362:, competing from 1993 to 2001, the most decorated U.S. downhill and slalom rider. She retired from her professional career in 2001, with the world championships in Vail, Co. as her final pro career event (where she placed 3rd in the final downhill). Donovan went into sports marketing with Hansens energy drink (at the ground level of what would become Monster Energy). She then went on to own and operate a very successful clothing boutique in Temecula, Ca. from 2003 until she departed the retail fashion business in March 2011.
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fourth place at the USA CYCLING National
Championships, earning her a spot at the UCI World Championships in Mont St. Anne, Quebec, Canada. In the finals, Donovan finished in 8th place, making her the highest placed American and the oldest competitor in the race. At the opening ceremonies, Leigh and her daughter proudly carried the U.S. flag
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In 2010, at the age of 38 and with a five-year-old daughter, Leigh
Donovan, owner of Tangerine boutique in Temecula, California, and nine years after retiring from professional racing, decided to pursue a spot on the U.S. National Downhill team. She competed in several qualifying events and secured
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Donovan married her longtime boyfriend and race mechanic Craig "Stikman" Glaspell in 2000 and they had one daughter in 2005. She has been a long time mountain bike coach and instructor for men and women of all backgrounds and skill levels, promoting and hosting her own women's only events over the
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last 15 years. In 2014 Leigh launched a coaching and clinic business called iChooseBikes that put the focus on teaching MTB skills to riders of all ages, levels, and genders; Leigh believes that if you can master the foundational skills, that you can shred much longer avoiding injuries.
370:. As of 2024, Leigh remains the last American Elite Downhill rider to win a UCI World Downhill Championship, with her gold medal-winning run in 1995 marking the end of a 29-year drought for American victories in the race.
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Leigh
Donovan spent 2022-2023 employed by SRAM as the Southern California senior field guide (sales and marketing rep), but left the position in the Summer of 2023.
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470:, Leigh is 1 of only 3 American women to have won the title, and no American female has been World Champion since Leigh Donovan.
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Leigh remains the ONLY cyclist male or female to be in all 3 cycling halls of fame.
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Leigh and her daughter Grace carry the U.S. Flag at opening ceremonies
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skills instructor and based out of
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Donovan at the 2013 BMX hall of fame induction ceremony
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463:• 1989 USA BMX National Cruiser Champion
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430:1995 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
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530:UCI Mountain Bike World Champions (women)
346:racer and current cycling ambassador and
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148:Norba National Championship (9 Wins)
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515:Sportspeople from Orange, California
466:• In the 25 years of the official
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480:Official Website of Leigh Donovan
86:1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
468:UCI World Downhill Championships
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152:UCI World Championship (1 win)
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460:World Championship medalist
330:(born December 11, 1971, in
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418:• 39 UCI World Cup Podiums
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432:- Downhill World Champion
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545:Cyclists from California
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453:World Cup Dual Champion
94:65 kg (143 lb)
412:Hall of fame inductee
403:Hall of fame inductee
394:Hall of fame inductee
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150:UCI World Cup (5 Wins)
340:downhill mountain bike
312:Craig Stikman Glaspell
121:Racer-Ambassador-Coach
489:Recent MBA interview
338:former professional
199:Mountain bike racing
39:Personal information
360:mountain bike racer
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384:Career highlights
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421:• 9-time U.S.
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439:- 2nd place
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76:California
66:1971-12-11
456:• 3 time
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485:SRAM LLC
336:American
334:) is an
318:Children
269:Downhill
248:Downhill
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197:Women's
130:Off-road
52:Nickname
449:• 2001
406:• 2014
397:• 2013
388:• 2020
308:Partner
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91:Weight
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423:NORBA
78:, USA
55:Booty
342:and
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451:UCI
409:MTB
400:BMX
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