“For several years I’ve wanted to expand the reach of our women’s professional TIBCO/to the Top team,” said Linda Jackson, Founder of the TIBCO Women’s Professional Cycling Team.
“This year, we added Team TIBCO II made up of Bay area Cat 3 and 4 women. The next logical step was to include juniors, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for several years. When Rob and I connected on the idea of adding a junior team for 2011, all the pieces quickly fell into place. All of our pro and elite women are very excited to help mentor the next generation of women cyclists!”
Mentored by members of the TIBCO/To the Top professional team, the new junior women’s cycling team will be directed by Rob Jensen, a Northern California-based junior cycling coach.
The California-based Team TIBCO Juniors squad will focus on competing at the national and international level. The team will be led by four U.S. Junior National Champions: Katrina Howard (age 14) of Fresno, Tara McCormick (15) of Long Beach, Claire Jensen (14) of Los Altos, and Skylar Schneider (12) of West Allis, WI. Skylar is the younger sister of Team TIBCO/To the Top pro Samantha Schneider, the two-time U23 national criterium champion and recent winner of the 2010 NRC finale, the Chris Thater Memorial Criterium.
Sylar Schneider
The four team leaders have combined for 13 National Championships on the Road and Track, led by Howard with eight. Additionally, McCormick is the National Record holder for the 500m Time Trial in both the 13-14 and 10-12 age groups.
“This fantastic group of junior women have all achieved national individual success without teammates or team tactics,” Jensen said. “ The Team TIBCO pro and elite women are so excited to mentor and share their knowledge with our new juniors. Our goal is to help them grow to new levels, so they can make a big splash on the international cycling scene for USA Cycling in the future.”
Howard, McCormick and Jensen will compete in their first race together as a team this Monday, September 6, at the Giro di San Francisco. Schneider will do her first races in Team TIBCO colors at this weekend’s Gateway Cup races in St. Louis, racing the Category 3/4 women’s race. Her older sister Samantha will be in St. Louis as well to race the women’s pro Gateway Cup Series.
The new squad is looking to bring on an additional four to six junior women for 2011. Any California based junior woman interested in being considered for the squad should send her resume to rob@testarossa.com before September 21st.
Source: podiuminsight.com
