GWR TO BUILD ON SUCCESSFUL 2009

[veloriders]

With a new title sponsor, two new rider signings, and an ambitious plan for their racing programme, the 2010 season is sure to be one of continued growth for the Swindon based GWR Team.For 2010 the GWR team has increased its Under 23 roster to five, and with the retention of the three core senior riders, completing the squad of eight riders. David Sinclair returns to the team for 2010. An Elite rider, 2009 saw his first year riding for the GWR Team, after spending much of the previous year riding for a French squad, but took a stunning victory in the 2008 South Region Road Race Championships. 2009 saw him have a steady start to his season, taking fourteen victories, but after a month racing trip to Belgium, where he took several top 15 placings, he duly returned home and won his final three races of the season. Several teams both UK and Belgian have taken a keen interest in his performances but he wishes to continue his development with the GWR Team for 2010

2010 will be Sam Reddings third year with the GWR Team. 2009 was his first year in the senior ranks and continued to show well early in the season always finishing within the top five. After taking a sabbatical in the summer he returned to action in September. In 2008 he took 10th place overall in the National Junior Series with a 7th place and winning the Points Competition at the IOM 4-day among his successes. While on trips to the tough Belgium Kermesses he took several top 10 placings and perhaps his best performances were a fine 6th in the UCI Trofee Van Vlaanderen and 19th in the Junior Tour of Flanders. Sam is a First Category rider.

Llewellyn Kinch is also another rider returning to the GWR team for a third year in 2010. 2008 saw Llewellyn tackle his first year as a senior, but having missed 2007 due to a broken leg, literally hit the ground running and his progress has continued to be on a steep upward curve. Into 2009 he continued to show and after a highly successful month of racing in Belgium securing several top results he came home to take victory in his final race of the year securing his Elite licence.

Doug Dewey joins the team for 2010, having placed 3rd at the London Grand Prix, Totnes-Vire 2-day and Sigma Sport 3-day, he took a dominating solo victory at the Weston Super -Mare Criterium, lapping the entire field, showing his superb attacking qualities. A valuable asset to the team, who have followed his progression over the past two years.

The other new addition to the team is James Hawkins. He will be somewhat of the team’s dark horse for the 2010 season, and is set to take the road racing scene by storm. Formerly a triathlete he has focused on time trials and has recorded a 50 minute ‘25’ and a 3.45 ‘100’ this past year. He is turning his skills and focus to road racing for next year, having secured his 2nd category licence on a very limited race programme in 2009. His aims include representing GB at the World University Games.

Experienced Peter Kench, Nic Tilling and Dan Smith complete the line up for 2010 and will focus on the regional calendar while the Under 23 riders will focus on a national programme of events, with Premier Calendar and Elite Circuit Series high on their list of targets, along with some international races. The team are also hoping to gain selection for the televised Tour Series.

The Under 23 riders have just returned from a week long training camp in Andaluciia, courtesy of Joyriders Cycling Holidays (www.joy-riders.com), stacking up almost 500 miles during the week, with rides of upto 5 hours 30 minutes taking in some of the big climbs that abound in the region including the infamous Cabra climb. The entire squad will return there for some more quality warm weather training in early February as they put the final touches to their preparation for the season.

With race invites coming in daily, the team will announce its full programme in the new year, but are looking to ride some of the invitations to the UCI 1.2 U23 events with the strong team assembled. The team presentation shall be held in Swindon during February before embarking on what promises to be the most exciting year for the already successful squad.

The team are pleased to continue to be sponsored in 2010 by Swindon Cycles Superstore, High 5, Giant UK, Joyriders Cycling Holidays, Spiuk and Continental Tyres, while Scott Wilson Railways and Diamond Sports Massage Therapy return to backing the team along with new sponsor Kalas Ssportswear. .

For more information on the GWR Team please visit www.gwrteam.com
Twitter feed@ http://twitter.com/GWRteam

GWR Team Press Office
21st December 2009-12-16

GWR Team Rider line up
Doug Dewey – U23
James Hawkins – U23
Peter Kench
Llewellyn Kinch – U23
Nic Tilling
Sam Redding – U23
Dave Sinclair – U23
Dan Smith

Director Sportif – Darren Beers
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