Cooke's Vision 1 RT Taking Shape

Story posted December 19

Source: Team Press Release

The Vision 1 racing team have announced in a press release that within the first five riders joining World and Olympic Champion Nicole Cooke (pictured) at Vision 1 Racing for 2009 will include a rider from her native country Wales, Katie Curtis who was also with Nicole in Team Halfords Bikehut. Katie, says the press release, fits perfectly with the teams’ aim of bringing through talented young British riders.

Team Press Release

"Katie had a very successful 2007, where she finished 4th in the U23 national road race Championships, and represented Great Britain at the World Track Championships finishing 8th in the Scratch race.  Katie has been recovering from illness during the 2008 season but with this behind her, Katie is highly motivated to race in 2009 and support fellow Welsh rider Nicole Cooke on the road.  Stefan Wyman said of this signing, ‘Katie is young, motivated and very talented.  I’m really happy to be working with Katie in 2009 as all of my experiences of Katie have been positive.  We worked together in 2007 and she can be exception for the team.’

Katie pictured racing on the track for Great Britain.

Also joining the team will be Australian rider Vicki Whitelaw.  Vicki has made a great impact in Europe in 2008 in her first season in Europe while racing with the National Team.  Vicki started the season very well by taking a stage in the Tour de L’aude in May, and backed this up with a win in the individual time trial in the Giro Italia.

Right: Vicki Whitelaw (photo Greg Long).

‘We’re really pleased to have Vicki on our team in 2009.  She’s a very naturally gifted cyclist who has performed so well in 2008.  I think a lot of people in cycling sat up and took notice of her performances this year.  She’s going to a add a great dimension to our team in stage races with her excellent TT ability, but when you add this to her all round ability, we’re confident she’ll have a major impact for us.’ Commented team manager Stefan Wyman

Joining Vicki will be Aurore Verhoeven from France.  A first year Elite in 2009, Aurore has the potential to be one of Europe’s best riders in a few years time.  Aurore has been a consistent winner throughout the junior ranks, but showed her full potential in July 2008 when she finished 4th in the European junior Road Race Championships and 6th in the World Junior Road Race Championships. 

‘Both Nicole and myself are committed to developing young riders.  These riders will received all of the support, time and facilities necessary to allow them to reach their full potential.  I’m really excited about the prospect of seeing Aurore progress with us over the years ahead.  She has everything it takes to reach the top of the sport’ said Wyman.

Finishing the first group of signings for the team are British duo Gabby Day and Helen Wyman.  These two riders are well known for their cyclo-cross ability, with Helen having won the National Cyclo-Cross championships for the last 3 seasons.  Both riders are in the top echelons of the sport on the world scene, with Helen being a regular podium finisher in the World Cup series.

Helen has also shown her road racing ability and has won climbers jerseys in international stage races consistently.  She has also finished in the medals in the UK National Road Race Championships.  Gabby has shown her ability over the last 3 seasons as a professional road rider and 2009 will see her take a much more structure approach to road racing. 

‘Both of these riders have what it takes to support the team leaders in major races.  Gabby competed in both the Tour of Flanders and Tour de L’aude in 2008 and is experienced and talented enough to deal with any raced on the UCI calendar.  Helen has ridden with Nicole in the World Championships on several occasions and also at the Tour de France in 2008.  They’ll always give 100% and are hugely motivated to be riding alongside the World and Olympic Champion in 2009’

Vision 1 Racing still has opportunities for sponsors who wish to join the team for 2009.  Anyone interested should contact the team manager directly at stefan@vision1racing.com"

www.vision1racing.com  www.nicolecooke.com  www.vickiwhitelaw.com    www.gabbyday.com   

More news on the teams Racing Calendar for 2009 will be announced soon along with the further details of the rider roster for 2009.