The Ford-Basis Women's Cycling Team has officially announced its roster for the 2006 season. Yes, two thousand and six. "I realized how late I was in posting our 2005 Ford-Basis team announcement, so I decided to be the first to post a 2006 announcement," said team director, Nicole Freedman. "This legally binds our sponsors to another season, correct?"
2000 US Olympian and 2-time US National Champion, Freedman continues to mentor the developing squad. "..and this is how to wear a training bra," she has been heard to encourage after a race. In 2004, Freedman posted five NRC victories including the Cascade Classic Twilight Criterium, the Atlanta WCCC 10k and a stage of the Valley of the Sun Road Race.
Also returning is the rider formerly known as Kristin Johnson, now Kristin Danielson. A two time collegiate mountain bike national champion, Danielson capped off her first road season with a 4th place finish in the Estes Park Time Trial. Danielson recently married professional cyclist, Tom Danielson who races for Lance Armstrong's Discovery Team. "I am so glad to have Tom on board, so I can get climbing tips from Kristin," said Armstrong. "Okay, I made that quote up," admitted Freedman.
Equally electrifying, Kele Hulser (Seattle, WA) is marrying an engineer. She raced well too.
Chrissy Ruiter (Durango, CO), 14th at the Olympic Trials Road Race, 5 NRC podium spots in her first season, 5'9" 105lb, blonde, all her own front teeth, single is currently accepting proposals. Applicants must earn over 6 figures, not including the decimal point and have at least 12 letters and/or numbers following their names (e.g: John Smith III, MD PHD…)
Rounding out the team, but not literally, are:
Lauren Gaffney (Nasvhille, TN) Collegiate National Road Champion, 2003 Alisha Little, (Holly Springs, North Carolina) 4th Tour of the Gila criterium, 2004 Marissa Asplund (Durango, CO) 1st Overall Tour of the Gila, Cat 3/4, 2004
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In 2004 the Basis team won 5 NRC events and earned 15 podium spots. The logical next step, the team has decided to win every single NRC stage, one-day race and general classification in 2005. As a secondary goal, "I would really like to see at least one rider move somewhere where it is possible to ride in the winter… and subsequently take over the house and relocate the entire team there," says one rider wishing to remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, in other Team Basis news, Freedman has announced a radical new look. After thinking about it for 2+ solid years, the Basis leader decided to get a full-facial tattoo that combined the markings of several species of tropical saltwater fish: the mahogany snapper, the queen angelfish, and the queen triggerfish . Although Freedman finds she is frequently asked why she got a permanent face mask that makes children explode into tears when she puts on helmet safety clinics at schools, she says the decision was an easy one: because of her "love and respect for saltwater fish."
"Tropical saltwater fish are beautiful creatures and they roam underwater in complete tranquility - they are at one with their oceanic environment," said freedman, further noting that, "racing a criterium is a lot like swimming around a saltwater reef waiting for a great white shark to attack...and then at the last second swimming out of the way quickly so one of your teammates can be swallowed up instead." For Freedman, the nexus between her tattoo and winning races will be a significant motivating factor this season - not only for herself, but for her teammates and sponsors as well.
