Team WNT Pro Cycling launch goes live!
The official launch of Team WNT Pro Cycling for the 2017 season will take place in Madrid, Spain on the 24th February. This exciting event will be streamed live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TeamWNT) and, as well as introductions to the team's 15 riders, it will also feature guest appearances from Joanjo Cobo, winner of La Vuelta a España in 2011, as well as former rider and management team member at Euskaltel Euskadi ProTour, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano.
The 2017 launch of Team WNT Pro Cycling, its first as a UCI Women's Team, will be held over two locations in Madrid, with the team and invited guests convening at the headquarters of team sponsor, Rotor for a tour of its facilities and a presentation into the success of the company and its products. Events then transfer to the offices of WNT Ibérica where the formal team launch will take place. Those unable to attend can view the launch in its entirety live on Facebook from 2:30 pm (1:30pm GMT) at www.facebook.com/TeamWNT
The event will see the 15 riders formally introduced with Katie Archibald, Anna Badegruber, Lydia Boylan, Becca Carter, Natalie Grinczer, Hayley Jones, Emily Kay, Josie Knight, Elise Maes, Keira McVitty, Bex Rimmington, Eileen Roe, Gabriella Shaw, Hayley Simmonds and Hannah Walker making up an internationally diverse line-up. This strong and powerful team will be targeting success as it engages in its first season as a UCI Women's Team having already gained an invite to compete in the Women's Tour, a World Tour event in the UK in June.
With the riders introduced, Team WNT Pro Cycling is proud to have two guest speakers who will enhance the event and livestream with their experiences. Guests will hear first from Joanjo Cobo, winner of La Vuelta a España in 2011. Joanjo will enthuse the audience with his story of winning Spain's Grand Tour race. Renowned for his climbing and time-trial skills Joanjo appeared in the 2011 Vuelta a España with his team Geox–TMC. The team had been invited as a wildcard entry, with Joanjo as a domestique for team leader Denis Menchov. However, when he won the 15th stage on the steep ascent of the Angliru and took the coveted red leader's jersey, he took on the team leader role. He eventually won the race by 13 seconds from Chris Froome.
The second speaker is another former professional rider, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, who will provide motivation through his experience with the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, where he began and ended his career. Latterly he was in team management responsible for the team's training and race schedules. An insight that will be invaluable as Team WNT Pro Cycling embarks on its biggest season to date, taking on some of the world's best lady riders and teams.
Be part of this exciting journey through 2017 with Team WNT Pro Cycling, starting with the livestream of the team launch on 24th February on Facebook from 2:30 pm (1:30pm GMT) at www.facebook.com/TeamWNT