Cycling: The wheel manufacturer Canyon becomes a sponsor in women's road cycling. The Koblenz signed the first contracts with the sporting management of the team VelocioSram which will be dissolved at the end of the year.
Ex-professional cyclist Ronny Lauke will be manager of the new Canyon women's team from 2016, Beth Duryea will take over the post of sports director. It is not yet clear whether the two will bring additional staff and in particular drivers from their current team Velocio-Sram. Among others, the German drivers Lisa Brennauer, Trixi Worrack and Mieke Kröger start for Velocio-Sram. Nothing has been announced about other sponsors and possible namesakes of the team.
Lauke is starting the 2016 season with great ambitions: “We want to get the world excited about women's racing and thus win more women over to cycling. Our goal is to become one of the most professional and successful teams in the peloton. That's why Canyon is a perfect partner for us.” Canyon also has high hopes for the connection. Frank Aldorf, Chief Brand Officer at Canyon Bicycles, stated: “We have found the right partner in Ronny. Over the years he has built up a team that is already among the best in the world. We firmly believe in a very successful cooperation and are looking forward to the start of the Olympic year.”
In men's cycling, Canyon equips UCI WorldTeams Katusha and Movistar with wheels out.