Saturn reborn as Quark Cycling Team
By Kristy Scrymgeour and Jeff Jones
Team Sports, which ran the highly successful Saturn team for many years, has announced the formation of a new women's trade team sponsored by Quark, a brand division of Sofft Shoes. With an initial financial agreement of three years, the Quark Cycling Team hopes to enter the fray with the majority of the former Saturn Cycling Team roster intact. Canadian Lyne Bessette will captaining the team, which has also confirmed 2003 US National Champion Sarah Uhl. In negotiations with the team are Manon Jutras, Amy Moore and Megan Elliot. The squad will number 7-8 riders and will managed by Tom Schuler and directed by ex-Saturn Development Director, Brett Meinke who wants to finalise the roster by January 9, 2004.
"In terms of staff, I'm going to be looking after everything really," team director Brett Meinke told Cyclingnews today. "I'm the director and manager and team mechanic and so on. It's not going to be quite up to the Saturn standard in terms of budget however we have a three year contract with Quark and we are hoping that the team will grow each year. Quark are also excited. They wanted to get into Women's cycling on a safe level to start, but they are also hoping to build in the future."
Quark's schedule will consist mainly of US races, debuting at McClane Pacific in Merced, CA, on March 13 and including the Redlands and Sea Otter Classics, Montreal Grand Prix, Wachovia Liberty Classic, Nature Valley Grand Prix, Tour de Toona, T-Mobile International and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, which is being given a high priority by the team.
"We will be releasing riders to their National teams a few times during the year so that they can do World Cups and qualify for Olympic positions," added Meinke. "There is going to be a lot of leeway and support for riders who want to go to the Olympics. I am excited to be a part of this, because we have some super Olympic hopefuls on the team and that's a new experience for me. It will be different to the development team I have been managing for the past couple of years."
The majority of bike industry sponsors from the 2003 Saturn Women's Team will continue with sponsorship of the new Quark Team. Quark will be the sole title sponsor for the first season, with the possibility of adding co-sponsors in the future.
Team sponsors
Quark (Shoes)
Lemond (Bicycles)
Louis Garneau (Cycling Apparel/Helmets)
Shimano (Components/Wheels/Pedals/Shoes/Computers)
Oakley (Eyewear/Podium Hats)
Profile Design (Bars/Stems/Bottle Cages)
Michelin (Tires/Tubes)
15 Additional Bicycle Industry Sponsors.
page mise en ligne le 3 octobre 2003 par SVP
