Roanoke College

Shelley Olds '03, a collegiate soccer star who went on to become a world-class cyclist and member of the U.S. Olympic Team, has returned to her alma mater to coach Roanoke College's new competitive cycling program for men and women.

Shelley Olds Website

The Roanoke College Cycling Team is registered as a club with USA Cycling and will compete as part of the Atlantic Collegiate Cycling Conference (ACCC). The team will soon be elevated to varsity status.  Whether the team is designated as a club or a varsity sport, Olds says they will be committed to success and expected to compete like teams at the professional level

"We are very excited that Shelley is coming home to her Maroons family," said Tom Rambo, dean of students at Roanoke. "She is living proof that Roanoke College is a place where students can develop and find their purpose. We are all proud of Shelley and know she will be a great educator, mentor and coach!"

Olds, a native of Groton, Massachusetts, was inducted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 for her achievements in soccer and cycling. As a midfielder on the women's soccer team, she was a two-time NSCAA All-South Region selection, the 2002 ODAC Player of the Year, and a four-time All-ODAC selection, including three first-team honors to close her career. She left the program as the all-time leader in scoring (98 points) and assists (26), and she came in second in career goals (36).

Shelley then entered the cycling world and raced professionally on the road for teams in the United States, Holland, Italy, and Switzerland.  She was a member of the U.S. National Team and competed in multiple World Championships in both road and track cycling. She also raced several years on the national cyclo-cross circuit before focusing all her efforts on road cycling. After winning the UCI Road World Cup in China and a stage of the women's Giro d'Italia, she joined the U.S. Olympic Team and competed in the 2012 London Olympics. Despite pouring rain and a flat tire in the closing kilometers, she finished 7th overall.

While competing early in her cycling career, Shelley served as the Stanford Cycling women’s coach from 2007-2009. Since retiring, she has worked as an associate cycling coach, personal trainer, and spin instructor.

Before she found out about Roanoke's new team and was offered the coaching job, Olds had planned to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. She said she'll put those plans on hold temporarily to invest time and energy into recruiting athletes for the cycling program.

“This is going to be the first-ever competitive cycling program at Roanoke College,” Olds said “and I am so proud to be a part of it. I have every interest in developing an elite and nationally recognized cycling program.” "The land in Southwest Virginia couldn't be more perfect for cycling. It is truly a hidden gem that Virginia's Blue Ridge has already begun to highlight," Olds said. "I think the start of Roanoke College's cycling team will be a strong catalyst in bringing national and international recognition to the region for its stunning beauty and as an ideal place for cycling."