Tag: Rapha Condor Sharp

Rapha Condor Sharp continue to make good on their promise of promoting and shaping new talent during the 2012 season with the announcement of two additional signings: Felix English and Mike Cuming. Although the squad has dominated the domestic scene for several years (and may well continue to do so), they now see their focus �on the development of new British talent”, citing English and Cuming as perfect examples for this new mix.

John Herety, Directeur Sportif, commented that: �These two riders will be great additions to the team. Felix English has already had a brief moment in the spotlight when turned heads by beating Sir Chris Hoy in the European Track Champs last year. He was only 18 at the time and for a rider who doesn�t consider himself a pure sprinter it was an amazing scalp�.Michael Cuming is another young rider we have identified as a talent. He was brought to our attention by Jon Tiernan-Locke who noticed Cuming during the last few Premier Calendars before the Tour of Britain, while JT was in pretty much the form of his life, Cummings was the only rider who could stay anywhere near him on the climbs.�

With the addition of these final two signings, the complete rider roster rises to 14 riders (one more than the 2011 season) with the confirmed line up for 2012 now set as: Ed Clancy, Mike Cummings, Dean Downing, Felix English, Ben Grenda, Richard Handley, Kristian House, Christopher Jennings, Tim Kennaugh, Richard Lang, James McCallum, Luke Mellor, Oliver Rossi and Andy Tennant.

Following a renewed sponsorship deal between title sponsors, Rapha Condor and Sharp � the no.1 ranked British Continental team has announced that it intends to build on its most successful season since it�s 2006 inception. In 2012, the all-important Olympic year, the team will retain Olympic team members Andrew Tennant and Ed Clancy MBE, Gold Medallist at the Beijing Games. The team will also continue to gain experience from former National Champion Kristian House, as well as the longest serving member of the team Dean Downing. Perhaps more intriguingly there is to be a new commitment to training a new generation of cycling stars.

Commenting on the team�s young development plan, Simon Mottram, CEO of Rapha, says: �We all hope that a new generation of fans are being drawn to cycle racing and, among them will be hundreds if not thousands of young hopefuls, keen to try out racing and emulate their new heroes. And yet, these promising juniors and espoirs have very few opportunities or openings to get into the sport and move up through the ranks. For all the professional teams competing for TV airtime and UK professional race victories, few structured programs exist to develop and nurture British racing talent. The British cycling academy only has spaces for the best eight young riders each year. There are no programs in this country to rival the proven systems such as those run by Rabobank or AN-Post�Starting in 2012 Rapha Condor Sharp aims to fill that gap with its own development program and, ultimately, a cycle racing academy�.

Cyclo will bring you more details as they unfold.