Alison Dunlap, two-time Olympian and mountain bike World Champion, has been coaching athletes since 2004. In 2003, she and her husband created the Alison Dunlap Adventure Camps, a company that runs mountain bike camps and clinics during the spring and summer. Through their company, Alison started a coaching business, working with athletes of all ages and abilities in road, mountain bike, and cyclocross. Since her retirement from pro mountain bike racing in 2005, Alison has been coaching full time. With a strong background in science and twenty years of competitive racing at all levels of the sport, Alison brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
After graduating from Colorado College in 1991 with a BA in Biology, Alison raced professionally on various road and mountain bike teams, winning stages in the women’s Tour de France, Redlands Classic, Hewlett Packard Women’s Challenge, Sea Otter, and the Willamette Stage Race. In 1996 she qualified for the Atlanta Summer Olympics in the women’s road race, and in 2000 she went to the Sydney Olympics in mountain biking. The pinnacle of her career came in 2001 when she won the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Vail, CO. Her career achievements also include winning the UCI World Cup Overall, being a 6 time US mountain bike national champion, 6 time cyclocross national champion, and 2 time collegiate national road champion.
Her interest in coaching began years ago during the height of her racing career. “I was always wanting to know why I did certain workouts on certain days,” said Alison. “I must have annoyed my coach because I was always asking questions and wanting to know the reasons behind my training. I love information and I love science.” Taking her love of science and passion for the sport, Alison has become a successful coach in just a few short years. While only working with a select number of athletes in the past, Alison has already produced several National Champions and National MTB Series podium finishers in the pro/elite, semi-pro, expert, and sport categories. “One of the biggest reasons I became a coach is to be able to give back to the sport. I had a lot of success because of my coach, and I feel that other cyclists could benefit from what I’ve learned over the years,” commented Alison.
Currently Alison is a USA Cycling Certified Level II coach, an Athlete Ambassador with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, a member of the USA Cycling Selection Committee, and the LUNA Women’s MTB Team. And if that wasn’t enough to stay busy, Alison and her husband continue to run camps and clinics, April thru October, with the Alison Dunlap Adventure Camps. “Somewhere in the middle of all of this I find time to ride with my husband, play with our Border Collie, Jiggs, make a few telemark turns in the powder, and visit my family in Denver. It’s a great life and I feel very lucky!”
After graduating from Colorado College in 1991 with a BA in Biology, Alison raced professionally on various road and mountain bike teams, winning stages in the women’s Tour de France, Redlands Classic, Hewlett Packard Women’s Challenge, Sea Otter, and the Willamette Stage Race. In 1996 she qualified for the Atlanta Summer Olympics in the women’s road race, and in 2000 she went to the Sydney Olympics in mountain biking. The pinnacle of her career came in 2001 when she won the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Vail, CO. Her career achievements also include winning the UCI World Cup Overall, being a 6 time US mountain bike national champion, 6 time cyclocross national champion, and 2 time collegiate national road champion.
Her interest in coaching began years ago during the height of her racing career. “I was always wanting to know why I did certain workouts on certain days,” said Alison. “I must have annoyed my coach because I was always asking questions and wanting to know the reasons behind my training. I love information and I love science.” Taking her love of science and passion for the sport, Alison has become a successful coach in just a few short years. While only working with a select number of athletes in the past, Alison has already produced several National Champions and National MTB Series podium finishers in the pro/elite, semi-pro, expert, and sport categories. “One of the biggest reasons I became a coach is to be able to give back to the sport. I had a lot of success because of my coach, and I feel that other cyclists could benefit from what I’ve learned over the years,” commented Alison.
Currently Alison is a USA Cycling Certified Level II coach, an Athlete Ambassador with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, a member of the USA Cycling Selection Committee, and the LUNA Women’s MTB Team. And if that wasn’t enough to stay busy, Alison and her husband continue to run camps and clinics, April thru October, with the Alison Dunlap Adventure Camps. “Somewhere in the middle of all of this I find time to ride with my husband, play with our Border Collie, Jiggs, make a few telemark turns in the powder, and visit my family in Denver. It’s a great life and I feel very lucky!”
Thank you so much for all your support and advice. My season would not have been the same without your coaching.
I love the comfort and ease that comes with following your training plan. I don't have to worry about what to ride to get faster.
I hate to admit it but the climbing thresholds you had me do really helped. Thank you for all your help and support.
The knowledge of how much I have improved from February to now only elevates the fact that there is SO much to come.
Kathy S, Pro MTB
I love the comfort and ease that comes with following your training plan. I don't have to worry about what to ride to get faster.
Michael R, Beginning MTB
I hate to admit it but the climbing thresholds you had me do really helped. Thank you for all your help and support.
Loreen O, CAT 1 MTB
The knowledge of how much I have improved from February to now only elevates the fact that there is SO much to come.
Sarah M, CAT 1 MTB