Justin England
Country: United States
Height: 5?9?
Weight: 137 lbs
Date of Birth: 07/15/1978
Place of Birth: Raleigh, NC
Residence: Boulder, CO
Pro Since: 2004
Justin England took up cycling in 2002 after a collegiate distance running career at East Carolina University. Looking for something a little different, but still athletically challenging, one of his college professors, Tim Gavin,nudged him into cycling. A naturally gifted athlete, England climbed the amateur ranks quickly, advancing from a Category 5 racer to a Category 1 in less than a year.
In 2004, he joined Webcor Builders, his first pro team. He immediately showed his capacity to excel in the mountains by crushing the Mount Tamalpais Hill Climb record by nearly two minutes ? a mark that had stood for 16 years.
While climbing is his specialty, England?s strengths are visible on almost any course. In 2004, he delivered a pair of major wins for Webcor with overall victories at the Nevada City Classic (his first pro win) and the Tour de Nez. In 2005, he impressed again with strong overall finishes in major stage races, placing fourth at the International Tour de ?Toona and 14th at the Dodge Tour de Georgia.
As a solid stage racer with a penchant for hills, the Tour of Georgia is England?s favorite. Aside from the ?killer? climb from Lake Lanier into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, he says it is a combination of the course, competition and fans that make it a great racing experience.
Sidelined for much of the 2006 season with a broken collarbone following a crash at the CapTech Classic, England looks forward to a new season with his Toyota-United teammates, supporting them at critical junctures and gunning for victory when the opportunity knocks.