COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (BRAIN) — Cyclocross legend Tim Johnson is joining the USA Cycling Foundation as its development director.
"We are honored and very fortunate that Tim will be joining the USA Cycling Foundation in a role entirely focused on increasing the resources available to our most promising and best American cyclists," said Derek Bouchard-Hall, the president & CEO of USA Cycling. "Tim's passion for the sport, deep history of competing at the highest level, and significant experience engaging with a wide array of passionate cycling enthusiasts across disciplines and experience levels makes him uniquely suited to taking on this very challenging and vital role."
The USA Cycling Foundation is the philanthropic fundraising arm of USA Cycling designed to provide the essential financial support USA Cycling needs to create and implement sustained young rider and elite athlete development programs. In his new role Johnson will lead the foundation's efforts to engage with new potential donors and share USA Cycling's vision for growing the sport and increasing the United States' success in international cycling.
Johnson said, "I have been lucky to spend most of my life on a bike, and sharing my experience and passion with others who also love the sport has become my mission.
"I look forward to connecting with those in the American cycling community who might be interested in supporting USA Cycling and the work we will be doing to help American cyclists reach the pinnacle of the sport. I started cycling as a child and never could have imagined how it would change my life for the better – I want to help young athletes embark on and succeed in a similar journey."
During his 18-year professional cycling career, Johnson competed for Team USA in 13 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, earning a bronze in the U23 event in 1999, and twice he raced in the UCI Road World Championships (2002, 2003). He was a six-time U.S. National Cyclocross Champion and won Australia's Herald Sun Tour on the road in 2003.
After retiring from professional racing in 2015, he has served as an ambassador for multiple cycling brands, frequently led fundraising and awareness-raising rides, and served as a broadcast analyst for Tour of Utah, JingleCross World Cup, and USA Cycling's National Cyclocross Championships. Johnson is also the founder of the Ride on Washington, designed to help raise money for and awareness of bicycle advocacy efforts nationwide, especially among the racing community.