Q&A with Amber Neben

GU ATHLETE: Amber Neben
SPORT: Road cycling
BIRTHDATE: 1975
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Irvine, California
WEBSITE: www.amberneben.com

Proudest athletic accomplishment?
2-time winner of the Tour de l’Aude (women’s Tour de France).

What’s the most shocking thing a spectator has ever done while you were racing?
During one of the stages in the Gracia-Orlova Tour in the Czech Republic in 2002, I had attacked and was racing away solo through a barely populated area. I passed 3 guys sitting in lawn chairs on the side of the road that stood and cheered me on by dropping their pants and mooning me!

What characteristics do you most respect in your competitors?
Competing with class and fairness; willingness to work as a teammate.

If you were not a pro athlete, what would you do professionally?
I would probably have finished my PhD instead of taking a Masters, so probably something in the scientific research world.

When you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up?
A fireman, a dentist, an Olympian, and a doctor.

Song title that best fits your personality/spirit?
Jeremy Camp’s “Walk by Faith”

How do you reward yourself when you reach a key goal?
The team usually goes out to dinner.

If you were a flavor of GU, which would you be?
Probably Chocolate Outrage… that’s my favorite. I think I eat enough of it that my blood cells are swimming in GU instead of plasma.

If you were a contestant on Survivor, what would be your one comfort item from home?
My Blackberry.

What’s the most creative way you’ve ever carried your GU?
Under my cycling shorts, on the quad muscle… I do that in my time trials. This allows easy access and minimizes the time out of the aero position.
I also stick one there in road races, when I know I am going to be suffering for a long period of time. Same idea… easy, thoughtless access…
minimizes disruption to the riding rhythm.

Personal causes you’re involved in?
USWCDP; Mercy House; mentoring the SHO-Air junior team; UC Irvine cycling club.

Three things people don’t know about you?
I have one sister, 2 years younger. My husband does not ride. I would love to drive a race car (F1, Indy, or NASCAR).