January 26/09 13:00 pm - Webcor Announces 2009 Roster

Posted by Editoress on 01/26/09
 

Webcor Announces 2009 Roster

Webcor Builders Women's Professional Cycling announced its 2009 official roster. Building off of last season's tremendous success of four Beijing Olympians, this year's goal will be to reassert the team's dominance on the North American stage and road racing scene as it builds towards medal capability at the 2012 London Games. The team has the talent, the organization, and the mentoring skills to do it.

Olympians Erinne Willock and Gina Grain have returned for another season. "The Webcor Women's Cycling Team is a shining example of an organization that breeds success. Everyone involved, from riders to staff, demonstrates dedication, passion, determination, drive, perseverance, hard work, and a positive attitude." said Grain, a multi-time national champion and veteran of the North American racing circuit.

Willock and Grain are joined by Katheryn Curi Mattis. Mattis made history in 2008- becoming only the second US rider ever to win a UCI Road World Cup event. Winning the Australia World Cup as part of her trade team sent the clear message that Webcor riders were competitive on the world stage.

Also returning are three rising talents who benefited immensely from racing at the highest level in Australia, New Zealand and Europe with their more experienced Webcor teammates in 2008. They are Rebecca Much, 2008 U23 US National Time Trial Champion; Amy Dombroski, 2008 U23 National Cyclocross Champion; and Janel Holcomb, second overall in the 2008 Green Mountain Stage Race.

International firepower for the 2009 team comes from Australia: Nikki Butterfield (nee Egyed) and Alexis Rhodes. Butterfield's daring solo breakaway at the 2008 World Championships Road Race and 7th at the Tour de Berne World Cup showed she will be a force on both the North American and international scene in 2009. Meanwhile, Rhodes jump started her 2009 season, just missing her claim on the Australian National Time Trial Championship by a mere 0.6 seconds.

Long time team leader Christine Thorburn has retired from cycling to pursue her other life passion: a career in medicine. While she will be missed, the legacy of strong teamwork and striving for perfection that she instilled in the team over the past 5 years will live on. "We have big shoes to fill!" said Curi Mattis. Mentoring newer riders in the sport has always been a Webcor tradition: "The mix of senior and development riders has always been a blast and we all enjoy the give and take that comes with teaching and learning from each other." said Willock, the student turned teacher, who is now a four year Webcor team veteran and Olympian.

Webcor has set the standard for what a team that is truly committed to each other can achieve. The team has a strong history of Olympic qualifications in 2004 and 2008.

Over the last five years Webcor Builders has consistently been at or near the top of the National Racing Calendar and Women's Prestige Series rankings. It has also taken North American Women's Team of the Year awards. In 2008, armed with great success in North America, they stepped up to become the only North American registered UCI Professional Women's trade team. Racing the most competitive events in world against the best riders in the world helped the team attain its lofty goal - qualifying four riders for the Beijing Olympics.

Supporting team sponsors, including principal trade partners of Webcor Builders:

* Wells Fargo Insurance Services
* ValleyCrest Companies
* Diversified Fire Products
* Clark Pacific
* PlanWell
* Boyett Construction
* Serious Materials
* ClickSafety
* Critchfield Mechanical, Inc.
* Platinum Advisors
* Enterprise Fleet Services
* Rosendin Electric
* Willis HRH
* Bode Gravel Company
* Central Concrete Supply
* Finelite



Equipment and Service Sponsors:

* Leopard Cycles
* Voler cycling apparel
* PowerBar nutritional products
* Agile Physical Therapy
* Lake shoes
* Speedplay pedals
* Lazer helmets
* Fizik saddles
* The Bicycle Outfitter bike shop
* Patagonia casual clothing
* Defeet socks
* Cateye Computers
* Karl Ehlert, DC. Chiropractic Care