Women's News Roundup #4, 12 January 2008
Team Halfords, Swift Racing, Michela Fanini, Mackie final signing Lotto-Belisol, Debabarrena-Kirolgi, Copa America de Ciclismo, New riders for Vrienden van het Platteland, Team Gauss RDZ, Webcor Builders, Elemans to Flexpoint and Four-days of Rotterdam…

Team Halfords: New British team led by Nicole Cooke
On January 9, High street giant Halfords announced that it will sponsor the entirely British professional cycling team. World Champion Nicole Cooke will lead the squad with the goal of giving her and the team, the ideal performance environment, sufficient support, focus and UK based training to put them in top contention for a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

The team, to be called Team Halfords Bikehut, will consist of 10 women riders but will also be supplemented by two top male riders Rob Hayles (double World Champion in 2005) and Tom Southam (former Barlowold), who will ride a full domestic season of British Cycling Premier Calendar and Elite Circuit Series road race events in the new team colours.

2008 Team Halfords Bikehut Squad:
Nicole Cooke
Catherine Hare
Tanja Slater
Wendy Houvenagel
Joanna Rowsell
Lizzie Armistead
Katie Curtis
Emma Trott
Jessica Allen
Katie Colclough

Dave Brailsford (performance director of the Great Britain Cycling Team) will be acting as the general manager of the team.

Swift Racing Team looking to recruit
Following an excellent to the year, Swift Racing confirms they are looking to recruit a senior rider for its 2008 road squad. Backed by Swift Motorhomes under a long-term contract, the team is building a great young team with huge potential.

Helen Wyman one of the team leader's   Photo © Bart Hazen

Around these young riders are several experience heads including Olympian Emma Jones, Cyclo-Cross star Helen Wyman, and leader New Zealander Toni Bradshaw. However the team has confirmed they are interested in hearing from other riders interested in joining the team.

"I believe we have the right structure in place in terms of our location, staff and sponsor base. To finish things off we are looking to add another rider to the roster who can give us different dimension in major races such as the Tour de L'aude and Tour of Flanders. The added support of Museeuw Bikes and continued support of Bio-Racer means we can look to strengthen our team and increase our race calendar." said Team Manager Stefan Wyman.

Any riders interested should apply by e-mail directly to Stefan on stefan@teamswiftracing.com providing full contact details.

Our Season starts with a two-week training camp in the South of France at the end of February, and then we will return to our base in Belgium for the early season classic races. The focus of the first half of the season will be Tour de L'aude, which we also took part in last season.

''Our team house in central Belgium gives us the perfect location to base ourselves. Within easy reach of so many races, the riders enjoy the benefit of much reduced travel times and longer periods in a familiar place." Added Stefan.

Further team information can be found at www.teamswiftracing.com
www.swiftleisure.com - www.bio-racer.com - www.museeuwbikes.be

Michela Fanini announces 2008 team roster
The Italian Michela Fanini Record Rox team has announced it’s team roster for the 2008 season.

Michela Fanini Record Rox 2008 Squad
Annalisa Cucinotta
Veronica Alessio
Valentina Bastianelli
Federica Balestri
Jennifer Fiori
Marika Plagenzi
Silvia Trovellesi
Rosane Kirch
Daiva Tuslaite
Saneila Biagi
Giulia Lazzerini
Laura Bozzolo
Rasa Leleivyte
Julia Blindyuk
Lina Skliyaite

New: Saneila Biagi (Elite 2), Giulia Lazzerini (Elite 2), Laura Bozzolo (Elite 2), Rasa Leleivyte (Elite 2), Julia Blindyuk (Elite 2) and Lina Skliyaite (Elite 2).

Transfers: Rebecca Bertolo (retires), Sara Mustonen (Team Cmax), Grete Treier (Team Gauss RDZ) and Simona Scifo (?)

Rasa Leleivyte is a hot prospect for the future. She is the 2006 Junior World Champion and has a very good sprint. The team also contains several track riders. Photo © Bart Hazen

Lotto/Belisol 2008 Complete
Emma Mackie final signing Lotto-Belisol
Emma Mackie (Vrienden van het Platteland) is the final signing of the Lotto-Belisol team. The team has 14 riders for 2008. In this team Mackie will find her compatriots Kathryn Watt and present Olympic Champion Sara Carrigan.

Emma Mackie (2007) when she was riding for DSB Bank in 2006.
Photo © Bart Hazen

Lotto/Belisol 2008 Squad
Lieselot Decroix
Sara Carrigan
Catherine Delfosse
Elise Depoorter
Yolandi Du Toit
Kim Schoonbaert
Grace Verbeke
Kathryn Watt
Sofie Goor
Vera Koedooder
Lien Lanssens
Emma Silversides
Annelies van Doorslaer
Emma Mackie

New Riders: Sofie Goor (Vlaanderen), Vera Koedooder (DSB), Lien Lanssens (Lotto Belisol Youth), Emma Silversides (Global Racing Team), Emma Mackie (Vrienden van het Platteland) and Annelies van Doorslaer (Lotto Belisol Youth).

Leaving the team: Tamara Boyd (?), Martine Bras (Vrienden v/h Platteland), Liesbet de Vocht (Vrienden v/h Platteland), Siobhan Dervan (Fenixs-HPB) and Corine Hierckens (Vienne Futuroscope).

New Spanish Women's Team - Debabarrena - Kirolgi
A new Spanish team has announced it's line-up for 2008.

Debabarrena - Kirolgi 2008 Team
María Gallastegi (Eibar) Sigue
Saioa Olite (Donostia) Sigue
Inma Rafael (Bilbao) Bilbao Triatloi T.
Mariaje Sánchez (Elgoibar) Sigue
Nekane Lasa (Zumarraga) Debabarrena/Bizkaia
Ane Mendia (Soraluze) Sigue
Maitane Telletxea (Aranguren) Bizkaia-Panda
Itsaso Leunda (Hernialde) Garraitz Triatloi T.
Naiara Telletxea (Aranguren) Bizkaia-Panda
Amaia Etxedona (Tolosa) Sigue

Riders who are not (yet) registered with the UCI:
Ainhoa Lendinez (Elgoibar) Sigue
Rosa Lasagabaster (Eskoriatza) Sigue

Copa America de Ciclismo
Uenia Fernandes wins first UCI women's race in 2008
The Brasilian rider Uenia Fernandes has won the first UCI women's race in 2008, the Copa America de Ciclismo. In this race over 32 km she was the best in a sprint with two ahead of Fernanda Souza. Marcia Fernandes took the third place.

Copa America de Ciclismo Results
1 FERNANDES, Uenia Clube Fernandes de Ciclismo 00h35'42''
2 SOUZA, Fernanda Minas Gerais 00h35'49''  '07''
3 FERNANDES, Marcia Clube Fernandes de Ciclismo 35'45''
4 FERNANDES, Clemilda Clube Fernandes de Ciclismo 00h35'49''
5 FERNANDES, Janildes Clube Fernandes de Ciclismo 00h35'49''
6 LIMA, Natalia Cesc/Sundown/N Caixa/S Caetano 00h35'49''
7 GERHARD, Debora Scott/Marcondes Cesar/Fadenp 00h35'49''
8 RODRIGUEZ, Consuelo Chile 00h35'49''
9 LIONCO, Daniela Team Vale/O Lojao/Gramado/JKS/Scatt/SEJELP 35'49''
10 TIBUSKI, Loraine Seleção de Brasília 00h35'49''
11 KIRCH, Rosane Michela Fanini 00h35'49''
12 ROSOLEN, Marcela UAC/São Lucas Saude/Americana 00h35'49''
13 PARDIAL, Valquiria Unilus/A Tribuna/Specialized 00h35'49''
14 RENNER, Juliana Memorial/Santos/Fupes/Giant/N Caixa 00h35'49''
15 ZIMMERMAN, Elione Smel/Foz do Iguaçu 00h35'49''

Five new riders for Vrienden van het Platteland
The Dutch UCI team Vrienden van het Platteland has contracted five new riders for next season. Yvonne Hijgenaar, Willy Kanis (both famous track riders), Nikki Egyed (Raleigh), Lorian Graham (Elite-2) and Tina Pic Mayolo (Colavita) will join the team. The full 2008 team of Vrienden van het Platteland is:

Yvonne Hijgenaar  Photo © Bart Hazen

Team Roster 2008
Liesbeth Bakker,
Martine Bras
Ellen van Dijk
Nikki Egyed
Lorian Graham
Martine van der Herberg
Marit Huisman
Roxane Knetemann
Kristy Miggels
An van Rie
Monique Verstraten
Annemiek van Vleuten
Liesbeth de Vocht
Jaccolien Wallaard

Willy Kanis Photo © Bart Hazen

New Riders: Martine Bras (Lotto-Belisol), Liesbet de Vocht (Lotto-Belisol), Nikki Egyed (Raleigh), Lorian Graham (Elite-2), Yvonne Hijgenaar (Therme), Marit Huisman (Juniors), Willy Kanis (Track), Roxane Knetemann (AA Drink), Tina Mayolo Pic (Colavita), Kristy Miggels (Therme), Martine van der Herberg (Juniors), An van Rie (AA Drink) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Therme).

Leaving: Janne Brok (?), Katie Brown (?), Yvonne Leezer (DSB), Emma Mackie (Lotto-Belisol), Anita Valen (Team Flexpoint) and Monique van de Ree (Rapha/Lifeforce).
Maria Cazzola & Chiara Bartolus new signings Team Gauss-RDZ

Team Gauss-RDZ - Italy
Final Signings
Maria Cazzola and Chiara Bartolus are the final signings for the Italian Team Gauss-RDZ. Earlier the team already contracted Tatiana Guderzo (AA Drink), Elodie Touffet (Menikini), Grete Treier (Michela Fanini), Martina Scoppa (Elite-2) and Eleonora Suelotto (Elite-2). On the other hand Martina Corazza and Silvia Parietti prolonged there contracts with this team.

Webcor Builder's - USA
Announces 2008 team roster
The American Webcor Builder’s team has announced it’s team roster for the 2008 season. New in the team are the Canadian top riders Erinne Willock, Alex Wrubleski and Gina Grain. Wrubleski was ninth at the World Championships in Stuttgart last year.

2008 Webcor Builders Squad
Christine Thorburn
Katheryn Curi Mattis
Alex Wrubleski
Gina Grain
Erinne Willock
Rebecca Much
Amy Dombroski
Janel Holcomb
Laura McKenzie
Beverley Harper

New: Amy Dombroski (Elite-2), Gina Grain (Expresscopy.com), Janel Holcomb (Elite-2), Rebecca Much (Elite-2), Erinne Willock (Expresscopy.com) and Alex Wrubleski (Colavita)

Out: Mara Abbott (High Road Sports), Rachel Heal (Elite-2/Team Tibco), Helen Kelly (Elite-2/Team Tibco) and Amber Rais (?).

Saskia Elemans signs with Team Flexpoint
Saskia Elemans is riding since the beginning of January for Team Flexpoint. Elemans who is riding very good this season crowned this with a bronze medal at the Dutch Championships cyclocross in Sint-Michielsgestel. She is also selected for the World Championships cyclocross in Treviso later this month.

Saskia Elemans Photo © Bart Hazen

Elemans signed a contract with Team Flexpoint until March 2009. It's likely that she will ride some road races as well with the team.

Four Days of Rotterdam - Track
Vos and Visser (DSB) winners of the first women’s four-days Rotterdam!

Road or track fast wheel Marianne Vos  Photo © Bart Hazen

The DSB Cycling Team duo Marianne Vos and Adrie Visser have won the first edition of the Women's 4-days of Rotterdam. Kirsten Wild and Marlijn Binnendijk (AA Drink) finished as second and Suzanne van Veen and Elise van Hage (Team Flexpoint) as third.

Four Days of Rotterdam Results
1 Adrie Visser (Ned) / Marianne Vos (Ned) 124 pts
2 Kirsten Wild (Ned) / Marllijn Binnendijk (Ned) 95
3 Suzanne Van Veen (Ned) / Elise van Hage (Ned) 59

Adrie Visser passes in a blur at the Dutch Track Championships  Photo © Bart Hazen

4 Vera Koedooder (Ned) / Charlotte Becker (Ger) 50
Three laps behind:
5 Chantal Blaak (Ned) / Maxime Groenewegen (Ned) 17 pts
6 Amy Pieters (Ned) / Lotte van Hoek (Den) 12
Four laps behind
7 Lianne Wagtho (Ned) / Nina Kessler (Ned) 28 pts
8 Roxane Knetemann (Ned) / Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) 12
Seven laps behind:
9 Angela Brodtka (Ger) / Tina Liebig (Ger) 5 pts
Thirteen laps behind:
10 Anne Eversdijk (Ned) / Yvonne Baltus (Ned) 8 pts

Women's News Roundup and 2008 Rosters - Part 1
Women's News Roundup & 2008 Rosters - Part 2
Women's News Roundup #3 - 23 December 2007