Bob Stapleton excited by growth of women's cycling
Bob Stapleton, owner of team HTC-Highroad, is encouraged by the growth of women’s cycling teams.
HTC was the first top men’s cycling team to include a women’s squad and remained the only one for years, competing against women’s teams that had little connection to the men’s squads. In 2011, there will be six teams.
"I'm very excited about that...I think that is the healthiest thing I see in the sport right now - a growing appreciation for the marketing value of a women's team, particularly when it's operated alongside a men's team."
Team Garmin will take over the Cervelo women’s team after the infrastructure of the Cervelo TestTeam is dissolved and most of the riders and staff, as well as the title sponsor, will make the switch to team Garmin, hereafter to be
known as Garmin-Cervelo.
The new Team Geox, built on the foundations of Footon-Servetto, has purchased the Safi Pasta women’s team. Skil-Shimano will be also be starting a women’s team known as Koga-Shimano, and Continental squads Nutrixxion and Topsport
Vlaanderen will be continuing to support their women’s teams.
"More than 50 percent of new endurance sports participants- running, swimming, cycling - are women...Women control over 85 percent of household recreation spending. So it's about time they got respect as participants and consumers. Now we just need more
events."
Unfortunately, rather than getting more events for 2011, women’s cycling has lost one of its major events, the Tour de l’Aude.
"That's a real heartbreaker, it was the iconic stage race for women," said Stapleton, who went on to recommend that the major men’s races should include a women’s classification.
"If we can get a Tour of California that would be great, I'd love to see Colorado do the same thing. I think if we can get the newer races to start off with that model, that would be a big accomplishment."
Stapleton knows the organiser of the Tour of California, Andrew Messick, and has said that they discuss the idea every year. Messick has the desire to add a women’s race to the event, but he doesn’t have the money yet to start it
up, something that could change soon with the race’s growing respect on the international stage.
"I think that's the only thing missing in women's racing right now," said Stapleton. "You've got the athletes, you're starting to see the teams, but to get more money in the sport they need showcases, they need new events. But I'm very encouraged. You can
clearly see that it's moving ahead."
Stapleton has long supported women’s cycling. Before he became the owner of HTC in 2007, he was the manager of the T-Mobile women’s squad. Team HTC-Highroad itself has gotten a sure boost in the form of the signing of Americans Amber
Neben and Amanda Miller.
"I am excited to be a part of the best team in the world and looking forward to helping make it another successful year," said Miller. "It's going to be fantastic to challenge myself and see what I can do to be a part of the team's
success in the coming years."
HTC-Highroad has also added American bike manufacturer Specialized as a sponsor. Former world champion Judith Arndt, US time-trial champion Evelyn Stevens and world-class sprinter Ina-Toko Teutenberg will be riding on Specialized
bikes in 2011.
"I'm really happy with the team," said Stapleton. "They're just stocked with talent. I'm optimistic about what they can do together. You've seen how well Evelyn's done, and it's great to have Amber back. The first team I was ever involved with had Amber
- for me that's a great connection. The team is close to my heart, and they are structured along similar lines to the men."
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