Eight Riders Return to Lead Strong, Dynamic Squad
Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank has announced its roster for the 2020 season. In addition to returning riders Nicolle Bruderer (GTM), Leah Dixon (GBR), Nina Kessler (NED), Sharlotte Lucas (NZL), Shannon Malseed (AUS), Emily Newsom (USA), Kendall Ryan (USA) and Lauren Stephens (USA), the team welcomes five new riders that will bolster the team’s record of success that spanned four continents in 2019.
For the 2020 season, the team will compete in all of the North American UCI races, select Women’s World Tour (WWT) races and will continue its provision of a significant international race calendar for its athletes. The team will also continue its expansion into gravel racing with extensive gravel races and community events planned for 2020.
“Our 2020 team is a strong mix of experience and raw talent,” said Rachel Hedderman, Head Sports Director for Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank. “We are looking forward to developing our new riders and providing all our riders the opportunity to achieve their potential.”
Returning Riders:
Kendall Ryan returns to the team for her 9th season and will be gunning for a spot at the Tokyo Olympics representing the U.S. on the track. Kendall will join the team for select races early season and will be looking to add to her collection of sprint victories, which includes the White Spot Delta Road Race (2017, 2018), Gastown Grand Prix (2017, 2018, 2019) and a stage of the Amgen Tour of California (2018).
Also a long-time member of the Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank squad, Lauren Stephens (USA) is entering her 7th season with the team and adds both strength and experience to the roster. After working through a significant injury that she incurred in January 2018, Stephens showcased her strength at September’s Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche, placing on the podium in two stages. With her injury finally behind her, Lauren will be looking to make her mark on the international racing scene and will be leading the team’s gravel efforts.
Nicolle Bruderer (GTM) is returning to the team for her 4th season. Nicolle represented Guatamela at the 2016 World Championships and was the Guatemalan Road and Time Trial National Champion in 2017 and Time Trial Champion in 2018.
Shannon Malseed, 2018 Australian Road National Champion, returns to Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank for her 3rd season. Shannon scored 2nd overall at the Joe Martin Stage Race this year, along with strong results that include 2nd at the Tour of Chongming Island (UCI WWT) in 2018.
Concert pianist Emily Newsom (USA) is also entering her third season with the team. Emily has showed consistent strength in international races and has recently demonstrated significant gravel prowess.
Nina Kessler, who finished 4th overall at the Tour of Chongming Island this year, adds extensive European racing experience to the team’s roster and will be returning to the team for her second season. Kessler suffered a broken collarbone at the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix but recovered in time to support the team’s results at the final WWT race of the season, the Tour of Guangxi.
Powerful New Zealand rider, Sharlotte Lucas, has won the Oceania Cycling Championships Road Race in 2019 and 2018 and will be entering her second year racing with Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank. Sharlotte recently won a Bronze medal in the New Zealand National Criterium Championship and won the BDO Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, scoring the team’s first podiums and victory of the new season.
Leah Dixon (GBR) raced with the team for the late summer races this season and returns full time for 2020. While working full time as a procurement category manager, Dixon’s solid results include 2nd Overall in the 2019 UK National Series and 1st overall GC and Stage 2 winner at the UK National Series’ Tour of the Reservoir. A competitive runner as a junior, Dixon suffered an injury after training for a marathon in 2017 and turned to cycling.
New Riders Joining Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank in 2020
New riders include Erica Clevenger (USA), a strong all-around rider who won the 2019 Redlands Sunset Road Race and has consistently clocked results while pursuing a graduate degree at the Colorado School of the Mines.
Jenelle Crooks (NZL) has competed professionally since 2016 as part of the Mitchelton Scott team, with results that include a 3rd place in the Team Time Trial at the Giro Rosa (2017) and 1st place in the youth general classification at the Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen (2015). After a short break from international competition, Jenelle has returned to racing and has already demonstrated considerable form Down Under.
Local rider Kristen Faulkner (USA), a Harvard rower now working in Venture Capital, joins Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank after chalking up several Northern California victories throughout the 2019 season, including the Madera Stage Race, the Brisbane Criterium and the Watsonville Criterium. Kristen is a very motivated individual with considerable time trial talent that she will be tapping into. 2020 will be Faulkner’s first year as a professional cyclist.
Another new addition to the team is young Australian standout Sarah Gigante (AUS), who won the 2019 Australian Road National Championships, securing both the Elite and U23 titles, in addition to the U23 Time Trial title. In 2018, Gigante was 1st in the U19 Australian National Championships in the Road Race, Time Trial and Criterium. A stellar student, Sarah completed high school with the highest possible score, placing within the top 0.05% of students in her state. Sarah is currently in her first year at the University of Melbourne and is part of the university’s Elite Athlete Program.
Also joining the team is Diana Peñuela (COL) who has raced professionally since 2016 and has more than 7 years of experience in the professional peloton. Across her career, Peñuela has demonstrated top results and is a strong team player. In 2018, Peñuela placed 3rd at the UCI Winston Salem Cycling Classic and won stages in both the Joe Martin Stage Race and the Tour of the Gila.
“I am incredibly excited by the roster we have put together for 2020,” said Linda Jackson, founder of Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank. “Our philosophy has always been to do our best to hire not just great athletes, but great people. We have a terrific group of women, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do as a team in 2020.”
Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank’s Complete Roster for 2020 is:
Nicolle Bruderer (GTM)
Erica Clevenger (USA)
Jenelle Crooks (NZL)
Leah Dixon (GBR)
Kristen Faulkner (USA)
Sarah Gigante (AUS)
Nina Kessler (NED)
Sharlotte Lucas (NZL)
Shannon Malseed (AUS)
Emily Newsom (USA)
Diana Peñuela (COL)
Kendall Ryan (USA)
Lauren Stephens (USA)
