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Matrix Vulpine women's team applies to join top tier of cycling

Outfit says it has backing of sponsors and aims to bring through British riders

One of Britain’s leading women’s teams, Matrix Vulpine, has revealed its aim to get into the top tier of the sport after applying for UCI Professional status.

The team’s management company, On The Drops, says that it has the backing of its sponsors and aims to make a number of signings to strengthen its squad, as well as potentially setting up a feeder team to bring through young talent.

In a statement, it said: “Five years of concerted efforts by On The Drops and our partners to develop women’s cycling, as well as vying for a place in the peloton has flown by. The UK has now got televised races, a UCI stage race in the form of the Women’s Tour of Britain, and a depth of competition never seen before. We are, however, still lacking a domestic professional team for British road riders to aspire to. In 2015 we hope to change this as we take the project forwards to become a full UCI pro team.

“We have the necessary letters of intent from our major sponsors and are working hard to secure some additional superb elite riders that will be necessary to make this project a success. Our ambition is to create a team and structure, that can go to pro races to be in the cadre of potential winners or at least shine through our performances at the highest level”

The team said that current directeur sportif Stefan Wyman would be likely to step down from that role and concentrate on team management instead.

It added: “We now have the funding to commence the UCI professional registration process and we are committed to a largely British team. We are also looking at the potential of an official feeder team in the UK from which stagiaire riders would be called. We have already commenced the search for team accommodation in Belgium, likely Oudenaarde, and a service course facility.”
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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6 comments

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stealth | 9 years ago
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So pleased to here this! I have been a follower of Stef & Helen for some time & it's great to see that their campaigning is finally paying off. There wouldn't have been a Womens Tour without them.

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VeloPeo | 9 years ago
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Awesome news. Hopefully MV can become the team Wiggle should have been. Massive respect to Stef and the team for this

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Must be Mad | 9 years ago
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So good to see investment in Womens cycling. Go Matrix Vulpine! (good name for a team that)

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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Nice one Nick.

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
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Great news!

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TrekBikesUK | 9 years ago
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HUGELY proud and happy to be a supporter of this team. If you aren't already a follower, take some time to learn about the incredible women, and staff, that are part if this crew.

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