3rd, and again in 1976 Sue beat Sheila in the match sprint at Monteroni Italy.

At the 1978 world championships in Munich Sue won her third successive silver medal in the match sprint. In 1979 Sue won her sixth career medal in the match sprint. The 3rd place bronze came at the 1979 world championships in Holland. In the 1980 world championships in France, Sue won the match sprint for the second time.

Sue's last race was in New York city at the Grand Prix in 1984. 1984 was a special year. It was the year Marianne Martin won the women's Tour De France, and Connie Carpenter won the Olympic road race in Los Angeles. All these women contributed to bringing cycling into the spotlight. Like Connie, Sue also retired after the 1984 season and she was hired by the USCF to prepare the women's team for the 1987 Worlds, which under her direction, the team won 4 medals including a gold. She was inducted into the bicycle hall of fame in 1991. Sue married Mark Reber in 1977 and became known as Sue Novara Reber.

Links to articles about Sue Novara Reber.

New York Times

Palmares 1st - 3rd Country: USA Sue Novara (Reber) 1972 August 1-4, 1972 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in match sprint (200 Meters), Kenosha Wisconsin. 1973 August 1-4, 1973 - National Track Championships, USA - 2nd place in match sprint (200 Meters), Northbrook Illinois. 1974 July 31-August 3, 1974 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in match sprint (200 Meters), Northbrook Illinois. August 14-20, 1974 - World Track championships, Canada - 2nd place in the match sprint (200 Meters), Montreal. 1975 July 30-August 2, 1975 - National Track Championships, USA - 2nd place in 3km individual pursuit, Northbrook Illinois. July 30-August 2, 1975 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in match sprint (200 Meters), Northbrook Illinois. August 20-25, 1975 - World Track championships, Belgium - 1st place in the match sprint (200 Meters), Liege. 1976 August 3-4, 1976 - National Track Championships, USA - 2nd place in match sprint (200 Meters), Northbrook Illinois. September 4-10, 1976 - World Track championships, Italy - 2nd place in the match sprint (200 Meters), Monteroni. 1977 August 2-6, 1977 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in match sprint (200 Meters), Marymoor Velodrome, Redmond Washington. August 25-30, 1977 - World Track championships, Venezuela - 2nd place in the match sprint (200 Meters), San Cristobal. 1978 August 1-5, 1978 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in match sprint (200 Meters), Kenosha Wisconsin. August 1-5, 1978 - National Track Championships, USA - 3rd place in points race, Kenosha Wisconsin. August 16-21, 1978 - World Track championships, Germany - 2nd place in the match sprint (200 Meters), Munich. 1978 - Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place. 1978 - Tour of Somerville, (Mildred Kugler Women's Open), USA - 1st place. 1979 August 7-12, 1979 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in match sprint (200 Meters), Northbrook Illinois. August 28-September 2, 1979 - World Track championships, Holland - 3rd place in the match sprint (200 Meters), Amsterdam. 1980 August 20-23, 1980 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in match sprint (200 Meters), San Diego California. September 3-7, 1980 - World Track championships, France - 1st place in the match sprint (200 Meters), Besancon. 1981 August 11-16, 1981 - National Track Championships, USA - 3rd place in match sprint (200 Meters), Trexlertown Pennsylvania. 1982 1982 - Tour of Somerville, (Mildred Kugler Women's Open), USA - 1st place. 1983 1983 - Self Magazine Cycling Circuit, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2. 1983 - Tour of Somerville, (Mildred Kugler Women's Open), USA - 1st place. 1984 1984 - Tour of Somerville, (Mildred Kugler Women's Open), USA - 1st place. May 27, 1984 - Tour of Nutley, USA - 3rd place. May 30, 1984 - Central Park Circuit, USA - 1st place, New York City.