Robbie graduated with honors from Lake Forest College with a double major in Business and Psychology. While working toward his Bachelor's degree, he played on the Forester hockey team, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament, and was named to the All-American Collegiate Cycling Team. In 2008, he was inducted into the LFC Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in both hockey and cycling.
Robbie was a professional cyclist for 12 years. A competitive racer on the dirt, road and track since the age of 7, Ventura amassed over 70 victories during his professional career, was a member of the U.S. World Team and rode the Track World Championships in Hamar, Norway, placing 5th in the elimination.
In 2000, Robbie started Vision Quest Coaching (http://www.visionquestcoaching.com/), a uniquely positioned program for endurance athletes focusing on high quality coaching delivered with the maximum benefits of the latest technology and training methodologies. The success of his athletes has helped VQ grow to five locations and, since opening, has helped hundreds of athletes reach their potential in competitive athletic events. In recent years, VQ was named the official coaching service of TREK Travel. And, in his most aggressive expansion to date, Robbie is now a partner in a 14,000-square foot facility that houses a state-of-the-art Vision Quest Performance Center as well as a TREK Concept Store.
Robbie serves as the CycleOps Director of Training. His own coaching certifications include: NCSF Personal Trainer, USAC Level 2, USAT Level II. Robbie also proudly serves on the Healthy Highland Park Task Force as a committed member of the community.
Robbie made his TV debut with NBC Sports Network (then OLN) at the 2006 Tour de France, returning each year since as a cycling expert.
Robbie has been helping to produce and star in the nation's leading race training DVDs to Train Like You Ride™. This comprehensive series, RealRides® Training System (http://www.realrides.tv), targets specific areas of cycling performance and skills. Each acclaimed title can be used on its own or as part of the overall program.
CLIMB: ascend faster and stronger
FORCE: increase threshold for better time trialing and climbing
POWER: build threshold and VO2 max efforts to increase power and endurance
RACE DAY: race-pace preparation through high intensity criterium racing simulation
RIDE 101: introduction to serious cycling and becoming a better and stronger cyclist; designed for novice to intermediate riders, topics include safety, maintenance, bike handling, shifting, nutrition, group riding and more
SPEED: develop leg speed, sprinting, acceleration and explosive power
STRENGTH: build bike-specific core power and cycling strength
In 2008, as a two-time winner, Robbie was named official race honoree for the 26th Annual El Tour de Tucson. 2008 was also the year that Robbie began his involvement with Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. He was honored to serve as the lead designer for both the road race and time trial cycling courses. In 2011, that course design was used for Robbie Ventura’s Gran Fondo (“big rid