Women

Bio

Growing up in southern California, Jennifer Valente has been around bikes her entire life. When she was young, she rode around her San Diego-neighborhood on mountain and BMX bikes. However, she didn’t fall in love with the sport until she was 13, when she enrolled in free classes for kids at the San Diego Velodrome. She thoroughly enjoyed it and the next summer her parents purchased a track bike and she started racing. With podium finishes at her first Jr. Nationals, she hasn’t looked back since.

In August of 2011, only a month after enduring the devastating death of her coach at Jr. Nationals, Valente saw the greatest highlight of her climbing career when she became a Jr. World Champion in the scratch race. After earring her stripes, she continued her training. Her time was split between her hometown San Diego and Los Angeles, where she was working with the National sprint program and Jamie Staff. In January of 2012, just a few weeks after turning 17 years old, Valente competed in her first elite international competition with team USA at the UCI Beijing World Cup.

Outside of cycling, Valente still enjoys being outdoors. She has always been involved in athletics and as a freshman and sophomore in high school she played on the Varsity water polo team. She loves swimming and spending time at the beach, though she also has a liking for music, theater and film. She has two brothers, who continually push her to do her best and she is inspired by all those that are willing to work and give their best effort. With determination, dedication, and a passion for the sport of cycling, Valente continues to look forward to a promising future.