Team VBF Announces 2010 Roster and Intentions

ValueAct Capital Women's Pro Cycling Team reforms as Team VBF

A new women’s team is emerging from the structure established by the ValueAct Capital Women's Pro Cycling Team, Team VBF, which has partnered with the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer was founded in 1998 by the owners of Vera Bradley, manufacturer of stylish quilted cotton handbags, luggage and accessories. Celelebrating its 12th year of funding breast cancer research, the Foundation receives funding through the sale of Vera Bradley breast cancer awareness designs, special events across the nation and through donations on their website. To date, the Foundation has contributed $10 million to breast cancer research.

Surprisingly, Team VBF will not be the first foray into cycling for the Foundation as it fielded a team, which included two breast cancer survivors, for this year's Race Across America (RAAM); finishing 6th overall. But in Team VBF, the Foundation may have found its biggest and most high profile advocates to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and encourage everyone to thrive in an active lifestyle.

“We’re honored to be the recipient of the team’s focused efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research,” says Catherine Hill, Executive Director of The Vera Bradley Foundation. “No matter what, it’s already a winning season!”

The riders on this team have therefore been charged with a dual mission. Team VBF will be racing their bikes to win races and raise funds for breast cancer research. Continued support from Specialized will allow riders to do the first. A partnership with the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer has become the catalyst for the second.

Specialized partnered with ValueAct Capital in 2009 and is back to support the squad in 2010. Team VBF will be outfitted with Specialized bicycles, helmets, eyewear and shoes. The team will race on the Amira -- the newest addition to the Specialized Design for Women bike line.

“Specialized couldn’t be more proud of the team. Their new partnership works great with Specialized initiatives and the team already has an amazing ability to connect with women and their communities. Our goal is to introduce more women to the sport. With the team’s invaluable feedback on our design and geometry of the entire women’s line, they are helping us make riding a better experience,” says Tara Moeller, Specialized USA Marketing Manager.

Team VBF riders will lead clinics, group rides and other events at Specialized retailers across the country. The goal of these visits is to identify and alleviate barriers that women say prevent them from getting and staying on bicycles.

Like Team VBF, Specialized is committed to addressing issues that confront women both on and off the bike. Specialized donates a portion of the proceeds from certain products in their women's line to Susan G. Komen and sponsors Race for the Cure events across the country.

Team VBF expects to be about more than fundraising and dealer events.

“My goal is to be the number one team in the country, and I truly believe we can accomplish this with the talented group of riders I’ve assembled,” said Team Director Lisa Hunt.

Alison Powers, who finished 2009 atop the NRC rankings with Team Type 1, echoed the sentiments of her new team director, “Our team for this year is super strong and well rounded. I’m excited to ride with such a talented group of women who will be able to support and win races for each other – no matter what kind of race it is.”

But the 2008 U.S. National Time Trial Champion also upped the ante with a lofty personal goal. “I want to win every single stage race I enter except for Redlands,” Powers stated emphatically.

To accomplish this objective, Powers will rely heavily on her teammates.  Returning to race for Team VBF, previously from ValueAct Capital, include team captain Robin Farina, Kristin Sanders and Leah Goldstein. Goldstein is the current Israeli National Champion Road Race and Time Trial Champion. The trio is joined by Canadian National Road Champion Alison Testroete and Oceania Games Time Trial Champion Alexis Rhodes. Testroete returns full-time to the sport after racing part-time in 2009, while Rhodes transferred over from Webcor Builders.

Additional riders include Carla Swart, who has won a collegiate national champion in all cycling disciplines, and Toni Bradshaw, a former New Zealand National Team member. Both join Team VBF from Team Lip Smacker.  Sprinter Erica Allar won the Cannon Falls Road Race as a guest rider for ValueAct Capital at the Nature Valley Grand Prix stage race and will be the team’s lead sprinter. Newcomers Carrie Cash, formally of Team Revolution, and Lauren Hall join the pro ranks for the first time in 2010.

Additional team sponsors include Champion System, SRAM, Kinetic, LOOK, Michelin, PowerBar, Hudz, Personal Best, Qoleum, Dr. Vie Superfoods and Thule.

Team VBF will contest a full-NRC schedule following team camp in Tucson, Arizona in early March. They kick off the race season at the San Dimas Stage Race in mid-March as a tune-up for the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Fundraising efforts for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer begin next week.

Team VBF 2010 Season Roster
Erica Allar (USA)
Toni Bradshaw (NZL)
Carrie Cash (USA)
Robin Farina (USA)
Lauren Hall (USA)
Leah Goldstein (ISR)
Alison Powers (USA)
Alex Rhodes (AUS)
Kristin Sanders (USA)
Carla Swart (RSA)
Alison Testroete (CAN)

For more information about the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, please visit their website.

Photos: © Leonard Basobas (top - Robin Farina; middle - Alison Powers) & Steve Klein (bottom - Erica Allar)

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