Missy "The Missile" Giove's been popping up on the USA Pro GRT circuit in the last few months, culminating with her appearance here at the Windham World Cup. Fans and Missy aficionados the world over have had their interest thoroughly piqued as to what the resurgence of mountain biking's wild child means. So, why has Missy come back? And, is she serious about having a real go of it?
The answer is two fold: First, after completing five years of supervised release, Missy is now able to leave the state of Virginia where she resides. The second reason really gets to the heart of the matter.
| Unfortunately, my girl got cancer. You know that's a f*cking scary thing. It's not a small situation and we'll get through it. We kinda went through some things that maybe she'd like to do in life, you know, and one was to see me race a World Cup. I was like, 'really?' I was like, 'OK!' |
Missy had only ridden downhill sporadically over the last few years, and on bikes that she either borrowed or loaned. She's instead, been detailing yachts and has come into racing pretty much straight off the couch.
| About two months ago this happened, I had about six weeks to make this happen. So, I went to a Pro GRT (Snowshoe) on a rental bike and just about killed myself, but I made it. I'm here to be brave and be an inspiration to get my wife through what she's got to get through. |
With a little help from her friends, Missy was set up with a YT Carbon Tues to see her goal through for the Windham World Cup.
| The YT is sick - got it the night before practice. Cam Zink hooked it up and totally threw down - sent me a loaner out for the weekend. I love it. I hope he lets me keep it! He didn't give me a return to sender box so, you know... |
| The goal is to put on a show, to pin it, and to have a f*cking good time. I'm doing it for my girl - it's all heart right here baby. |
When she started to get her suspension set up, Missy asked SRAM mechanic Evan Warner to get her in the range of Troy Brosnan. After probably a total of six runs all weekend, Missy got her BoXXer World Cup to two tokens and 78 psi. As a comparison, Troy is running 90psi with three tokens.
So, will we see more of Missy on the scene?
| I want to build trails, train riders, ride selected World Cups, and maybe help on a team. I want to take some people on some adventure tours. I'd love to do what I love to do. Maybe give some other kids some inspiration. |
instagram.com/p/6L4BtRCl2D/?taken-by=witzode
LOL
Missi 'Missile' Giove: Yeti, Cannondale, Foes, YT!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqnxSC5NFAk
"Fully commit or bail"
Some of the best advice ever and one of the best quotes ever.
Sharing the track with her in pro practice back in the day was always eventful. I remember at the 2002 NORBA NCS at Durango, a crew of us guys were checking out lines in this steep tech off-camber rock section. Missle comes blazing around the corner screaming "Get the f**k outta the way" and rides up on the razors edge peak above the off-camber and launches over the whole section. We all just looked at each other with a WTF was that line?! Girl has balls!
Worse memory was watching her crash near the finish at 2001 World Champs in Vail. You felt sick to your stomach seeing her rag doll to her head. No one thought she'd recover from that.
I witnessed that 2001 Vail crash from along side that headwall. I was really thinking she was dead. I've never seen anyone hit their head and remain motionless for that long.
Good to see her out of "bracelets" and back on a race course!
i81.photobucket.com/albums/j233/masterlink666/picture-24.jpg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww334HNQeys
And F*CK CANCER!!
Lol :v