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Hey all bicycle racers, fans, and Freds, BikeGossipGirl here
and I’m posting the first rendition of what will hopefully be a season full of
the latest and greatest bicycling news that you won’t see anywhere else. To
begin with, it seems like all the women’s teams are slow to post rosters for
2013 so we’ve decided to conduct a little of our own research:
Specialized-Lululemon:
The epilepsy-inducing kits are back! Returning is the Wall Street banker
turned superstar, Evie Stevens, who will likely try to win every stage race she
enters this year. In addition to Evie, it looks like the team has strengthened their GC
riders bringing on Tayler from Exergy. Notable exclusion is Amber Neben, who
has transferred a Italia, perhaps annoyed with the aforementioned banker’s non Cav-like interviews after the world championships (not to mention, the suppos'ed Exergy Tour debacle). Likewise, with the
retirement of Ina “I Eat Babies For Breakfast” Teutenberg, and the transfer of
Aussie Chloe Hoskins to Hitec, Lulu lacks the sprinting prowess that it’s had
in years past. Moral of the story: bunch sprint: okay, but don’t let these
chicks get up the road or else we’re all screwed.
TIBCO: With Megan
going to Rabo, and a score of girls quitting the sport outright, this team has
just about shattered from last year and is going to be nearly unrecognizable.
However, Tibco is certainly bringing on a wealth of talent including Claudia
Haussler who joins the American-based UCI team from Europe and Shelley, California’s
prodigal daughter, who is returning after a short stunt in Europe, bringing
along her personal director.
Optum: With a new
UCI license, Optum is back on a vengeance with the signing of Lauren Hall
(first loser of both the USA National Criterium and Road Race titles). Notables
missing from the 2013 roster are Anna Barensfield (to TIBCO?) and Lex Albrecht
(to NOW?). Lex won a stage of Cascade Classic as well as the QOM and Best Young
Rider’s jersey, making it quite strange that Optum didn’t do everything in
their power to keep this young climbing sensation on board. Also, I would’ve
thought that Amanda Miller would be included on the roster as she’s been
racing for them this Cyclocross season, but alas, she is not.
NOW: Is this team
still living? Their social media is despicable. Srsly. Despite this, from the
best our abilities, it looks like Robin, Alison, Olivia, Devon, and Beth are
returning and our sources tell us that the addition of a couple of “strong
no-names” (oxymoron?) is sure to make this team a powerhouse. One notable exclusion
from the roster is Addy, i.e. “Baby Pro,” who is rumored to have jumped across
the Atlantic and joined the UCI “Big Leagues” in Europe. That’s a hell of a
jump but In bocca al lupo!
Colavita-espn: While the team did nothing much
to note of this past season, they’ll likely get a boost in palmares in 2013 as Team
Director Tina Pic returns after getting the big middle finger from USUCK to be
the National Team’s DS. Good for Colavita, Bad for the future of the Stars
& Stripes.
Exergy 2016: Will this team ever see the light of day in 2013?
With the men’s team recently cut and Team sponsor, Exergy, overpromising and
underdelivering in the cycling world, rumor has it that this team has been reduced
from 14 riders to 7. No doubt the dynamics of the team will change with Olympic
superstar Kristen Armstrong retiring for the second time (Comeback 3.0 in
2015?). However, the addition of one the finest billygoats this nation has ever
produced, Mara Abbott, will likely make this team a force on the climbs. I’m
shaking in my boots just thinking about it. No time cut puhlease!!! DS-wise,
Michael Englemen looks like he’s on board to direct Exergy. Funny how despite
being someone who
has always been outspoken against USUCK cycling policies, he’s now directing it’s
biggest insider team. I guess you can’t stick it to the man forever…
Primal/MapMyRide: RIP. Looks like
California-based elite team Vanderkitten is going to be Primal 2.0 with
the additions of Liza Rachetto and Emily Kachorek. With Liza’s husband being the director of VK, what
will this mean for the team’s racing dynamics next year? Time will tell but all
we know is that we love a good catfight. Meow.
FCS/ Rouse: RIP. Le Shitshow du Peloton is no longer.
USUCK Cycling National Team: With Jackson Stewart finally getting
his call to “step up” to direct the pro men’s team, who will be the next Women’s
National Team DS? We’ve heard a few proposals on the table, and all we have to
say is that we hope it’s someone who actually gives a shit.
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Summary:
TEAM
|
Staying
|
Leaving
|
New
|
Who
knows?
|
Colavita-espn
|
|
|
|
bertin,
bookwalter, caron, glaesser, guloien, macgregor, zider
|
Exergy2016
|
crowell,
dvorak, mcgrath, starnes, tamayo
|
amstrong
(retiring) wiles (lulu)
|
mara abbott
|
antonneau,
cliff-ryan, logan-sprenger, rivera, schneider, shaw
|
Now-novartis
|
dillon,
gorry, farina, newell, powers
|
albershardt,
james, gokey-smith, samplonious (retiring)
|
albrecht,
donnovan, kinsella, ryan
|
|
Optum
|
ewart,
holcomb, kirchmann, lowe, numainville, ramsden, wilcoxson
|
albrecht
(now), barresfiled (tibco), small (lulu), grant, sanders (retired)
|
alexander,
gaffney, hall, walle
|
|
Primal-mapmyride
|
|
clark,
crowley, cutler (vk), kachorek (vk), kurth, rachetto (vk), wangsgard
(retired), wienbrecht, welsh
|
|
|
Rideclean
|
allar
|
|
|
hayduck
|
Fcs-Rouse
|
|
donnovan
(now), mcguire, sanders, stephens, warner
|
|
|
Tibco
|
kiesenowski,
m. miller
|
hall,
wheeler
|
barrensfield,
blaak, hausler, justice, olds
|
fortin, a.
miller, myers, purcell, ryan, schneider, whitten
|
Vanderkitten
|
chilcott,
mattis, winder
|
collins
(wiggle-honda), hurikino, kinsella (now)
|
cutler,
rachetto, kachorek
|
billington,
dimple, drigo, o'donnell, reither, teddergreen
|
