17 teams representing 9 countries to ride in Inaugural Exergy Tour
Email
Print 
Many of the best women's teams and riders are scheduled to compete in the Inaugural Exergy Tour. (Photo by Casey B. Gibson)
The 17 elite teams include Diadora – Pasta Zara (ITA) with the reigning World Champion, Giorgia Bronzini; Specialized – lululemon (GER), currently ranked #2 in the world and with a roster currently listing Clara Hughes (CAN), Amber Neben (USA), Evelyn Stevens (USA) and Ina Teutenberg (GER); Exergy Twenty12 (USA) with Idaho native, former World Champion and 2008 Olympic Time Trial Gold Medalist Kristin Armstrong (USA); and the Faren Honda Team (ITA) with 2008 Olympic Road Race Gold Medalist Nicole Cooke (GBR).
Team Tibco-To The Top (USA) brings 6 of the top 10 riders in the USA National rankings to their roster with Lauren Hall (USA), Megan Guarnier (USA), Lindsay Myers (USA), Amanda Miller (USA), Jennifer Purcell (USA) and Jennifer Wheeler (USA). ABUS Nutrixxion (GER) looks to bring a strong squad in the sprints led by Daniela Gass (SUI) and Belinda Goss (AUS); and Now and Novartis for MS (USA) lists three-time Irish National Time Trial Champion, Olivia Dillon (IRL) and 2011 US National Road Champion, Robin Farina currently on their roster.
Team Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA) continues the rich cycling tradition established by their presenting sponsor in this, their inaugural year in women’s cycling, and a roster on which six of the team’s 12 riders are Olympic long team members who have their sights set on the road race in London.
Leading the efforts of Colavita/espnW Pro Cycling (USA) will be team captain Kathryn Bertine, a three-time road and time trial national champion of St. Kitts and Nevis. Directing the team will be six-time US National Champion and former Colavita pro rider Tina Pic and Iona Wynter Parks, who represented her native Jamaica at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and directed the Colavita squad after her retirement from competitive racing.
“I am confident we have found the right balance with the 17 teams that shall be competing at the inaugural Exergy Tour,” said James Carkulis, CEO, Exergy Development Group, founder and title sponsor of the race. “Showcasing ladies professional cycling at the international level in the USA has been remiss; and we are honored to welcome these athletes in the first year of the Exergy Tour and dedicated to grow into the future as one of the premier ladies professional cycling races in the world.”
The inaugural 2012 Exergy Tour roster includes the following 17 teams:
UCI Pro Teams Confirmed: (UCI rankings as of April 14, 2012)
• • Team Specialized – lululemon (GER), No. 2
• • GreenEdge – AIS (AUS), No. 4
• • Diadora – Pasta Zara (ITA), No. 6
• • Faren Honda Team (ITA), No. 9
• • Dolmans – Boels Cycling Team (NED), No. 11
• • Tibco – To the Top (USA), No. 16
• • Exergy Twenty12 (USA), No. 19
• • ABUS Nutrixxion (GER), No. 21
• • Axman Team Taiwan (TPE), No. 23
• • Topsport Vlaanderen – Ridley 2012 (BEL), No. 24
• • Forno D’Asolo Colavita (ITA). No. 26
• • Sengers Ladies Cycling Team (BEL), No. 28
• • Canadian National Team (CAN)
• • Ukraine National Team (UKR)
NRC (National Racing Calendar) Elite Teams Confirmed:
• • Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA), No. 2 on NRC
• • NOW and Novartis for MS (USA), No. 3 on NRC
• • Colavita – espnW Pro Cycling (USA)
Team details are updated regularly at exergytour.com. Rider rosters are subject to change and will be provided as available.
"The Exergy Tour will be an opportunity for spectators and cycling fans to see many of the same athletes who will be competing just two months later at the London Olympic Games,” said Heather Hill, marketing, communications and events director for the Exergy Tour. “The competition level will rival the classic European races and set a new standard for the highest level of ladies professional bike racing in North America. The Exergy Tour will also be an opportunity for many young riders to compete alongside the very best in the world.”
Medalist Sports is overseeing the competition and technical production of the Exergy Tour. Medalist is also the event management arm for the Amgen Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.
For more information, or to register to volunteer, please visit www.ExergyTour.com.
This Article Updated April 18, 2012 @ 04:33 AM For more information contact:
