Road To 2012
Annie Last signs for new Milka-Brentjens Team
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British Cycling Olympic Academy athlete Annie Last has been signed by Bart Brentjens’ all-new UCI Trade Team for 2012. Mountain biking’s first ever Olympic gold medallist in Atlanta 1996, Brentjens created the Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team around Last who will continue to use Boardman bikes.
Following a breakthrough season in which the under-23 rider won the British cross country championships and scored back-to-back top ten results in the UCI World Cup, Last has marked herself as one of the most exciting prospects in women’s mountain bike racing – and in 2012 Brentjens sees a continuation of that progress.
“Annie is a promising talent, her best result this year in the World Cup was sixth in Nove Mesto, an extraordinary result considering her young age. In 2012 Annie will work toward establishing herself in the UCI World Cup Series and targeting the London 2012 Olympic Games in August; I think she can have a good result there!”
Signing to the Mika-Brentjens MTB Racing Team brings Last alongside team manager, World Champion and World Cup Series winner and was a key factor in Last’s decision to join the team.
“I am really looking forward to working with Bart Brentjens and his team. They have got a huge amount of experience about performing at the highest level in the sport and they have presented me with an exciting opportunity to be part of the Team.”
Throughout the winter and 2012 Annie will continue training as part of British Cycling’s Olympic Academy, guided by Phil Dixon, British Cycling’s Olympic Mountain Bike Coach.
The British Champion’s first bike racing experience at the Notts and Derby Cyclo-Cross League – which was infamously influenced by the reward of a goody bag full of chocolate – will first race in her new colours at the British Cyclo Cross Championships at Ipswich, January 8.
