Henrietta Christie
Hometown
Wellington, New Zealand
Date of birth
23 January 2002
Languages
English and learning Spanish
Nickname
Henri
Henrietta fell in love with the sound of cycling. She heard the distinct sound of cleats walking on concrete and knew this was the sport for her. She then convinced her parents to let her take up the sport and the rest is history. She quickly discovered she was a powerful rider who excelled on climbs.
She realized she would have to leave New Zealand for Europe if she wanted to become a pro and she knew this would be expensive. To save money, she baked and decorated gourmet homemade cakes and sold them locally.
Her hard work – both on the bike and in the kitchen – soon paid off. Last season she was third at the Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar. She has won the best young rider competition at the Tour Down Under and the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche. Her top ten GC results include the Tour Down Under, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucía, and the Clasica de Almeria. She is a former junior and under-23 time trial national champion.
This is Henrietta’s first season with EF Education-Oatly. At just 23 years old, she is still discovering her full potential.
Questions & Answers
What is your favorite climb? What makes it special?
I can’t choose just one! I love the climbs in Andorra, just climbing through nature, it’s so peaceful and quiet.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
I would ride around Europe, exploring the lesser seen parts of each country. I love to travel and want to see everything!
If you weren't a professional cyclist, what would you be? Why?
I would probably be a baker of some sorts. After I retire, I want to open my own wee bakery.
What is your favorite pump-up song?
Any Abba song! I know every lyric! It seems almost criminal to not sing along to a song of theirs.
What is your favorite word in your native language? What does it mean? What do you like about it?
I wouldn’t say I have a favorite word but one that I have used everyday for a long time now is resilience. Life is never smooth sailing, especially in sport. It’s about how you handle tough situations and find a way through issues. I feel like everyone can relate to being resilient which is why I really like it. With every problem you overcome in life, you get wiser and stronger.