Nominated by the Canadian Cycling Association

The superb 1999 performances of cyclist Geneviève Jeanson of Lachine, Que., are proof positive that here is the next and perhaps brightest star in Canada's line of fabulous women cyclists, who have been grabbing headlines throughout the past decade. In a history-making performance, the confident, disciplined 18-year-old dominated the junior women's world cycling championships in Italy to emerge with double gold medal performances.

Jeanson's victory in the individual time trial by an 11-second margin was followed a scant four days later by a decisive triumph in the much tougher 65-kilometre road race, which took the riders over a difficult course of asphalt and cobblestones. Taking on four-rider teams from the powerhouse European cycling nations, and with only one other Canadian, Catherine Pouliot of Ste-Foy, Que., in the race, Jeanson decided to break early from the pack. "My strategy was to destroy their strategy and to avoid the crashes," an elated Jeanson told the Montréal Gazette's Dave Stubbs after the race. Jeanson, a brilliant climber, powered her way over the demanding course in 1:47:16, eight seconds ahead of the second-place rider.

About Jeanson's magnificent success, Stubbs wrote, "Never before has a Canadian, female or male, captured a road cycling world championship at any level, and in four days, Jeanson had done it twice." The feat is all the more remarkable since the three-time Canadian junior champion began to ride seriously only in October 1996. One year later she was the national junior time trial and road race champion, titles she has yet to relinquish.

A golden future seems certain.

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This page of Genevieve Jeanson's www site (a part of VELOPTIMUM), was updated on March 22, 2000 by