How To Follow Your Dreams: Tips From Pro Cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski (TIBCO)

Posted: June 17th, 2009 | Filed under: Bike Racing and Training, Growth and Development | Tags: follow dreams, Joanne Kiesanowski, Kiwi, take a chance, Team TIBCO |

Joanne Kiesanowski of Team TIBCO, fresh off two trips to the podium at this year’s Nature Valley Grand Prix, one for second place at the St. Paul Downtown Criterium and another for first place in the Team Competition, shared a bit about her experience in Minnesota, along with tips for aspiring Kiwi racers who are looking to race internationally.

“This is such an awesome race and I’m just so happy to be here,” said Kiesanowski. “We all raced really hard, and Brooke [Miller] did such an awesome job. I love racing here, and I had such an amazing host family here so it just makes it so much fun.”

Tips For Aspiring Pro Cyclists
Kiesanowski has been racing professionally since 2001, after taking a leap of faith in 1999 to follow her dream.

“Just take a chance and go with it. I came over here by myself and gave it a go,” remembered Kiesanowski. “Don’t just wait for opportunities. Just go out there and make them for yourself. If you’re at the level where if you feel you can race internationally just spend the money and go overseas and eventually it will pay off.”

What if you’ve taken the leap – how does an aspiring racer get noticed? Kiesanowski recommends talking to people and making contacts in addition to getting the kinds of results that teams are looking for.

“I did two years of just two or three months, racing the criteriums and on the track. In my third year I signed my first pro contract. [It’s about] getting the results, and getting your name out there.”

Just as focusing the sun’s rays through a magnifying glass can take disparate energy and create a single point of heat powerful enough to create a fire, Joanne advised, “You just have to go for it and don’t look back. Say, ‘Okay, well I’m just going to focus on this,’ and go for it. Don’t do it half-heartedly. Don’t try and to a lot of things at once. Just focus on racing and do it.”

“It’s hard to do it by yourself but, it’s worth it in the end.”

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