ValueAct Capital Cycling Team announces 2009 Roster

Capitalizing on a very successful 2008 season, the ValueAct Capital Women's Cycling Team has added even more depth and top talent to its roster for the 2009 season. The team, who had wins at Tour of the Gila and podiums at Mt. Hood, Elite Nationals and the CSC Invitational, will be contesting a full NRC calendar in 2009.

"This team is destined to be one of the top teams in the country," commented VAC team director, Lisa Hunt. "We've got a powerful mix of climbers, time trialists and all-arounders." New additions to the squad include Kristin McGrath, who rode for Colavita-Sutter Home in 2008, Kristin Sanders, from Aaron's, and Robin Farina, who rode for Cheerwine. Returning riders include Sharon Allpress, Nicole Evans, Tour of the Gila winner Leah Goldstein, Martina Patella, Bronze National TT medalist Chrissy Ruiter and Emily Zell. Courtenay Brown, a former elite road racer turned triathlete, will also be returning, and will be racing as a professional triathlete in 2009.

Kristin McGrath garnered a stage victory at Fitchburg-Longsjo and went on to take 2nd overall there. A powerful climber, who excels at altitude, she took 2nd at the infamous Mogollon stage at Tour of the Gila. Most recently, McGrath rode for the US National Team at the Giro di Toscana in September.

Kristin Sanders brings added stage racing and time trialing strength to the team. Sanders won the Stage 2 mountain top finish at the 2008 Cascade Cycling Classic this year and was part of the Aaron's powerhouse that went on to win the overall at Mt. Hood. Sanders has garnered multiple top placings at Tour of the Gila, Nature Valley Grand Prix and the National Road Race and Time Trial.

Robin Farina, a strong breakaway and criterium rider, won stage 2 at Fitchburg-Longsjo this year, and helped the team garner their top placing in the NRC standings in 2008.

For 2009, the team will be working very closely with the US Women's Cycling Development Program, to help foster the development of women's cycling in the US. "Women's cycling has grown significantly over the past few years. Michael Engleman has put together an amazing program, and has an incredible talent pool of women who want to gain experience racing," said Hunt. Riders like McGrath, Allpress and Ruiter have all benefited from the USWCDP. "We're planning on tapping into his resources, by bringing on a rider or two to guest ride with the team for selected races."

The team is planning other programs to help promote the sport of cycling among women, including women's cycling clinics and group rides. "We've got some exciting things happening with the team that we'll be announcing shortly," said Hunt. "2009 is going to be a great year!"

ValueAct Capital 2009 Roster
Sharon Allpress (Denver, CO)
Courtenay Brown (Incline Village, NV)
Nicole Evans (Sandy, UT)
Robin Farina (Blowing Rock, NC)
Leah Goldstein (Vancouver, BC)
Kristin McGrath (Durango, CO)
Martina Patella (Oakland, CA)
Chrissy Ruiter (Bend, OR)
Kristin Sanders (West Palm Beach, FL)
Emily Zell (Sausalito, CA)

For more information about the team, please contact Lisa Hunt at lisa@euroduds.com, or visit our website at www.teamvalueactcapital.com

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