Soldier Makes Armed Forces Cycling Team
(By: Sgt. 1st Class Derrick Witherspoon 7th Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office) :: SCHWETZINGEN, Germany, Feb. 23, 2006 — Some people think that joining the military means giving up lifelong dreams such as being a professional singer, basketball player, Olympian or cyclist, but if you ask Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Michael J. Gallagher, he would tell you it’s only the beginning of achieving your dreams.
Gallagher, a former computer specialist with the Schwetzingen based Headquarters, 7th Army Reserve Command, turned his dream of being a professional cyclist into a reality, becoming the first – and only – Army Reserve soldier to become a member of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team. Gallagher was selected in February to be a member of the elite 2006 U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team. It’s also notable that Gallagher recently competed in the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships against approximately 160 professional and elite cyclocross riders and came in 11th place – an accomplishment that he trained for months to achieve.
Formally competing as a mountain biker, Gallagher said he had no idea that he could become a professional cyclist in the military, until he heard about the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team.
“I was told that I needed to concentrate on road cycling and transition from mountain biking, which, at that time, was my main focus,” said Gallagher. “The AFCT manager told me that road cycling was the best supported cycling sport in the military. This way I would get the support to go further in my cycling career and represent the military at the same time.”
Gallagher said in preparation for joining the Armed Forces Cycling Team, he took some medical sport tests which revealed his genetic disposition related to endurance sports. He added that the main test he was administered was the V02 max test, which informs a person of their maximal oxygen consumption and heart rate during levels of high intensity exercise. Gallagher tested in the 75 percentile.
“The elite professional level cyclists, cross country runners, and skiers start out at around 65 percent, so I realized that I had the correct equipment, I just needed to find out how to use it correctly,” said Gallagher.
Giving Gallagher a hand with his training and his cycling career with the Armed Forces Cycling Team was his coach, Klaus Wolf – the official coach of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team. After seeing Gallagher in several races in Germany, Wolf said he was anxious to talk to him about joining the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team.
“Michael is the type of cyclist who is always motivated and more of an athlete who likes to exceed his training,” said Wolf. “He trains so hard that I’m always working to make sure he doesn’t over train.”
Wolf said Gallagher is a natural talent with the potential to achieve even more than he already has.
“To be a member of the Armed Forces Cycling Team requires a great deal of dedication and self-discipline,” said Debra Ponzio, manager, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling. “Cyclists start at category five and through their competitive results, work their way to category one – the level just below professional. All of our team members, including Staff Sergeant Gallagher, are category one cyclists.”
Ponzio said that most of the athletes the team competes against earn their living as professional cyclists – unlike the members of the Armed Forces who also have their military careers to focus on.
“Staff Sergeant Gallagher competes in road races throughout the summer both in the U.S. and Europe,” said Ponzio. “He has represented the United States in the Military World Championships in road cycling for the past two years. He is our only Armed Forces athlete who also specializes in cyclocross.”
Ponzio added that Gallagher has worked his way up the cyclocross rankings to reach his current standing among the best in the United States. His recent selection to represent the United States in World Cup events means that he's at the start of the next level - racing among the world's best. She also expects him to move up in the rankings once he begins racing among the best cyclists in the world.
Gallagher said although he loves cycling, as an Army Reserve soldier he never places it before his Army Reserve mission.
“I have been supported quite well by many people in the military,” said Gallagher. “I mean, when I was mobilized at the 7th ARCOM, I didn’t get to train during the work day, but I did let my section know my training plan and they worked with me. I usually worked during lunch so I could use that hour to ride when I left work. One thing that is for sure is that regardless of what is going on with my cycling, I’m a soldier first, so I have to make sure that my military job is never negatively impacted.”
Now that Gallagher has moved back to the United States, he said he is glad that he was chosen to remain a member of the Armed Forces Cycling Team. Gallagher added that one thing is certain – joining the military has truly helped him achieve his wildest dream.
Gallagher, a former computer specialist with the Schwetzingen based Headquarters, 7th Army Reserve Command, turned his dream of being a professional cyclist into a reality, becoming the first – and only – Army Reserve soldier to become a member of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team. Gallagher was selected in February to be a member of the elite 2006 U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team. It’s also notable that Gallagher recently competed in the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships against approximately 160 professional and elite cyclocross riders and came in 11th place – an accomplishment that he trained for months to achieve.
Formally competing as a mountain biker, Gallagher said he had no idea that he could become a professional cyclist in the military, until he heard about the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team.
“I was told that I needed to concentrate on road cycling and transition from mountain biking, which, at that time, was my main focus,” said Gallagher. “The AFCT manager told me that road cycling was the best supported cycling sport in the military. This way I would get the support to go further in my cycling career and represent the military at the same time.”
Gallagher said in preparation for joining the Armed Forces Cycling Team, he took some medical sport tests which revealed his genetic disposition related to endurance sports. He added that the main test he was administered was the V02 max test, which informs a person of their maximal oxygen consumption and heart rate during levels of high intensity exercise. Gallagher tested in the 75 percentile.
“The elite professional level cyclists, cross country runners, and skiers start out at around 65 percent, so I realized that I had the correct equipment, I just needed to find out how to use it correctly,” said Gallagher.
Giving Gallagher a hand with his training and his cycling career with the Armed Forces Cycling Team was his coach, Klaus Wolf – the official coach of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team. After seeing Gallagher in several races in Germany, Wolf said he was anxious to talk to him about joining the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team.
“Michael is the type of cyclist who is always motivated and more of an athlete who likes to exceed his training,” said Wolf. “He trains so hard that I’m always working to make sure he doesn’t over train.”
Wolf said Gallagher is a natural talent with the potential to achieve even more than he already has.
“To be a member of the Armed Forces Cycling Team requires a great deal of dedication and self-discipline,” said Debra Ponzio, manager, U.S. Armed Forces Cycling. “Cyclists start at category five and through their competitive results, work their way to category one – the level just below professional. All of our team members, including Staff Sergeant Gallagher, are category one cyclists.”
Ponzio said that most of the athletes the team competes against earn their living as professional cyclists – unlike the members of the Armed Forces who also have their military careers to focus on.
“Staff Sergeant Gallagher competes in road races throughout the summer both in the U.S. and Europe,” said Ponzio. “He has represented the United States in the Military World Championships in road cycling for the past two years. He is our only Armed Forces athlete who also specializes in cyclocross.”
Ponzio added that Gallagher has worked his way up the cyclocross rankings to reach his current standing among the best in the United States. His recent selection to represent the United States in World Cup events means that he's at the start of the next level - racing among the world's best. She also expects him to move up in the rankings once he begins racing among the best cyclists in the world.
Gallagher said although he loves cycling, as an Army Reserve soldier he never places it before his Army Reserve mission.
“I have been supported quite well by many people in the military,” said Gallagher. “I mean, when I was mobilized at the 7th ARCOM, I didn’t get to train during the work day, but I did let my section know my training plan and they worked with me. I usually worked during lunch so I could use that hour to ride when I left work. One thing that is for sure is that regardless of what is going on with my cycling, I’m a soldier first, so I have to make sure that my military job is never negatively impacted.”
Now that Gallagher has moved back to the United States, he said he is glad that he was chosen to remain a member of the Armed Forces Cycling Team. Gallagher added that one thing is certain – joining the military has truly helped him achieve his wildest dream.
posted by Ryan Amirault at Thursday, February 23, 2006
