December 8, 2006 (Montreal, Quebec) — A new women’s cycling team, team Specialized-Menikini, has been formed in Quebec. Made up of the best up-and-coming Quebec athletes, this team is backed by the prestigious international UCI Menikini team (formerly Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas), based in Italy.

Team Menikini’s cyclists of international UCI calibre will travel to North America to race with team Specialized-Menikini.

Specialized-Menikini will be in charge of developing the athletes in Canada, in addition to offering them the opportunity to compete with seasoned athletes in Europe, thus giving them a chance to reach the international level.

A three-year plan

1st year: Specialized-Menikini, “the training school”:
– Implementing the structure
– Developing local talent
– Concentrating on North American events

2nd year: A major continental team
– Developing a strong continental structure
– Concentrating on North American and international events

3rd year: A UCI team
– Establishing an international UCI team and attending major UCI events “¢Concentrating on UCI, World Cup and Grand Tour races as well as other important races in Europe, Oceania and America.

Management
Walter Ricci Petitoni has been sports manager of the Menikini team since 2003. A leader in women’s cycling, Mr. Petitoni is known for his professional attitude toward the athletes as well as for being an excellent trainer. His know-how and international experience will benefit the Canadian team as well as its staff. “We are very pleased and enthusiastic about being involved in forming the new regional Specialized-Menikini team. As an international team, we want to share our experience in order to offer these emerging athletes an opportunity to become international champions.”

Gérard Penarroya is known for his many years in the cycling world and his contribution to developing great Quebec racers. “Cycling is my passion and I particularly enjoy helping young people enter this sport. Having emerging cyclists be part of a regional club supported by an international team sparks a hope that we will see the blossoming of new Quebec champions very soon.”

Mr. Petitoni and Mr. Penarroya can rely on the Daniel Manibal organization for public relations, the elaboration of the team’s schedule and general structure. “Support for Quebec athletes is vital for the growth of cycling in Quebec. We are pleased to be associated with team Specialized-Menikini and wish them the best of luck in their first season.”

The season starts off in March with several warm-up races in the United States. The team will then compete in provincial races in Quebec and Ontario before seeing how it measures up to the best international teams in the Montreal World Cup, the Tour du Grand Montréal, the Tour of PEI and several European races.

Specialized-Menikini Women’s Team 2007

Karol-Ann Canuel
Quebec, Canada
This young 18-year-old-athlete has already shown a tremendous
talent as she finished 5th at the junior World Championships
in 2006 and finished 15th at the senior race Green Mountain
Stage Race in Vermont in September 2006.

Marie-Pier Bédard
Quebec, Canada
Member of the national team since 2004, Marie-Pier is the 2006
Senior road champion of Quebec.

Émilie Roy
Quebec, Canada
Silver medallist at the under 23 national championships in road
race and time trial, Emilie has a good experience in
international race as she participated at the world championships
in 2003, raced World Cups and won the Tuson Race in 2004.
The athletes

Heather Lamson
PEI, Canada
Heather has experience in many international races. Member of
the Diet Cheerwine team in 2005, she participated to the
Montreal World Cup and Tour du Grand Montreal, where she
finished 31st. Originaly from PEI, Heather is pursuing her studies
and training in British Colombia.

Élodie Touffet
France
Also a member of the UCI international team Nobili Menikini
Cogeas, Elodie is very dynamic on a race, Elodie loves to give
some tempo to the race. A great climber, she is bronze medallist
of the French National Championships.

Olivia Gollan
Australia
A very talented cyclist, Olivia has a great experience from international
teams, like Equipe Nurneberger in 2004 and 2005, and
Nobili Menikini Cogeas in 2006 and 2007. Olivia has won 17
races throughout the years, like Tour de Berne, Tour de
Romagne and Coupe des Nations.

Shanie Bergeron
Quebec, Canada
Last August Shanie wan six stages of the Tour Drytex Ganeau
in Quebec. She did very well at the Quebec Championship and
became cadets in the 15-16 categories.

Click here for more pics here and here. (The photos of Karol-Ann Canuel, Émilie Roy and Marie-Pier Bédard on the second page are courtesy of Guy Maguire/veloptimum.net)