Canadian Geneviève Jeanson has decided to compete as an independent this season. After her team Rona dissolved because the sponsorship contract ran out at the end of last year, the 23 year-old will participate in major races by joining established teams on an ad hoc basis when she is invited, or by joining the "composite" teams specially established for independent racers by race organisers.
"I'm fortunate to have a personal sponsorship from Rona for the season, and I have kept my major equipment sponsors - Colnago bicycles, Biemme clothing, Sidi shoes and the American cycling supply distributor Trialtir," she explained. "I want to take advantage of this opportunity to race for the pure fun of it and to choose my racing program as the season unfolds."
Jeanson, who was declared unfit to race at the 2003 World Championships because of a too high hematocrit, and later received a slap on the wrist for missing a drug test at last year's Flèche Wallonne, finished third in the Valley of the Sun Stage Race in Arizona from February 18-20 as an independent racer. "There are meets that I just can't miss," she added. "The Montreal World Cup, the Tour du Grand Montréal, and the Canadian Championships are absolute musts, and I'll definitely be at the start for the Redlands Classic on March 31. Other than that I plan to keep my options open, including competing in races in Europe. I'll see."
