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Team Sportscover Strategic Altura

Story posted March 2, 2011 | Team Press Release
Photos by Andy Box & Pete Sutton

Yorkshire based Team Sportscover Strategic Altura  launched at BBM Bikes in Yorkshire.
The UK’s most successful amateur cycling team has been developed further for 2011 with a stronger roster, increased sponsorship, a combined senior and youth squad, event promotion and an international race calendar.
 
The 2011 Sportscover Cycling Team was officially launched at BBM Bikes in Yorkshire on Saturday. The new bike shop, an e-retailer, opens in Knottingley this coming week and have sponsored the team with Aszure bikes, along with other Yorkshire based firms Strategic Team Group and Zyro. The team’s title sponsor remains Sportscover, the sports insurance specialists.
 


(L-R C Last, A Broen, D Brown, A Watson, K Dawson, R Marshall, D Moralee, A Wallis, C Humphrey, B Last, J Tanner (jnr), J Wagner, S Loben, J Tanner, J Cole, A Brown)

Judging by this Saturday's launch, Team Sportscover have been very busy over the winter. It’s a case of the same, but very different. There are many familiar faces; Australian sports insurance specialist Sportscover remain title sponsors with the kit's distinctive yellow, black and green remaining but reworked into a striking new design.

Cyclesport legends John Tanner and Kevin Dawson still captain the team by example with the winning combination of stalwarts and emerging talent. There are some new faces on the scene too, Duncan Urquart returns from illness and Duncan Moralee joins from Planet X adding strength in-depth to the squad. Strategic Team Group, a long standing sponsor of the team have increased their financial commitment to the team and some additional sponsors have joined the fold to allow the most impressive set-up yet we’ve seen from the Yorkshire based outfit who have demonstrated time and time again that they can compete at the highest level in the sport.

BBM Bikes hosted the event and are a new sponsor driven by team founder Ashley Brown. Set in the Old Police Station in Knottingley, BBM Bikes will open it’s doors to the public this coming weekend and hosts an impressive bike showroom and fitness testing centre where team riders have already been demonstrating impressive numbers on the Wattbikes already.

The day itself reflected the core values of the team and their passion for cycling with all attendees invited to bring bikes and join the squad for a 90 minute social ride around the Yorkshire lanes. Following a short overview of the team, staff and equipment by team founder and founding partner of BBM, Ashley Brown, the group set out on the road on a dry but crisp day.

 
A group ride with guests.

Later, guests had interview and photo opportunities with the riders as the rode Minoura rollers. The riders themselves were proud to show off their new team kit based around Alturas Ergo Fit range as they filled their bottles with Power Bar energy drink. Ashley commented “[the teams] success and growth over the past few years is largely down to the fantastic team we have both on and off the bike. Our title sponsors have remained consistent over the years, which I think says a lot about our relationship and mutual respect.”

Ian Phillips , manager at BBM Bikes, went on to explain “we are now very proud to be supplying the Aszure race bikes for the team and support from Mavic, Jagwire and Giro has enabled us to equip the guys for the season ahead to a standard befitting of a Pro Tour Team. The 2011 season is very exciting for everyone involved with the team and we are launching a club through BBM Bikes that will encourage people from any background or age to climb on a bike, hopefully we will find some new recruits for the team too!”
 

Team Sportscover Strategic Altura warming up on Minoura Rollers


2011 is set to be a big year for the team with a full race calendar including top-flight domestic events and international races in Ireland, Belgium and as far afield as the USA. Youth Squad captain, Jake Tanner, has been rewarded for his outstanding performances last season with Dave Rayner funding that will allow him to race on the continent for three months and whilst the team is growing exponentially, Jake's improvement is set to exceed even this and the team are working to develop the youth riders for progression into professional contracts.

 
Kev Dawson in action with Team Sportscover Strategic Altura

Team Sportscover Strategic Altura are not shy when it comes to race promotion either, and with four events on throughout the year, you may well see Olympians, Commonwealth athletes and National Champions stood roadside waving red flags in marshalling jackets. Senior Team Manager, David Brown said “The riders know the importance of promoting races in the area to keep the sport alive. Although we’ve promoted National Championship events in the past, our recent focus has been around grass roots racing."

"This will continue with two races for 2/3/4 category riders but we all complained that there were not enough races for Elite and first category riders.In typical Sportscover style, we’ve put our money where our mouth is and will be promoting two Elite races in August. The dates are secured [14th and 17th August], but full details will be announced very soon as we are working closely with British Cycling Yorkshire who shared our view and have also worked hard to increase the events at this level.”

The team will travel out to Mallorca for a training camp this weekend before their first race in the Neil White Memorial handicap in North East England on the 13th March.
 

Aszure Team Issue bikes on display at BBM

Senior Team:
John Tanner
Kevin Dawson
Duncan Urquhart
Duncan Moralee
Ashley Brown
Collin Humphrey
Jake Tanner

Youth Academy
Jake Tanner
Josh Cole
Ben Last
James Wagner
Alex Wallis

 
Sponsors
Sportscover
Strategic Team Group
Aszure Bikes
bbmbikes.com
Altura C
Power Bar
Minoura
The Orthodontic Centre
Mavic
Michelin
Bike Box Alan
Jagwire