Rachel Heal

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Rachel Heal

| image =

| fullname = Rachel Elisabeth Heal

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1973|4|1}}

| birth_place = Bebington, Wirral, Cheshire{{cite web

| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2005/11/10/101105_cycling_heal_feature.shtml |title=Profile|publisher=BBC}}

| height =

| weight =

| currentteam = {{UCI team code|TIB}}

| disciplines = {{ubl|Road|Track|Cyclo-cross}}

| role = {{ubl|Rider (former)|Directeur sportif}}

| ridertype =

| amateuryears1 = 1997–1999

| amateurteam1 = Birkenhead Northend Cycling Club

| amateuryears2 = 2000

| amateurteam2 = Letchworth Velo

| amateuryears3 = 2007

| amateurteam3 = Rapha Condor

| proyears1 = 2004

| proteam1 = Farm Frites

| proyears2 = 2005

| proteam2 = Team Cambridge

| proyears3 = 2006

| proteam3 = Team Victory Brewing

| proyears4 = 2007

| proteam4 = Team Webcor

| proyears5 = 2008

| proteam5 = {{UCI team code|TIB|2008}}

| proyears6 = 2009

| proteam6 = {{UCI team code|Colavita|2009}}

| manageyears1 = 2010–2011

| manageteam1 = {{UCI team code|Colavita|2010}}

| manageyears2 = 2012–2013

| manageteam2 = {{UCI team code|RLW|2012}}

| manageyears3 = 2014–2018

| manageteam3 = {{UCI team code|UHC2|2014}} (women)

| manageyears4 = 2014–2018

| manageteam4 = {{UCI team code|UHC|2014}} (men)

| manageyears5 = 2019–

| manageteam5 = {{UCI team code|TIB|2019}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tibco-svb-unite-in-california-for-pre-season-training-camp-gallery/|title=Tibco-SVB unite in California for pre-season training camp - Gallery|first=Kirsten|last=Frattini|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=27 February 2019|accessdate=3 March 2019|quote=The team have also hired former pro Rachel Heal as the head director for the 2019 season.}}

| majorwins =

}}

Rachel Elisabeth Heal (born 1 April 1973) is an English former racing cyclist, who currently works a directeur sportif for UCI Women's Continental Team {{UCI team code|TIB}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/15421/1001562/277|title=Team Tibco - Silicon Valley Bank|work=UCI.org|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|accessdate=27 January 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127204234/https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/15421/1001562/277|archivedate=27 January 2021}}

Career

=Professional career=

Heal originally took up cycling when she was at Birmingham University as a means of transportation.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/features/story/_/id/6851463/power-players-rachel-heal-leader |title=Rachel Heal is Leader |last1=Holtzman |first1=Whitney|date=17 August 2011 |website=EspnW|access-date=3 August 2014}} She joined British Cycling's World Class Performance Plan in 2001 to become a full-time cyclist. She turned professional and rode for the Farm Frites team after obtaining a degree in chemical engineering. She has competed in world championships, Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games. Heal is also a British Cycling level 2 coach, and a qualified personal trainer.

=Management career=

Heal switched to management when she became co-director of the {{UCI team code|Colavita|2010}} team in 2010 alongside team-mate Tina Pic, replacing Iona Wynter.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pic-to-direct-colavita-sutter-home-womens-team-in-2010 |title=Pic to direct Colavita-Sutter Home women's team in 2010 |last1=Frattini |first1=Kirsten |date=19 August 2009 |website=cyclingnews.com |accessdate=3 August 2014}} After the Colavita team disbanded at the end of 2011, Heal became director of the new {{UCI team code|RLW|2012}} team for 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/colavita-riders-find-reprieve-in-optum-kelly-benefit-strategies |title=Colavita riders find reprieve in Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies |last1=Weislo |first1=Laura |date=31 January 2012 |website=cyclingnews.com |accessdate=3 August 2014}} Heal left the team at the end of 2013 to join {{UCI team code|UHC2|2014}},{{cite web |url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/10/news/unitedhealthcare-names-directors-for-2014-squad_306618 |title=UnitedHealthcare names directors for 2014 squad|date=30 October 2013 |website=VeloNews |accessdate=3 August 2014}} where she made history in 2014 as the first British woman to direct a men's team at a world tour event.