Tiffany Jane Cromwell (born 6 July 1988) is an Australian road and gravel cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam Canyon–SRAM.[3]

Tiffany Cromwell
Personal information
Full nameTiffany Jane Cromwell
Born (1988-07-06) 6 July 1988 (age 36)
Stirling, South Australia
Height166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight50 kg (110 lb)
Team information
Current teamCanyon–SRAM
Disciplines
  • Road
  • Gravel
RoleRider
Amateur team
2007–2009Colavita–Sutter Home
Professional teams
2010–2011Lotto Ladies Team
2011Hitec Products UCK
2012–2013GreenEDGE–AIS
2014–2015Specialized–lululemon
2016–Canyon–SRAM[1][2]

Career

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Road

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Junior career

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Starting in 2002, after being identified by the South Australian sports institute talent identification program, Cromwell began her cycling career. Cycling was not the first sport Cromwell picked up, having done ballet, running, triathlons and basketball beforehand, the last of which she had family ties to. Despite an interest in pursuing basketball as a career before cycling, Cromwell admits her height 'always let [her] down'.[4] Initially, Cromwell disliked cycling, citing that she was 'Tiny and one of the worst in [her] group' on the track, but soon discovered her love for the sport when she placed third in her first road race in the state championships.[5]

After several podiums in junior Oceania games, one of Cromwell's first international wins came in 2008 at the Sea Otter Classic in California, having made a solo attack in the last few laps despite a 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) wind.[6] She then went on to win the race the following year by winning solo again.[7]

Senior career

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Cromwell joined her first European based team in 2010 with the Lotto Ladies Team after a contract with another team fell through.[8] Due to communication issues, both team and rider decided to part ways in the middle of 2011. Cromwell then rode for the Hitec Products UCK team until the end of the season.

In 2012 Cromwell joined the Australian team GreenEDGE–AIS. Here, she picked up some of her major wins. One of which was a win in stage 5 of the Giro d'Italia Femminile. In the stage, Cromwell attacked with over 100 kilometres (62 miles) to go and ended the stage with an eight-and-a-half minute advantage over the competition and at one point was virtually in the race leader's jersey.[9] With Orica–AIS, Cromwell also picked up her first major one day event win at the 2013 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, with Cromwell winning in a sprint against Megan Guarnier to claim her first spring classics victory.[10]

For 2014, Cromwell joined Specialized–lululemon.[11] She recorded several stage podiums in the 2014 Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche and finished second in the mountains classification. Cromwell represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games,[12] losing out on a bronze medal in the road race in a two-up sprint with South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman. The following year, she finished third in stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia Femminile.

After Velocio–SRAM folded at the end of the 2015 season,[13] Cromwell joined Canyon–SRAM for the 2016 season; Cromwell finished third at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad,[14][15] and won stage four of the Giro d'Italia Femminile.[16] The following year, she won stage one of the Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen.[17] In 2018, Cromwell was again selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games,[18] where, as road captain, she was part of the team that supported Chloe Hosking to the gold medal.[19]

On 19 May 2021, it was announced that Cromwell was included within the Australian road cycling team for the delayed Tokyo Olympics, marking her Olympic debut.[20] In a tough and humid road course, Cromwell finished as the best placed Australian in 26th place, almost three minutes seconds behind race winner Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria.[21] On 27 October 2021, it was announced Cromwell would remain as part of the Canyon-SRAM team for a further two years, continuing her mixed program of road and gravel racing through until the end of 2023.[22]

Gravel

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Cromwell's first participation in a gravel event was in August 2019 where she, along with Canyon–SRAM teammate Ella Harris, lined up in the Steamboat Springs gravel event (SBT GRVL) in Colorado, four days before the Colorado classic road cycling tour.[23] Cromwell completed the blue course in second behind Harris with a time of five hours and six minutes.[24]

In 2020, when Cromwell renewed her contract with Canyon–SRAM, it was announced she would be competing in a mixed program which would include gravel racing.[25] This program was due to start in June 2021 but due to her selection for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics this was postponed to August. To commence her four-race-long gravel calendar, Cromwell participated in her second SBT GRVL on 15 August. For her return, Cromwell competed in the longer 144-mile (232-kilometre) black course and finished 8th in her group, in a time of 7 hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds.[26][27] Six days later, she competed in the North Carolina Belgian Waffle Ride (BWR) hosted in Asheville. Cromwell completed the 102-mile (164-kilometre) "waffle" course in 5 hours, 30 minutes and 42 seconds, recording a third-place finish.[28][29] Cromwell's third gravel race of the year was due to be the three-day event hosted by Gravel Epic in Marrakesh on 7–9 October, but this was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco.[30] Cromwell's final gravel race of 2021 was held on October 31 and was the 111.11-mile (178.81-kilometre) Belgian waffle ride hosted in Lawrence, Kansas. In the race, Cromwell, along with Flávia Oliveira and Hannah Shell, made an early breakaway within the first 10 miles. With around a fifth of the race completed, Shell was dropped by the leading pair and Oliveira made a solo attack at mile 22, leaving Cromwell solo and second on the road. Despite this, not long after, Cromwell caught up to Oliveira and passed her for the lead of the race and competed solo for the remaining miles to secure her first win in gravel racing by almost ten minutes.[31][32]

Personal life

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Since February 2020, Cromwell has been in a relationship with Finnish racing driver Valtteri Bottas.[33][34]

Major results

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Source:[35][36]

2004
Junior Oceania Games
2nd   Individual pursuit
3rd   Points race
3rd   Scratch
2005
Junior Oceania Games
2nd   Road race
2nd   Scratch
3rd   Individual pursuit
Oceania Junior Road Championships
2nd   Road race
4th Time trial
2008
1st Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix
1st Sea Otter Classic Circuit Race
2nd Road race, National Under-23 Road Championships
4th Holland Hills Classic
6th Overall Redlands Bicycle Classic
7th Australia World Cup
2009
1st Sea Otter Classic Road Race
1st Stage 3 Tour Féminin en Limousin
1st Stage 2 (ITT) La Route de France
3rd Road race, National Under-23 Road Championships
7th Coupe du Monde Cycliste Féminine de Montréal
9th Overall Tour of the Gila
10th Overall Women's Tour of New Zealand
2010
National Under-23 Road Championships
2nd Road race
2nd Time trial
2nd Sparkassen Giro
3rd Overall Women's Tour of New Zealand
8th Overall Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche
2011
1st Stage 2 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic
8th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
2012
1st Stage 5 Giro d'Italia Femminile
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
2nd GP de Plouay – Bretagne
7th Open de Suède Vårgårda
8th Overall Giro della Toscana Int. Femminile – Memorial Michela Fanini
8th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
8th Gooik–Geraardsbergen–Gooik
9th Overall Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs
2013
1st Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
4th Gooik–Geraardsbergen–Gooik
5th Le Samyn des Dames
7th Overall Ladies Tour of Qatar
9th Road race, UCI Road World Championships
9th Ronde van Drenthe World Cup
9th La Flèche Wallonne Féminine
10th Overall La Route de France
10th Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria
2014
2nd GP Comune di Cornaredo
4th Road race, Commonwealth Games
5th Road race, UCI Road World Championships
5th Overall Ladies Tour of Norway
6th Overall Energiewacht Tour
6th Overall Auensteiner–Radsporttage
7th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
7th Novilon EDR Cup
9th Overall Ladies Tour of Qatar
9th Tour of Flanders for Women
10th GP de Plouay
2015
2nd Chrono Champenois
3rd Dwars door de Westhoek
4th Grand Prix Cycliste de Gatineau
5th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
6th Ronde van Drenthe World Cup
7th Overall Ladies Tour of Qatar
7th Crescent Women World Cup Vårgårda
9th Overall Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche
9th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
9th EPZ Omloop van Borsele
10th Overall Energiewacht Tour
1st Stage 2a (TTT)
10th Winston-Salem Cycling Classic
2016
1st Stage 4 Giro d'Italia Femminile
3rd Time trial, National Road Championships
3rd Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
4th Acht van Westerveld
5th Overall Women's Tour Down Under
6th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
7th Overall Ladies Tour of Qatar
7th La Course by Le Tour de France
8th Chrono Champenois
10th Omloop van het Hageland
2017
1st Stage 1 Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen
3rd Le Samyn des Dames
6th Pajot Hills Classic
2018
6th Road race, Commonwealth Games
7th Overall Women's Herald Sun Tour
9th Three Days of Bruges–De Panne
2019
1st Stage 1 (TTT) Giro Rosa
2021
7th Overall Thüringen Ladies Tour

References

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  1. ^ "Our full roster for 2019!". Canyon–SRAM. Lauke Pro Radsport GmbH. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  2. ^ Frattini, Kirsten (6 December 2019). "Canyon-SRAM confirm 15 returning riders in 2020". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Canyon//SRAM Racing". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  4. ^ Guinness, Rupert (28 February 2013). "From reluctant cyclist to Cromwell the conqueror". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Tiffany Cromwell interview". cyclingweekly.com. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Cromwell, Grabinger take windy Sea Otter NRC crowns". VeloNews.com. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Cromwell powers ahead of pack in blistering pace to win Sea Otter Classic road race". Down Canyon - Words, Thoughts, Ideas, and Stories by Corby Anderson. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ Scott, Rowena E. (8 August 2010). "Rowena Scott: Lotto Ladies welcome Tiffany Cromwell". Rowena Scott. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Tiffany Cromwell Wins Giro Donne Stage 5". Peloton Cafe. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad-Elite Women 2013: Results". cyclingnews.com. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  11. ^ Benson, Daniel (18 November 2013). "Tiffany Cromwell signs for Specialized-lululemon". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Australia announces 41 riders for Commonwealth Games". cyclingnews.com. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  13. ^ "New Canyon//SRAM women's team presented in London". cyclingnews.com. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  14. ^ "The joy of a plan perfectly executed: Tiffany Cromwell's Giro Rosa stage one diary". CyclingTips. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  15. ^ Cromwell, Tiffany (1 March 2016). "Tiffany Back on the Podium at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad". Tiffany Cromwell. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Cromwell relieved after first win in three years". VeloNews.com. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  17. ^ Cromwell, Tiffany (17 August 2017). "Tiffany chasing more success after her stage victory in Thüringen". Tiffany Cromwell. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  18. ^ "36-member Australian Team for 2018 Commonwealth Games". Australian Cycling Team. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  19. ^ Jones, Robert (14 April 2018). "2018 Commonwealth Games 2018: Elite Women Road Race Results". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Olympic Road Cycling Team selected for Tokyo 2020". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Cromwell the best of the Aussies on gruelling and dramatic day". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  22. ^ Cyclingnews (27 October 2021). "Tiffany Cromwell shifts retirement plans with two-year Canyon-SRAM extension". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  23. ^ "The weekly spin: WorldTour women pivoting toward gravel at SBT GRVL". CyclingTips. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  24. ^ "A Look Back at the 2019 SBT GRVL Race in Steamboat Springs, CO - Cycling West". Cycling West - Cycling Utah. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  25. ^ Frattini, Kirsten (10 March 2021). "Tiffany Cromwell: How gravel breathes new life into pro racing career". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  26. ^ "SBT GRVL, 08/15/2021 : : my.race|result". my.raceresult.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  27. ^ August 2021, Kirsten Frattini 17 (17 August 2021). "Tiffany Cromwell: I need to build endurance to be competitive in gravel races". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ belgianwaffleride. "Belgian Waffle Ride". belgianwaffleride. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Sofia Gomez Villafañe clinches Belgian Waffle Ride Asheville win". VeloNews.com. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  30. ^ "GRAVEL EPIC MARRAKECH —". www.gravelepic.com. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Cromwell wins final Belgian Waffle Ride in Kansas - Gallery". cyclingnews.com. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Tiffany Cromwell, Tanner Ward win Belgian Waffle Ride Kansas". VeloNews.com. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  33. ^ Medland, Chris (27 September 2020). "Punk rock and pizzas – Getting to know the real Valtteri Bottas". Formula1.com. Formula One World Championship Limited. Retrieved 6 December 2020. Not just because my girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell is from Stirling, South Australia!
  34. ^ "Valtteri Bottas odottaa jo olympiasunnuntaita – tyttöystävä pääsee irti Tokion maantiepyöräilyssä: "Iso päivä!"" [Valtteri Bottas is already looking forward to Olympic Sunday - girlfriend gets out on a road bike ride in Tokyo: "Big day!"]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Tiffany Cromwell". Cycling Archives. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  36. ^ "Tiffany Cromwell". Cycling Quotient. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
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