Lauren Hall
You only live once and when you’re dead you’re done, so let the good times roll. B.B. King
D.O.B.: 2/2/1979
Location: Vicksburg, MS
Current City: Dolores, CO
Height: 5’4
Specialty: all around
Previous sports: soccer, track, tennis, basketball
Nickname: Tucker, Tully, LT
Years racing: 6
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Lauren is from Vicksburg, MS and grew up playing soccer with the hopes of being a professional athlete like her grandfather. Parker ‘Bullet’ Hall played football in the NFL in the late 30’s. Lauren graduated from Mississippi State University in 2001 and played semi-professional soccer for a year in Memphis, TN. From there she attended culinary arts school at Le Cordon Bleu in Austin, TX before moving back to Mississippi in 2004 to attend graduate school at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. By 2006, Lauren was training to run a marathon with her brother and after the marathon her next goal was a triathlon but once she bought her first bicycle at the age of 29, she was hooked on road cycling. She raced in Louisiana and Mississippi(2008) before deciding to quit her job of 5 years in child nutrition and moving to Colorado to pursue cycling full time(2009) and by 2010 she had signed her first professional cycling contract. Lauren has not only been successful on the road but also on the track, she has won 3 national titles. Off the bike Lauren loves to hike, cook, hang out with friends and enjoy all things outdoors.
Career Highlights
- 1st place, Gent Wevelgem, 2014
- Member of the Giro Rosa winning team, 2013
- 1st place, USA Cycling Track Nationals Individual Pursuit, 2012
- 1st place, USA Cycling Track Nationals Scratch, 2012
- 1st place, USA Cycling Track Nationals Madison, 2011
2014
- 1st Gent Wevelgem
- 3rd Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic
- 4th Worlds Team Time Trial
- 3rd Uptown Criterium, Nature Valley Grand Prix
2013
- 1st Stage 4 Tour of the Gila
- 2nd USA Cycling Road National Championships
- 1st St. Paul Criterium, Nature Valley Grand Prix
- 1st Fort Collins Criterium
- 2nd Stage 4 Tour Cycliste Feminin International de l’Ardeche
- Member of the world championships team time trial
What inspired you to become a bike racer?
What inspired me to be a bike racer was the legacy I wanted to continue of our family having a professional athlete. My grandfather played for the (at the time) St. Louis Rams and the first 49ers team and we have so many photos of those days he played, it was such an inspiration.
Who is an inspiration to you in your life, both on and off the bike?
My mother and father are my inspiration because from the day I called them and asked their permission to quit my full time job and pursue cycling, they supported my decision and have been following ever since. They have made it clear how lucky I am to be able to travel the world and experience this adventure.
If you weren’t bike racing, you would be...?
Working full time in Child Nutrition, that was my previous job and I enjoyed the daily challenges it brought. The women in the schools were like family to me.
Favorite meal when training?
Oh wow, where to start! I love sautéed kale with garlic, 2 fried eggs and 2 pieces of toast with butter and jam. I also love a smoothie with banana, frozen fruit, cinnamon, almond milk, recovery powder, peanut butter, chia seeds served with chips and salsa. One more, black bean and quinoa tacos with lots of hot sauce, avocado and cilantro.
The best thing about being a bike racer is?
Traveling the world, seeing places in other countries that aren’t tourist destinations and meeting so many other women that are just like me.
Favorite place you’ve raced your bike and why?
In the US, I love Bend, Oregon, the mountains that surround the town are so beautiful and the race is perfectly timed in the summer to fully enjoy being outdoors and racing my bike - not to hot and not to cold. In Europe, I love the Ardeche region of France, again, it is mountains and such a beautiful view from the roads we race.
Favorite cross training or off season activity?
I love to nordic ski with my friends, ’m not very good and it’s a fun challenge. I also love being in the kitchen, cooking something up with my brother for the whole family during the holidays.
Best tip for a new bike racer
Learn how to go easy and when you get a rest day, rest. I’ve ridden with so many new riders who still ride hard on their easy days because they may feel good or think they need it.
Favorite things to do off the bike:
1. Reading
2. Hiking
3. Eating out
4. Cooking
5. Hanging with friends
Top 10 warmup/pre-race songs on your iPod:
1.Flaws
2.Shut Up and Dance
3.I Bet My Life
4.All These Roads
5.Geronimo
6.Welcome to New York
7.Goin to the Party
8.Shake it Off
9.Raised on It
10. Back in Black
TWENTY16 has an emphasis on education with the initiation of our Junior Scholarship program in 2015.
I never knew that I could have my education payed for until my father suggested that I play soccer in college. Soccer made me accountable and responsible for my actions because we would have to make a certain GPA to stay on the active playing roster. We also had 5:30am workouts that were mandatory, making time management extremely important.
College and continuing education is a chance to make yourself better for the future, after cycling, it gives you more opportunities in job selection and a chance to choose whatever career path you want. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed in life by getting a college degree. You get your upgrade in cycling so you can have the opportunity to race against and with the best, same with college, get your degree so you can work and compete against the best.
