Swift Group has announced a major sponsorship with top women’s cycling team, Global Racing, which will fund a significant new initiative to find and train top riders from the UK in the build up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Swift is basing the sponsorship round it’s market leading ranges of Bessacarr, Ace and Swift ranges of coachbuilt motorhomes, and has committed to a long term sponsorship package that will see the Global name change to Team Swift Racing.
The sponsorship will open a new route to young riders wanting to reach the top and hopefully be able to compete for a medal for Britain. The team behind the venture, Global Racing, has been established for three years and has already gained a good reputation in Europe.
Under manager Stefan Wyman, 2007 has seen the all women team undertake an impressive race programme including the Tour of Flanders, Tour de Laude and Het Volk. 2008 will see the team use the UK National Series to help develop its youngest riders, whilst also giving them the opportunity to race against the world’s best in Europe.
The team is currently working alongside British Cycling with it’s under 23 academy riders where it has gained experience of balancing the cycling and studying demands of young riders. Team Swift Racing will provide another path for those talented riders who do not fit the profile of other programms available to riders from the UK.
“One of the major differences in this programme is that we will constantly be reviewing new talent and feed riders into the team on a phased basis so that we can give as many people as possible the chance to make it to the top of the sport,” Manager Stefan Wyman commented.
Team Swift Racing has resigned several leading riders for 2008 including Helen Wyman, Louise Moriarty and Debby van den Berg. They are joined by Olympic riders Toni Bradshaw and Michelle Hyland from New Zealand.
The most recent addition to the squad is Alice Monger-Godfrey, one of the most exiting talents of 2007. With a bronze medal in the national under 23 championship, she went on to win the National Road Race Series.
Team Swift Racing will announce how young riders can apply to join the squad shortly, but Manager Wyman assured prospective candidates that anyone with real potential will be considered.
Swift Group Chairman, Peter Smith, explained why the company is making this major investment in British cycling. “Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the UK but probably one of the most under funded. The British Cycling Association does a great job, but clearly focuses on the cream of British cyclists. Quite often the best stars take time to develop and the main aim of this sponsorship is to provide Team Swift Racing with enough support to enable Stefan and his organisation to spread the net a little wider and help more youngsters achieve the dream of riding for their country and hopefully go on to win a medal in the London games.”
The Swift Group also sponsor amateur time trial specialists, Team Swift, who are based in Yorkshire, and have won both the National 100 mile Championship and 12 Hour National Championship this year.
The team is coached by Pete Read, a member of the Association of British Cycling Coaches.