January 12, 2003 – In keeping with Symmetrics Cycling's mandate to develop future Olympians and provide the best opportunities to B.C. riders Corinne Issel, Mandy Poitras, and Marni Prazky will comprise the Symmetrics Cycling Elite Women's Team for 2004. This three-person team boasts impressive credentials.
Mandy Poitras, a 10-time National Champion and multiple World Cup winner on the track, will race for Symmetrics on the road. Mandy is a 2001 World Cup Challenge criterium winner and more recently was third in the 2003 Tour de Delta Criterium. Marni Prazky is a past BC Cup Series Champion, has won the Tuesday Night World Championship Standings in two of the past three years and is rarely off the podium in any event she enters. Joining Mandy and Marni will be up and coming racer Corinne Issel. Relatively new to racing, Issel compliments the other riders with her great all-around riding skills. The race calendar for the Symmetrics Elite Women's Team will be comprised of local BC and NW races including the BC Cup Road Series, BC Superweek, and the National Road Championships.
Symmetrics Cycling co-founder Kevin Cunningham says, “The formation of an elite women's team was a logical step towards our vision. Mandy is well positioned to qualify to represent Canada in the 2004 Olympic games, Marni is one of the top BC Cup Road Series contenders, and Corinne is developing into a great rider. Symmetrics Cycling looks forward to supporting Mandy, Marni and Corinne in pursuit of their goals and is very excited to have the opportunity to develop a women's team.”
More about Symmetrics Cycling The Symmetrics Cycling Team was established in the spring of 2002 and its vision is to develop the abilities of team members, promote the sport of cycling in the Pacific Northwest region, and contribute to the community. The image of sport contains values very similar to those of co-sponsors Symmetrics and Westlam: goodwill, team spirit, dedication, friendship and competition. Both companies see the team as an opportunity to support these values, widen their brand recognition, and unite employees behind a cause.
The Symmetrics Cycling Project is much more than just a select set of riders. The project is built on a strong team-oriented model, something that is often missing from both elite and amateur level cycling today. More experienced riders share their knowledge with less experienced team members, and in addition to racing, members are encouraged to assist in the team's operations and initiatives. It is Western Canada's largest sponsorship in the sport of cycling and is unique in Canada. And it's not just centered on the elite athletes. Recreational cyclists can also count on support from the Symmetrics Cycling Project in the form of club rides, charity rides and community involvement. The Symmetrics Cycling Project is four-pronged with a common foundation based upon the team's commitment to charitable and community projects.