Leigh Donovan is Coming Back!!!

[project_d]

Pull this off the DIRT website:

THE LEGENDARY LEIGH DONOVAN TO RETURN TO WORLD CUP RACING

November 23rd, 2009 @ 4:39 PM
We have just had this super-hot news in that the one and only Leigh Donovan is going to return to World Cup racing…
This may come as a shock to some, but our source let us know that Leigh will be riding “a couple of World Cups and maybe Worlds (champs)”. She retired from World Cup racing quite and few years back, concentrating on a new business venture (Tangerine, a clothing boutique) and starting a family…but it seems that racing is in her blood and that she just can’t stay away.
For those of you out that there that are a little unsure of who Leigh Donovan is, let me fill you in. She was around during the heyday of downhill racing, regularly battling it out against the likes of Anne Caroline Chausson and Missy Giove. And she was fast…super fast: 1995 World Champion, 2001 World Cup Champion and 9 x U.S. National Champion…none to shabby. At 38 years old she is still going to be a force to be reckoned with…and we can’t wait.

http://dirtmountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/2009_1120_mtbfontana

 

[Pain Freak]

And she's hawt. I sat next to her once at a Forestry Plan meeting and talked to her and her friend. We got into it with a Sierra Clubber who kept making sighs and bitching about the people who were there in attendance. Leigh's friend asked the Clubber if she didn't like it, she could leave.

 

[Mudman]

Sexy...

That first photo is pretty sweet!

 

[26'er Zen Master]

Giggity giggity. And she is Irish

 

[2wheel_lee]

I remember her as a pre and early teen at the Orange Y BMX track back in the 80s. It seems that a lot of the old 80s Orange Y locals are making comebacks in various racing disciplines. :bang: :clap:

 

[danlorek]

wonder if the clothing thing isn't working out???

or just couldn't stand being away.

 

[project_d]

wonder if the clothing thing isn't working out???

or just couldn't stand being away.

Trust me...she ain't makin' any money racing DH. It's not like it was back in the mid 90s.

 

[denmother]

She taught me how to ride!!!! I talked to her at Fontana on Friday but she didn't mention WC racing, I'll have to ask her. She is also going to be doing some clinics soon (see www.bikeskills.com).

wonder if the clothing thing isn't working out???

or just couldn't stand being away.

The store (Tangerine) is doing well and her daughter is older.

 

[denmother]

From Ridemonkey

This was posted by her hubby on Ridemonkey:

Well, Leigh is hoping to race a couple world cups, a world cup, some U.S. stuff, get back into cycling a bit, shes starting to do clinics, ride more, she has missed the sport greatly. She went to race fontucky, flatted in race run, but she had a lot of fun.

All this hinges on her business (she owns a retail clothing boutique), being a mom and juggling training with her Epstein Barr that she got diagnosed with this spring. She would really, really like to race mont st. anne. She won there a 100 yrs ago and was on the podium everytime she rode there.

Anne Caro announced she is riding for [a]trek today too.
Old schoolers are reviving things a bit, no?

 

[Kaliman]

I used to race against her at the Orange Y and Irvine BMX sometimes. I would have rather raced the older guys then her.

 

[Sailor Ripley]

Ha! That's pretty cool. Back in my Mantis days, our custom painter (the Wilburns) suggested that I take her on a few MTB rides when she just transitioning from BMX. From the very first ride with her it became very clear that she had talent.