Laura Van Gilder (TEAm Lipton) (Image credit: Mark Zalewski)
Laura Van Gilder, one of the top sprinters in the United States, will lead the 2007 Cheerwine women's team, along with the current New Zealand national road champion Catherine Cheatley (nee Sell). Van Gilder, a former member of the US worlds team, who has more than 300 career wins, will bring much-needed power to the team. Director Thad Fischer said, "This team is so competitive, and so capable and the riders are truly professionals with the chemistry between them just right. The 2007 overall NRC team win will be wide open for 2007, with all the major teams going for it. The riders are very evenly distributed throughout the teams this year. It is going to be exciting until the very end and Cheerwine’s goal is to come out on top."
Other new signings include former US national champion Sarah Uhl, national team members Chrissy Ruiter and Brooke Ourada, Canadian national team members Leigh Hobson and Betina Hold, Australian Rachel O'Connell and Alisha Lion. Returning to Cheerwine is sprinter Kelly Benjamin, a member of the US national track team, Sarah Bamberger, Clara Beard and cyclo-cross racer Elizabeth Frye.
Orbea bicycles have signed on as the team’s bicycle sponsor for two years. The team will start racing in late February, and have squads in place for both the Geelong World Cup event, the New Zealand Tour, and the first US national calendar races in California.
