2008 U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team

Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander George Ganoung

DOB: 6 April 1971
Current residence: Hedgesville, WV
Hometown: Tombstone, AZ
Cycling strengths: Time Trial, All-Arounder
Current military job: Deputy Program Manager, Coast Guard Business Intelligence Project, US Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC,

Why did you join the military? Honestly, because I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. The lure of a good education, guaranteed employment and the ability to see the world and experience different things was too good to pass up.

Previous sports: Running, duathlon, triathlon, tennis, wrestling, soccer, skateboarding, basketball, football, I pretty much tried just about everything.

How did you get started in cycling? I was primarily a competitive cross country and middle distance track runner throughout high school and college. After college, I did triathlon and duathlon for several years, going on to win a National Age Group title in duathlon and competing at the World Age Group Duathlon Championships five times as part of the U.S. Team, finishing as high as 5th at the world championships. After two lukewarm years trying to race in the "pro" duathlon ranks, I recognized that despite years as a runner, cycling was my strength. In 2002, I entered a few bike races and moved from Cat 4 to Cat 1 in less then two seasons.

Most memorable race and/or experience in cycling: Scoring enough NRC points to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Road Trials and placing 7th at the World Military Championships in Slovakia in 2004.

Most memorable experience in the military: The time I spent as an operational scuba diver during the first two years of my career while stationed in the Western Pacific.

Top cycling results:
5 Time Member of the U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team: 2003-2008
2 Time US Military Time Trial Champion: 2003-2004
Qualified for US Olympic Road Cycling Trials on NRC Points: 2004
7th, CISM World Military TT Champs, Trencin, Slovakia: 2004 (best-ever U.S. finish)
6th, Stage 3, Vuelta de Bisbee Stage Race (NRC), Bisbee, AZ: 2004
13th, GC, Vuelta de Bisbee Stage Race (NRC), Bisbee, AZ: 2004
12th, Stage 1, Tour of the Gila Stage Race (NRC), Silver City, NM: 2004
37th, GC, Tour of the Gila Stage Race (NRC), Silver City, NM: 2005
9th, GC, Tour of Shenandoah Stage Race, Charlottesville, VA: 2003
6th, Stage 1, Tour of Christiana Stage Race, Christiana, PA: 2003
4th, Union Grove Circuit Race, Union Grove, PA: 2005
3rd, Snow Valley Bethesda Grand Prix, Bethesda, MD: 2005