Team News – Epic Cycles – Scott WRT 2015

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New riders and a new name on the way, Epic Cycles – Scott Women’s Racing Team for 2015 is seeing some changes

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Team News – Epic Cycles – Scott WRT 2015

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TEAM PRESS RELEASE

Building on the success of 2014 we are once again delighted to have brought together a group of riders for next season who are keen to develop together as individuals and as a team, while at the same time getting as much enjoyment and success of their sport as possible. And in most cases doing so while balancing the competing demands of work and family.

Our full team line-up for next year (with 2014 team in brackets) is:

Karla Boddy (Epic Cycles – Scott WRT)
Mel Brand (Epic Cycles – Scott WRT)
Julie Erskine (Velosport Pasta Montegrappa)
Emma Grant (Team Tibco)
Corrine Hall (Matrix Fitness Vulpine)
Elle Hopkins (Epic Cycles – Scott WRT)
Louise Mahe (Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport)
Laura Massey (Epic Cycles – Scott WRT)
Bex Rimmington (Merlin Cycles)
Lexie Shaw (Epic Cycles – Scott WRT)
Lora Turnham (Matrix Fitness Vulpine)

2014_RyedaleGP_EpicTeam2

While a couple of our riders are moving on to UCI teams (which we are delighted about as this is one of the key success measures for our team), we are very pleased to have retained the core of this year’s team:

Karla Boddy has been at the very heart of this year’s team and one of the biggest factors in its success. Every team needs a “road captain”, and Karla has fitted into this role perfectly – a natural leader, Karla has the ability to read a race, evaluate options and communicate immediately and clearly to the team. She also has the grit and commitment to ride herself into the ground to set the team up for the best possible finish. We are so happy to have her with us again in 2015!

Lexie Shaw simply possesses one of the biggest engines in the domestic peloton – she has just two speeds. Fast and very fast. A huge mile-eater with incredible levels of endurance Lexie has initiated breakaways all season, delivering several big wins and podium places in the process. Lexie’s season ended early following a broken elbow sustained in Belgium, and the pressures of her full-time job sometimes meant that fitting in training and racing was tricky to say the least – but with a new job about to start that promises a little more flexibility 2015 could be a very big season for Lexie!

Laura Massey had a fantastic season in 2014, with victories and podium places from one end of the year to the other. She opened her account by taking the first round of the Team Series, followed that up with a win at Banbury and continued to gather top results all the way to her victory in the floods of the final stage at the Essex Giro. A superb all-rounder with the ability to climb, time trial and sprint, there aren’t many races that Laura doesn’t have the potential to win. We are delighted to have signed Laura again for next season as she has so been central to the success of the team in 2014!

Mel Brand is a brilliant team player, and despite some early season illness has been one of our most consistent riders throughout the entire year. A tough competitor who just seems to get stronger and stronger as races develop, especially stage races, no-one will forget how Mel dug in and just kept driving on in the 40 degree heat of Brittany…even after extreme dehydration and delirium had kicked in and the race had actually finished!

Also returning for 2015 is Elle Hopkins, whose 2014 season ended before it had really begun, after being taken out in a crash at the Bedford 3-Day in early May. It was such a shame as Elle had built some solid fitness over the winter and looked to be coming into top form for the Tour Series. A slipped disc meant that Elle was only able to start training again in late August – but she will be back in 2015 with all of her trademark energy, enthusiasm and sense of fun, and more determined than ever to make an impact in races!

2014_RyedaleGP_EpicTeam

In addition to the core of this year’s team we are delighted to have signed a number of outstanding new riders for 2015.

Current World and National Tandem Champions Corrine Hall and Lora Turnham will be joining us for 2015, following a spectacular year with the Matrix Fitness – Vulpine team. Our close relationship with the newly professional Matrix Fitness – Vulpine team, which Corrine and Lora were unable to remain with due to UCI paracyling rules with regards to UCI-registered teams, meant we were able to talk at the earliest opportunity about signing them, and we are really excited to be working with such outstanding paracycling athletes. Corrine will also be bringing her individual road and track racing talents to the team, hoping to build on her record of multiple road race wins and three National track titles.

Joining us from MuleBar Girls is Louise Mahe, who is well known for her attacking style of riding and who will be a fantastic asset to the team in all forms of racing. Louise guested for us at the Tour of Brittany this year and fitted into the team a treat – both from a racing and social perspective. Never one to settle for just sitting in and letting the race happen around her, Louise will bring a new attacking dimension to the team in a year where she plans to take a step up in terms of commitment to training and racing…you have been warned!

Another new face for the team is Julie Erskine (Velosport – Pasta Montegrappa), who also guested with us at the Tour of Brittany this year. Julie is still very new to competitive cycling but has developed quickly into one of the most rounded riders in the UK peloton – and there is plenty more to come! Especially suited to longer races that reward endurance and toughness, Julie is also one of the best team players we have ridden with.

In Bex Rimmington will be joining us next year from Merlin Cycles. We were really keen to sign Bex, having been impressed all season with her consistently strong performances in the toughest races. Well known for her outstanding record in time trials, including a podium placing in this year’s National 10, Bex has moved increasingly into road racing during 2014, where she has put her “big engine” to great use, especially in longer races. We are really looking forward to helping Bex develop the road racing side even further next year.

We are also delighted to announce that the final rider joining our 2015 line-up will be Emma Grant from Team Tibco. Emma is very classy rider, with an excellent track record on the road including a podium placing in the 2013 U23 National Road Race Championships. Although still very young, Emma brings with her a wealth of experience of riding at the top level in the UK, Europe and the US. 2014 has been a frustrating year for Emma, with illness wiping out much of the first half of the season followed by a lengthy period of recovery – but with ill health now behind her and her training back on track, we are certain that Emma is going to be stronger than ever in 2015!

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