Teams

ABUS Nutrixxion : Germany

Abus Nutrixxion was the only German professional women’s cycling team in 2011. Next to our German riders, they have signed four foreign riders to form an international top-quality team. Belinda Goss, 3-times bronze medalist at the World Championships (Track) and four-time National Champion (Points Race) will join the team in 2012 as well. Together with six-time German Champion Daniela Gaß they expect a strong squad for the sprints.

Axman Team Taiwan : Taiwan

AXMAN Team Taiwan is the country’s first-ever women’s professional cycling team. The team’s main sponsor is AXMAN Enterprise, an advanced bicycle manufacturer. Shortly after the establishment of the team, rider HSIAO, MEI-YU won the 2012 Asian Championships and made the London Olympic qualifications. They have great hope that HSIAO will shine at the London Olympics. The entire team is very pleased to participate in the 2012 Exergy Tour, and looks forward to competing against and riding alongside so many world-class riders.

Canadian National Team : Canada

The Canadian National team is very excited to be part of the inaugural Exergy Tour.  The National team will provide an opportunity to those athletes not on trade teams to race in Idaho with the best in the world.  This is a very important race for Olympic selection.  Our team will consist of athletes ranging from former Olympians to development riders.  The Canadian National Team is currently racing in the spring classics in Europe and will follow up with Chrono Gatineau and GP Gatineau prior to the Exergy Tour.

Diadora - Pasta Zara : Italy

The women’s cycling team Diadora-Pasta Zara is one of the most competitive and decorated teams in women’s cycling, and boasts the current world champion, Giorgia Bronzini.

EspnW : USA

Colavita, marketers of the #1 brand of Italian extra virgin olive oil, is nearing its 10^th anniversary in the pro peloton.  Since 2003, women’s teams powered by Colavita olive oil and pasta have consistently ranked in the top 10 in the NRC, with #1 rankings in 2010 and 2011.

To mark this important milestone, Colavita has recruited a team of inspiring athletes and partnered with espnW to raise the profile of women’s cycling. Former Colavita pros Tina Pic, the six-time US National Criterium Champion, and Olympian Iona Wynter Parks are leading this new generation of pro riders.

At the same time, Colavita continues to cultivate talent at the grassroots level.  Team Colavita is the largest recreational cycling organization in the US, with 14 regional teams representing over 600 amateur women, men, and youth cyclists in more than 20 states from coast to coast.

Exergy TWENTY12 : USA

The athletes of Exergy TWENTY12 are making a lasting impact on women’s cycling proving that women can achieve greatness given the opportunity. The program enables experienced riders to perform at their highest potential and offers junior riders a ground breaking mentor program, developing future champions and leaders. The team is based in Boise Idaho, also home of Olympic Gold medalist and multi time National and World Champion Kristin Armstrong.

Faren Honda Team : Italy

Forno D'Asolo Colavita : Italy

GreenEdge - AIS : Australia

GreenEDGE-AIS team is a team full of pride in being a fair, honest, hard working group of talented riders both Australian and non Australian. We plan on coming to the USA with a very competitive team.  Racing in America is something very important to GreenEDGE-AIS.  It is a highlight of the year for us!

NOW and Novartis for MS : USA

The uniqueness of the NOW and Novartis for MS team is that not only do the riders race their bikes at the highest level but they are also paired on tandem bikes with people living with Multiple Sclerosis at select high-profile charitable Bike MS events around the country. The goal is to show the world that MS does not define those living with the disease.

Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies : USA

Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies continues the rich cycling tradition established by Kelly Benefit Strategies in 2007. For five years, Kelly Benefit Strategies and Circuit Global Sports Management worked to establish a unique tradition in the sport, placing a focus not only on winning bike races, but on supporting and promoting healthy lifestyles, personal accountability, and ethical sporting standards around the world. Optum continues this legacy in 2012 as the new title partner.

It is also Optum’s inaugural year in women’s cycling, and the new roster features some of the top athletes (and Olympian short listers) in the world. The team features a balanced roster of seasoned riders, including 2011 NRC champion Janel Holcomb, multi-time US national team member Carmen Small, current Canadian National Criterium Champion Leah Kirchmann, and 2010 Canadian National Road Race Champion and 2009 Pan American Road Race Champion Joelle Numainville. Six of the twelve riders are Olympic long team members who all have their sights set on the road race this year in London.

Optum, a health services company, helps make the system work better for everyone – from employers, to government organizations, to consumers who access the health care system. Each day the company helps improve how health care is managed, how information shapes and drives improvements in the system, and how technology enables better care.

Known for their aggressive tactics and focused team efforts, expect to see Optum Pro Cycling p/b KBS on the attack at the Exergy Tour.

Primal / MapMyRide powered by BH Bikes : USA

Our mission is to support and promote women’s competitive cycling. We want to grow the sport in a positive way. Great competition is the fuel for any sport. It takes a collective of professional athletes and their teams to bring a product that is fun for spectators to watch and is beneficial to its patrons. Our hope is that other teams will be formed and that women’s professional cycling, which is what we are so passionate about, will abound.

Sengers Ladies Cycling Team : Belgium

The Sengers Ladies Cycling Team is a brand new UCI team based in Belgium. Last year the team debuted with Evelyn Arys winning a National Elite Women’s Title. In 2012 the team is aiming higher in international races. Head sponsor Sengers Metaal has its headquarters in Holland. The team is a nice mixture of young talent and experienced riders, both from Belgium and Holland.

Team Specialized - lululemon : Germany

Team Specialized-lululemon is a leading women’s professional cycling team made up of 13 inspiring athletes from around the globe and a handful of dedicated staff. Building on a base of great chemistry and hard work, the women aim to win as a team at every chance they can get. Over the past five years, racing as Team HTC-Highroad, these women have been a dominating force in women’s cycling and have often led the team rankings of the international calendar. In 2012, every rider on the team won at least one race and as a team they won 65 races.

Despite the varied range of age and experience on the team, many of the women will have the honour of representing their respective nations at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 and most will go on to represent their nations again at the World Championships in September. For the majority of the season they will race together as a team of mixed personalities and mixed nationalities and help each other win at races around the world.

As well as training hard and racing to win, the team has broader goals for the sport and for the community with the hope they it can help in some small way. With the added enthusiasm of some fantastic partners, the women hope to inspire other women to get involved in cycling and along the way they would like to raise awareness and funds for the team’s chosen charitable partner, Right To Play.

The team is owned and managed by Velocio Sports.

Tibco - To the Top : USA

Team TIBCO was formed in 2006 as a regional team named PABW Powered by TIBCO, out of the Palo Alto Bicycles shop in Palo Alto, California. By 2009, it had become the top team in North America and was named VeloNews Women’s Team of the Year. In 2010, the team expanded to Europe and in September 2011, Team TIBCO rider Megan Guarnier won the prestigious Giro della Toscana with the U.S national team.

2012 marks the team’s seventh year of operations, and will see additional expansion into Europe as the team furthers it’s mission of providing a long-term platform for riders to become top international competitors. The team has two riders on the U.S Olympic long team – Guarnier and Amanda Miller – and two additional likely Olympians in Tara Whitten (Canada) and Jo Kiesanowski (New Zealand).

Since its founding, Team TIBCO has grown into three teams totaling nearly 50 women: the Team TIBCO pro squad, the Team TIBCO II amateur squad and the Team TIBCO Juniors. Every member of Team TIBCO serves as an active ambassador for it’s partners and as a role model for youth and adults across America to pursue a life of health and fitness.

Topsport Vlaanderen - Ridley 2012 : Belgium

The team started  in 1995 with 3 pro-riders (women) and we have built the team with the professionalism of a men’s team. All riders and staff are on full contract and paid by the ministry of sport. Former riders include Hanka Kupfernagel who won the World Championship in cycl0-cross and also won the overall UCI class, and Susanne Ljungskog who won the Road World Championships. In 2008 Jolien d’Hoore won the Junior Road World Championships. We focus on  young rider development to give them an opportunity in the sport. We look forward to the Exergy Tour and to having riders on the starting line in the London Olympic Games.