January 19, 2015 (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) – After the announcement of a new UCI women’s cycling team in the works, Premier Sports Group can now reveal the major sponsors, team roster and program for the 2015 team.
BMW USA comes on as the title sponsor for the team with Happy Tooth Dental Group as the presenting sponsor. BMW has been involved in the sponsorship of Team SmartStop since late last year from the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah onwards and have pledged their support to American cycling and Premier Sports Group through this new team. AMain.com and Bissell also come on as major sponsors of the team.
Premier Sports Group has brought in Director Sportif, Jono Coulter, to run the team. Coulter said: “I am delighted to be a part of the most exciting organization in US Cycling right now. Premier Sports Group is at the forefront of delivering the emotion and the spirit of professional cycling to every fan from casual observer to super passionate.
“When Jamie Bennett and Omer Kem said they were 100% behind a Women’s Cycling program I knew we would have an amazing opportunity to create an engaging, high performance team. BMW and Happy Tooth Dental Group have taken a lead and commitment that is commendable in a rapidly growing sector of sports, we are happy to be able to repay them for their support on the road this season.
“I am stoked to be able to showcase the BMW X1 in conjunction with our first class women’s team.”
Coulter has selected a talented pool of American and International riders who make up the ten-women roster for the 2015 season including the Principle of the Women’s Cycling Association (WCA), Robin Farina. Farina will bring eight years of road cycling experience to the team.
“I am particularly excited to work with 2011 USA Road Champion Robin Farina, who has been instrumental as a voice for Women’s Cycling through WCA in the last few years.
“BMW presented by Happy Tooth Dental Group has a talented & formidable roster that is no stranger to the Professional ranks. We have proven athletes with excellent pedigree who I have had the fortune of working with over several years, and some unheralded newcomers who I feel can come in and help define the sport in the near future.”
Other Americans joining Farina on the team include, Korina Huizar who is expected to bring her USA Points Race Stars and Stripes form from the track and translate that to the road. Expect big things from current U23 Criterium National Champion, Michelle Khare, who brings youth and energy into the team with an engaging attitude that will appeal to a new generation of fans.
As well as Americans, Coulter has brought on three Canadians, an Australian and a Swiss rider. Coulter said: “Aussie Miranda Griffiths will be a force in the climbing stages of our UCI events. Rhae Shaw from Canada is proven world class and is still fine tuning ways to turn her raw strength into a high class wins and Swiss rider Jessy Uebelhart will bring her European knowledge to the squad, which will compete in all North American UCI events in 2015.”
The team will focus on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar with hopes of receiving invitations to women’s editions of the Amgen Tour of California and the Tour of Utah.
The BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental Group 2015 Roster
– Elle Anderson (USA)
– Robin Farina (USA)
– Miranda Griffths (AUS)
– Korina Huizar (USA)
– Michelle Khare (USA)
– Liza Rachetto (USA)
– Megan Rathwell (CAN)
– Shoshauna Routley (CAN)
– Rhae Shaw (CAN)
– Jessy Uebelhart (SUI)
– Erica Zaveta (USA)