UK's first UCI women's team announced

The UK’s first UCI Trade Team for women has today been announced. Team FBUK has gained professional team status and has started 2006 as they mean to go on. With a strong international line up in its team, it is confident it can build upon the success of 2005 and form a strong and stable team for the future.

The year has started in style with the FBUK's Helen Wyman winning the UK National Cyclo-cross Championships on Sunday with a dominant performance in the women’s race. Behind her, teammates Gabby Day and Clare Gross placed fourth and sixth respectively. Louise Day was also on the podium as she picked up a silver medal in the veterans race.

With the past few weeks being a waiting game to see if the UCI would grant professional status to the team, Team Manager Stefan Wyman has added two major signings to the squad for 2006. Line Ramsrud of Norway, who appeared as a guest rider for the team in the 2005 Tour of Brittany, has joined on a full time basis along with former Luxembourg National cyclo-cross and road champion Suzie Godart. Both riders bring international experience to the squad in what will be a hectic year of both UK and Continental racing.

UCI Trade Team status should allow the team to gain starting positions in some of the world’s biggest races and therefore provide the riders with opportunities to race at the highest level every week. The past few weeks have also seen the team management increase with Rene Groot of Holland and Marc Godart added to the roster.

"When we set this team up two years ago, it was a distant dream to gain trade team status,"said team manager Stefan Wyman. "This has now been achieved and we are already seeing the rewards. Two major signings and international sponsors coming on board look likely to help secure the long-term future of the team. We’ve even got a fan club now with members in several different countries."