Herbalife/Wheelbase team geared up for new cycling season

2:08pm Saturday 6th March 2010

By Patrick O'Kane

HERBALIFE/Wheelbase.co.uk are gearing up for the start of the new National Premier Calendar season and a launch party was held ahead of the curtain raiser on March 28.

Going into its second year the team has been strengthened and has the experience of last year to build on, with the aim of finishing in the top 15 in the UK.

The management have put together a strong infratstructure to allow risers to perform to their maximum potential in the National Elite road races.

Signs Express Lancaster have put together a bike capable of pushing the pro peloton while tyhe new sports injury and rehabilitation practice in Staveley provides the vital support to replenish riders’ bodies with a rigorous season ahead.

Team captain Stuart Reid said: “The management have done their bit pulling this amazing team structure together and it is now up to us riders to bring in the results! We have just returned from a week’s training in SPain and everything looks great with everyone’s early season form looking spott on - we’ve got some very handy riders.”

Wheelbase.co.uk, based in Staveley, has committed to supplying equipment and mechanical assistance to the team once again with the latest Cannondale Super Six racing bikes being provided, while title sponsor HerbaLife has offered invaluable financial support and nutritional advice for riders and management.

Director Sportive Geoff Newcombe said: “The North West is a hot-bed of cycling talent and we want to offer the young riders of this region every chance to fulfil their dreams.

“This coupled with the riders ambitiions to gain their elite category status shoudl make it a realistic target.”

Mr Newcombe said the additional sponsorship and personnel locally gives the team the perfect platform to move forward.

The launch also saw the junior squad officially unveiled and rising star Jonny Knox, who won the North West Junior Road Race title in 2009, is included, alongside 14-year-old Jack Sadler, son of former Commonwealth medallist Gary Sadler from Ulverston.

A list of events the cycling team will be involved in this season can be found at www.teamherbalifewheelbase.co.uk