When Bob Stapleton announced that his HTC-Highroad professional cycling team would be disbanded following the 2011 season, the organization's female contingent of riders got together and decided that, no, disbanding just wouldn't be an option going into 2012. Former Highroad Communications director, Kristy Scrymgeour, is now the director of new sports management company Velocio Sports. Bike manufacturer Specialized has stepped up their role for the new squad, taking on a title sponsorship, along with women's athletic apparel company, Lululemon.
The majority of the former HTC-Highroad women's team is returning in 2012 with Specialized-Lululemon, along with a few new faces. The team's first official training camp took place in Carlsbad, California, a beach city known for sun, surf and terrific weather. So of course, everyone was suprised to find rain clouds and windy conditions when they arrived at the Carlsbad Inn, situated along Pacific Coast Highway just a stone's throw from the ocean. Still, there are few things like the first training camp of the season, particularly for a new team, and riders, staff, sponsors and journalists were on hand for a week of riding.
After a rigorous yoga session and nutritious breakfast, the camp's first day started off with a rider presentation from team owner Kristy Scrymgeour (left). Australia's Chloe Hosking is one of the youngest riders on the team, and she has the good fortune of learning from veterans like Clara Hughes of Canada, who has won Olympic medals in both cycling and speed skating, as well as American Amber Neben (right), the 2008 Time Trial World Champion. Neben also has a new charity up and running, called The Dare To Be Project, with a mission to empower under-served children and encourage them to fulfill their athletic and educational pursuits.
Specialized mechanics and bike fit technicians were on hand, and RBA's own RaeLynn Milley took advantage of a Specialized Body Geometry bike fitting. Because RaeLynn is a fearless descender, Specialized's Zane Freebairn adjusted the reach on her brake levers to give her more stopping power for when she's bombing down hills.
Compatriots Trixi Worrack (left) and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg have each won the German National Road Race Championships. Before their rain-soaked ride in Carlsbad, the pair sealed up their supplies inside plastic bags to keep them free from water.
The Specialized-Lululemon team will be riding the all-new 2012 Amira road bike (for time trials, they'll use the Specialized Shiv). The Amira has received some updates for 2012 that mirror updates on the men's Tarmac SL4 road bike. Chief among these is a new headtube design that's noticeably wider. Former world time trial champion, Amber Neben, noted that the 2012 is "super stiff" with "better handling" than the previous Amira. Specialized-Lululemon is sponsored by Shimano, and the team's bikes will be fitted with Shimano's Di2 electronic drivetrains with, of course, internally-routed wiring.
This Amira belongs to Trixi Worrack of Germany. Like the Di2 wiring, the rear brake cable is routed internally.
Specialized mounted the Shimano Di2 battery underneath the downtube on the team bikes.
Another sponsor of Specialized-Lululemon is SRM power meters. The Specialized-Lululemon team will be running SRM power meters in conjunction with Specialized's own S-Works chainrings and cranks. Pedals are Shimano's latest carbon fiber Dura-Ace model.
Here's a closeup of the SRM power meter head unit. And because one of the team's co-title sponsors is Specialized, the bikes are built exclusively with Specialized components, including stems, handlebars, seatposts and saddles.
Lezyne was a sponsor of both the men's and women's HTC-Highroad teams, and they're now sponsoring Specialized-Lululemon, providing the team with saddle bags and tools.
One of the camp's best presentations came from representatives of Right To Play, an organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of sports and athletics to underprivileged children around the world. It included a viewing of a film produced by ESPN about the life of Norwegian Olympic speed skater Johann Olav Koss and his founding of Right To Play. Right To Play partnered with the Highroad cycling teams during the past few years, and the Specialized-Lululemon team is continuing to support this fine cause. Check them out at Right To Play.
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