Avery May

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all” – Helen Keller
“When you are going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill

Role: Team soigneur
Place of Birth: Tulsa, OK
Currently Reside: Santa Fe, NM

I was introduced to cycling in my early twenties and it was an immediate passionate romance (nearly 10 years later the passion is stronger than ever even though we’ve been through some ups and downs! I guess that means it’s a good relationship?) I tried my legs at racing, and even though I always had genius plans of being a mastermind tactician on the racecourse, I never quite had the fitness. Eventually I got swept into the soigneur side of things as I am also a licensed massage therapist. I started out with Webcor Builders in 2008. The Olympic village in Beijing welcomed four of our seven riders that summer: major career highlight. Career highlights happen all the time; sometimes just seeing a rider finish a race is a career highlight. I remember one year in France, Amy Dombroski (Webcor Builders) got the Lantern Rouge for the Tour d’Laude and I felt so extremely proud of her as it was her first big UCI race. And she finished! I love seeing the athletes reach their fullest potential. When they come through the feed zone in the break, suffering like I can’t even imagine, and then wind up on the podium at the end of the day, that is what keeps me coming back again and again to this job year after year.

What are some of the best and most rewarding parts about working with such a strong team of diverse female athletes?
These are the toughest, strongest, most dauntless women in the world. Not only physically, but mentally, these girls are made of iron. But they also are people…and they have feelings. I love being there for them when they are having a hard moment. I love supporting them through the ups and downs. They inspire me in so many ways to be the best that I can be. I love going to work for them because each one of them is truly trying their hardest and giving their all. Its so easy to support someone who is giving 110% of their energy to their pursuit. I love the team aspect too; team dinners, team clothes, team camaraderie, and the friendships. I have worked for a lot of teams and have liked them all, but there is something really special about the camaraderie of TWENTY16.

What are some of the most difficult aspects of working on a professional women’s team?
Being on the women’s side of cycling has it’s beautiful moments as well as it’s challenges. Men’s teams get a lot more support for races which makes life a lot easier on the staff. Usually men’s teams have a lot more staff and so there might be 2 to 4 soigneurs depending on the race. With all the tasks that the soigneur has to accomplish, it helps so much to have someone to tag team with. On the men’s teams I typically get up at 6 and am in bed no later than 10: on the women’s side of things, add 2 to that bedtime and minus 1 from the wake-up call. I sometimes just flop into bed at the end of the day and have to drink a little extra coffee the next morning, but it’s so worth it! The travel, albeit exciting, is also kind of hard on me…I’m a true homebody at heart and miss my dog and friends so much when I travel.

What are your ultimate goals/overall vision for the future of the team?
I love Nicola’s vision of developing the young riders. I think it takes someone with an eye for talent like Nicola to be able to spot these young phenoms and take them to the next level. I remember watching Coyn Rivera come up through the ranks back when she was just a young girl, and was thinking how lucky she was to not only have so much talent, but to have found her passion so early in life and to have the support she needed to bring her talents to fruition. Women’s cycling is so much more robust and richer for Nicola’s efforts to develop the youngsters. The team is lucky to have Mari as the director because of all her experience and wisdom. Mari is so smart, a true mastermind and leader, and will definitely lead these athletes all the way to Rio where they will wear their country’s colors. For me personally, I’m applying to medical school in hopes of starting my medical training in 2016. It’s a very competitive process that requires a lot of mental strength. When I’m around these amazing athletes, I feel so inspired to work as hard as I can to see my dreams come true. I love working towards my dreams while at the same time I have a job helping others realize their own. My ultimate goal would be to have a sports medicine practice and be able to work as a team doctor in cycling. I don’t know where TWENTY16 will be by the time I make it that far, or what it will be called, but if it’s still around, I hope to be their team doc!

Do you think the recent successes of American women at the Olympic level will help draw new girls into the sport?
Without a doubt!

If you weren't a soigneur, where would you see yourself?
I would have started my pre-medical education earlier. But honestly, I believe timing is everything, and there were many things I needed to learn before I found the courage to go back to school for pre-med, and cycling has taught me about that…courage.

Who or what has been an inspiration to you in your life?
My family is really important to me and I have a special bond with all my siblings, parents, and grandparents. Winston Churchill has been a source of inspiration for me, and I’m also inspired by my spiritual teacher Amma.

What are the best pre-race tunes to listen to?
1. Any pop song that makes the ladies smile and gets their mind off of being nervous!
2. The Gorillaz
3. DJ Dash ( thanks Stuey O Grady who introduced me!)
4. Pherrel Williams’ Happy song
5. MCAT review sessions (just kidding! That’s just for me!)

Your favorite things to do when you aren’t working
1. Snowboarding
2. Cycling
3. Hiking with my dog JP
4. Reading a great book at home in fuzzy slippers
5. Chess

Favorite Race Foods
1. Brown rice balls with almond butter and flax seed (message me for the details)
2. Banana sandwiches with nutella
3. Chocolate chip cliff bar
4. Carrot/Beet/Kale Juice!