Cervélo TestTeam launched their sophomore season today at a gala presentation in the midst of the team's two-week training camp. The presentation included riders from the men's and women's teams, staff, management, team owners as well as their partners and suppliers.
Success in 2009 was achieved both on and off the bike as the men's and women's teams performed beyond expectations throughout the season. The men brought home 25 trophies while the women scored 43 victories, finishing first in the UCI standings.
Going into the team's second season, new General Manager Joop Alberda has set an even higher goal for the squad. "We want Cervélo TestTeam to become the new standard in cycling," said Alberda. "What happened on the team last year was amazing. The standard they set is already pretty high. It will be up to the cyclists to challenge themselves. We will be there to help them."
Success isn't measured by victories alone however, something that Alberda says makes the Cervélo TestTeam and the brand stand out from the pack. While podiums are the ultimate goal, the team is also focused on its groundbreaking product development, fan access and hospitality initiatives.
"Cervélo TestTeam is one of the few teams in modern cycling that has a clear vision. They have core values and they want to stick to them," he says. "Winning is beautiful, but winning isn't the only thing. We want to work as a unit on our core values and become the team that everyone wants to join."
Gerard Vroomen, Cervélo co-founder, reinforces Alberda's point of view. "Other teams that are focused solely on winning races are wondering how the season will play out. That's not the case at Cervélo TestTeam. We already know now that 2010 will be more successful than 2009. We have more R&D camps, fan access events and hospitality activities scheduled than last year. Our travel events are selling out quickly. Every race victory is further icing on the cake."
Alberda isn't afraid to look beyond cycling for inspiration on ways to help the team. "I've learned a lot from other sports that can be applied to cycling," he says. "In the end, all sports are basically the same. Everyone wants to be the winner. We take a realistic approach to our cyclists that is more humanistic. We want to continue with this new approach to cycling, with different ways of training, new ways of reaching out to fans, and greater contributions to the development of bicycle technology."
Cervélo TestTeam in 2010 will continue to push forward with its innovative vision of what a professional cycling team can be.
The training camp will continue until January 24. The men's team will begin their season on February 3-7 at the Etoile de Bességes in southern France, the first stage race of the European season. The women's team head to their first race, the Tour of Qatar, February 3-5 to defend their championship won last year by Kirsten Wild (NED).
Race Details for above:
Etoile de Bessèges (men)
Date: 3 - 7 February 2010
Riders: João Correia (POR), Iñigo Cuesta (ESP), Stefan Denifl (AUT), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Ted King (USA), Brett Lancaster (AUS), Oscar Pujol (ESP), Dominique Rollin (CAN).
Sports Director: Alex Sans Vega (ESP)
Tour of Qatar (women):
Date: 3 - 5 February 2010
Riders: Lizzie Armitstead (GBR), Charlotte Becker (GER), Sarah Düster (GER), Iris Slappendel (NED), Regina Bruins (NED), Kirsten Wild (NED).
Sports Director: Egon van Kessel (NED)