Cannondale has partnered with Cylance and Inspire Sports for Cannondale to become the official bike sponsor of the newly-formed Cylance Pro Cycling team. Cannondale’s sponsorship of the team, which will compete on the inaugural UCI Women’s WorldTour, marks the expansion of Cannondale’s support of women’s elite-level racing.
“Cannondale has sponsored some of the most famous and recognizable teams in cycling history and we are proud to increase our involvement in elite racing in 2016 with the addition of the Cylance Pro Cycling team,” said Brian Immel, Vice President, Global Marketing, Cannondale. “We believe that these world-class athletes racing at the UCI Women’s WorldTour level will be an inspiration to the growing global women’s cycling community.”
Cannondale will provide its complete range of award-winning race bicycles, including the all-new SuperSix EVO, Synapse and Slice RS to the team. Cylance Pro Cycling, a United States-based team, features an elite roster of athletes, including Americans Shelley Olds, Krista Doebel-Hickok, Alison Tetrick and Erica Zaveta; Valentina Scandolara and Rosella Ratto of Italy; Sheyla Gutierrez of Spain; Doris Schweizer of Switzerland; and, Katheryn Bertine of St. Kitts & Nevis. The team will race a full Women’s World Tour calendar in 2016, with many of the athletes targeting the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
The Team recently held their first team camp in Southern California. Riders Shelley Olds, USA), Valentina Scandolara (ITA), Rossella Ratto (ITA), Doris Schweizer (SUI), Erica Zaveta(USA), Alison Tetrick (USA), Kathryn Bertine (SKN), Krista Doebel-Hickok (USA) and Sheyla Gutierrez (ESP) spent a week meeting staff and sponsors, while training and photography sessions kept everyone in full swing.
“The team dynamic was great,” says Kathryn Bertine, a veteran racer in the pro peloton. “It is rare that a team gels so quickly, if at all. I think there is a great respect for everyone from riders to staff to sponsors. We’re all thrilled to be part of Cylance Pro Cycling.”
