GWR GOING PLACES AS THEY GEAR UP FOR 2010

[veloriders]

“Its going to be a great year” was the message from the riders and support staff as the GWR Team held their first full team training day on Saturday at Swindon Cycles Superstore, with the riders keen to start their season, and some big goals ahead, they took delivery of their new bikes and team clothing for 2010. The team spent the morning being fitted to their new TCR Advanced 2 team bikes provided by Giant and their new team clothing provided by Kalas Sportswear, with the Swindon Cycles Superstore and the GWR Team’s mechanics on hand to fine tune the bikes, and ensuring the position on the bike was perfect.

Once all the bikes and clothing had been allocated to the riders, and photographs taken, the eight man team went on a sixty mile training ride through the Cotswolds. The team were under the watchful eye of the 2010 Director Sportif Darren Beers, who was on hand to follow the riders progress in the team car provided by Diamond Sports Massage Therapy. The team ran through some key drills in preparation for the 2010 season to get the new riders and support crew accustomed to each other, in advance of the season. With some high profile races already on the calendar for the GWR Team in 2010 this was an opportunity to simulate the difficult issues that the team may face in a race such as wheel changes, and feeding from the team car, in a controlled situation.

One of the support staff commented “I’ve been involved since the early days of the GWR Team, and this is by far the best vibe the team has had to date, and although we maybe one of the smaller teams, this year we have the riders whose legs will do a lot of talking”.

David Sinclair, Sam Redding and Llewellyn Kinch remain key members of the squad, while new signings Doug Dewey and James Hawkins bolster what promises to be a very strong Under 23 team, with the more experienced Nic Tilling, Peter Kench and Rider/Manager Dan Smith completing the eight man roster.

The senior riders will focus on the regional calendar while the five Under 23s will race a mainly national programme of events, with Premier Calendar races such as the Lincoln GP on their schedule along with the East Midlands International CiCLE Classic, plus selected International events in France and Belgium. The team are also hoping to gain selection for the televised Tour Series.

The team has bonded instantly and they are looking forward to making a huge impact on the 2010 race season, where they will be backed by Swindon Cycles Superstore, Scott Wilson Railways, Diamond Sports Massage Therapy, High 5, Giant UK, Joyriders Cycling Holidays, Spiuk, Continental Tyres and Kalas Sportswear.

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


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
Team Mechanic – Neil Reeder

GWR Team Press Office
7th February 2010







GWR TEAM 2010 – RIDER PROFILES


David Sinclair is 21 lives in Southampton and Studies in Cardiff. 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, where took a stunning victory in the 2008 South Region Road Race Championships. 2009 saw him have a steady start to his season, but after a month racing trip to Belgium, where he took several top 15 placing, he duly returned home and won his final three races of the season. In the year Dave took seventeen victories for the GWR team and is the most prolific sprinter the team has had. 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.

Sam Redding is 19 and lives in Waterlooville, Hampshire and Studies in Loughbourgh. 2010 will be Sams third year with the GWR Team. 2009 was his first year in the senior ranks and continued to show well Placing in the top five in every race he rode for the team before taking a sabbatical in the summer. 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 20 and from Faringdon, Oxfordshire. 2008 saw Llewellyn tackle his first year as a senior, but having missed 2007 due to a broken leg, he literally hit the ground running and his progress has continued to be on a steep upward curve. Into 2009 he continued to show his strength with at string of top five placing though out the summer and after a highly successful month of racing in Belgium securing several top ten results he came home to take victory in his final race of the year to secure his Elite licence.

Doug Dewey is 20 and lives in Somerton. 2010 will be Dougs first year with the GWR Team, but he arrives having placed 3rd at the London Grand Prix, Totnes-Vire 2-day and Sigma Sport 3-day, and 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 GWR team, who have followed his progression over the past two years and look to help this rider reach his full potential.

James Hawkins is 22 and attends Cambridge University. Another new signing for 2010, James will be somewhat of the teams 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’ to his name. 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.

Peter Kench is 34 and from Hungerford, Berkshire. Peter is renowned as a fierce sprinter on the various Circuit races in the Southern half of the country and has taken countless victories and is also an excellent time triallist. Although capable of being prominent at the highest level he will also be relied upon to support the younger members of the team.

Nic Tilling is 35 and from Swindon. Nic is another excellent sprinter and is feared across the South in the circuit races and he continues to use his vast experience, which included a spell with Amore e Vita as a professional, to assist the younger members of the team with tactics and his wealth of knowledge on training and nutrition.

Dan Smith is 31, and is the team manager. He missed much of the 2008 due to a broken scaphoid, but is known for his very aggressive go from the gun style of riding and is relied upon to give his all for the team, both on and off the bike.
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