Joane Somarriba

Joane Somarriba Arrola ( born August 11, 1972 in Gernika ) is a former Spanish- Basque cyclist and World Champion. She is considered one of the best Spanish cyclist of all time.

From the early 1990s to 2005, Joane Somarriba one of the dominant road riders in cycling. In 1991, she first drew international attention by winning the Basque stage race Emakumeen Bira, she won again in 2000. In 1994 she was Spanish champion in the road race for the first time. In the following years Joane Somarriba put their emphasis on stage race from which they could decide for themselves many as in 1999 and 2000 Giro d'Italia Femminile, 2000, 2001 and 2003, the Grande Boucle Féminine and 2005, the " Trophée d'Or Feminine ". In 2003 she became world champion in the time trial in Hamilton, Canada.

Three times in 1996, 2000 and 2004, Joane Somarriba also took part in the Olympic Games, but without medal success. In 1992, she had wanted to participate in the Olympic games, but suffered a herniated disc in advance, so they had to pause until 1993 and it occasionally looked as if she had to end her career. At the Olympic Games in Sydney she won the individual time trial fifth.

2005 somarribas again occupied the third place in the individual time trial at the Road World Championships in Madrid. At the end of that season, she stepped back from active cycling.

Joane Somarriba is married to the Basque cyclist Ramón González Arrieta. Together with journalist Jon Rivas in 2005, she wrote an autobiography entitled Joane Somarriba.