April 27, 2018 (Toronto, ON) – Cervélo fans will be excited to learn that a new book “To Make Riders Faster”, has been written and launched by author Anna Dopico, that chronicles the inspirational story of young Canadian entrepreneurs, Gerard Vroomen and Phil White, that took their school basement project in Montreal back in 1995, to the top of the world.

Dopico just happens to the wife of Phil White and has a financial background “which came in very handy” as she was a key part of Cervelo’s trials and tribulations on the road to its incredible success. The book begins with Phil and Gerard meeting at McGill University in 1995 and their quest to build the fastest bikes on the planet.

Success came early to the young Canadian entrepeneurs as the brand was soon winning triathlons and time-trial championships. In 2003, Cervélo became the bike supplier to Team CSC, which went on to become the world’s top pro cycling team. The new kid on the block was enjoying heady success and in 2009 the Cervélo TestTeam was launched becoming the first bike manufacturer in the modern era to have its own cycling team at the highest levels of racing.

But vulnerabilities can inflict harm says Dopico – check out our interview with her below – as the duo faced the fight of their lives to keep their company alive while establishing industry leadership.

In 2011 Cervélo was sold to Pon Holdings, a Dutch conglomerate that also owns Gazelle, Raleigh, Focus, Ghost, Santa Cruz and more brands on the bike side along with Volkswagen and Audi in their automotive division.

Vroomen went on to form OPEN Cycles and joined 3T as well while White remained with Cervelo until becoming a “free agent” again earlier this year. The duo were recently united at The 11 Inc. in Toronto owned by Heath Cockburn, Cervelo’s first national sales manager, for a meet and greet with Vroomen.

“To Make Riders Faster” is a 256-page hardcover book with an insider story that includes one-of-a-kind pictures and quotes.

Interview with Anna Dopico

Fans can meet the author at upcoming book signings:.
May 16 – 7pm at The 11 Inc. in Toronto (owner Heath Cockburn was Cervélo’s first Sales Manager)
May 19 – 7pm at Cyclesmith in Halifax
May 24 – 7pm at Cyclelogik in Ottawa
(more details on the web site below)

The new book can be purchased here.

Proceeds support CAN Fund, a non-profit supporting Canadian athletes.