New Beginning: Caroline Conway, Siobhan McNamara and Anne Dalton looking good in the new team kit
The growing women’s scene in Ireland has been given a welcome boost with news that DID Electrical has launched a new team for elite riders.
The squad made its debut at the National Women’s League in Drogheda yesterday, where Amy Brice made it a winning start for the new outfit when she took victory ahead of Tonya Moran (Blackrose) and Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC).
The backing by DID Electrical of the new team is just the latest venture into the sport by the retailer. It already sponsors the well known and successful DID Dunboyne club/racing team and is the main backer of the www.cycle4life.ie charity sportive. It takes place on May 4th.
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The Irish cycling clothing manufacturer www.spin11.com is providing the kit, designed by the team itself, which has an interesting mix of support staff and riders.
Brice, a 25-year-old from Belfast, won the 2012 Trek Irish Women’s Classic League and represented Ireland at elite level in Ireland and the UK. She is the current Ulster road race and time trial champion and finished 3rd of the Women’s National League last year and 3rd in the National Hill Climb Championships.
Dubliner Siobhán McNamara is a 26-year-old former national rowing champion. Since taking up cycling she has raced in Ireland, Austria and the UK, in track and multi-stage events at national and international level. Last season she held the climbers’ jersey in An Post Rás na mBan, before eventually finishing 10th overall.
Anne Dalton, a 31-year-old from Carlow, is an elite cyclist who has represented both Leinster and Ireland at Ras na mBan. She won the Wheelworx Ladies Criterium League last year and was also 3rd overall in the Women’s National League.
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Sarah Piner, a 30-year-old from Offaly, has been racing at elite level for a number of years, representing Leinster and Ireland since 2008. She is a versatile rider and races on the track as well as road and cyclocross. She is the current national omnium and keirin champion on the track.
Another Dubliner in the team is 29-year-old Caroline Conway. She has represented Leinster and Ireland at home at the Rás na mBan. She was an intercounty GAA player before turning to cycling. She is a former winner of the Kilkenny duathlon series and took the Punchestown and Naas duathlons in her first year competing in the sport.
Siobhan Horgan, who retired only at the end of last season from top flight international competition and who recently won the National Duathlon Championships will act as soigneur. However, with her level of experience at the disposal of the riders, Horgan’s input will be invaluable.
The team is managed by Stewart Carr and the public relations officer is Caroline Martinez, who is a contributor to stickybottle.
Martinez said everyone involved was delighted to be at launch stage.
“A team like this has never been created before in Ireland and we are looking forward to showing everyone what we can do. The girls have all raced on separate teams up to now, against each other. Combining will make a huge impact on the national circuit alone and will show the world what the Irish can do. “
The team kicks off its international campaign at the Bedford Three-Day in the UK from May 4th to 6th alongside Britain's strongest elite teams. They will also line up against the best in the world in two 2.2 UCI stage races in July in France, Le Tour de Bretagne and the Tour du Limousin, which was won by world No 1 Marianne Vos in 2012.
An Post Rás na mBan is also an important target as well as some racing in Belgium later in the season.
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