Ford Cycling is proud to announce its 2006 sponsors and riders. Kelli Emmett, a veteran professional, and Sara Bresnick–Zocchi, a veteran pro will be riding for Ford Team 2006. Kathy Sherwin, a fourth-year pro, will join the team for this season. The Ford team is continuing its mission of developing talented female riders and has welcomed Melanie Meyers, U23, to the squad.
Ford Motor Company is the title sponsor of this team. This sponsorship has been in place since 2000 when it was a grassroots initiative and continues to support the program today as one of America’s top teams. This team is the result of years of hard work and growth in women’s mountain biking. We are very pleased to have a structure that will allow us to support this program. Jack Palazzolo is Ford’s Director of Advance Market Strategy. We are committed to mountain biking’s future as a sport, recreational activity and lifestyle. We are looking forward to another fantastic season of Norba, World Cup and regional racing. Ford is 100% behind our athletes in their pursuit for excellence.
KELLI EMMETT, Colorado Springs, CO, is back as the U.S. Super D Champion. Kelli was also an automatic qualifier to the U.S. World Mountain Bike Team. She represented the U.S.A at the Pan Am Championships, where she won a silver medal. Kelli finished 5th in the 2005 Sea Otter after making 3 podium visits. Kelli will be competing in the Norba and World Cup races for 2006 as she prepares for the 2008 Olympic team. Kelli is a senior coach at Carmichael Training Systems. Kelli manages the training of her 20 athletes from any location in the world, day or night. Kelli also visits Michigan regularly to take part in activities that promote mountain biking in Michigan.
SARA BRESNICKZOCCHI, a Boston, MA native, returns to Ford for her third season. Sara’s Snowmass Nationals performance was a highlight. She finished 9th in the cross-country. Then, she finished a career-best 7th in Brian Head Utah’s short track. She continued to score top 25 cms, proving that being on the East Coast does not limit her ability to perform well. Sara is on track for another great season, as she strives for a podium position on the 2006 National MTB circuit. Sara will be racing mountain bikes and competing at events such as the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic and First Liberty. Sara is a physical therapist, and active in local advocacy groups such as the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition.
KATHY SHERWIN, Heber City, UT, finished 2005 ranked 10th overall in the short track standings, and 11th in cross country. She was also 9th in both the short track and cross-country events at 2005 U.S. National Championships. Kathy, a regular top 10 finisher at the U.S. National Championships 2005, is confident she will be on the podium. Kathy has been a regular participant on the Norba schedule and is a crowd favourite at the Intermountain Cup Series, where she won every race the past two seasons. Kathy enjoys mountain biking but she also enjoys cross country skiing and Alpine ski riding in winter. Kathy is a long-standing member of IMBA and participates in group rides and trail maintenance meetings whenever possible. She devotes her time to mountain biking and racing. Kathy enjoys being an ambassador for the sport and is often asked for her advice. She enjoys welcoming new riders to the sport and promoting a healthy lifestyle that involves cycling. Quick Release Racing’s involvement in Muscular Dystrophy awareness and breast cancer awareness will be influenced by her previous experiences with MS.
MELANIE MEYERS from Flagstaff, AZ will be joining the team this season as she moves up from Expert to Pro. She was the highest-ranked Expert woman in 2005. Melanie is active in Tucson, Arizona. She regularly involves herself with community events, charity rides, trail maintenance/building, leading group rides for high school students, and participating in activities with local charity cycling organizations in Tucson. Melanie is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in geography, creative writing and communication from the University of Arizona.
Chris Davidson and Chris Magerl both from Salt Lake City, UT have been added to the team as mechanics and logistic managers. Chris Davidson is a familiar name to the athletes, having been a Shimano factory mechanic, professional team mechanic and national team mechanic for many years. Davidsons Wrenchin is a popular web read.
After having worked on select events in 2005, Chris Magerl has joined the team full-time. His easy-going, light-hearted demeanor conceals a person who is not afraid to answer any questions for athletes in 2006.
Ford Cycling boasts a long list of equipment sponsors in 2006. Scott France, a sponsor of Ford Cycling’s 2006 equipment list, will provide the team with road and mountain bikes, as well as clothing and shoes. As tire and wheel sponsors, Kenda tires as well as DT Swiss wheels join the team. SRAM Corporation, a returning sponsor, will equip the bikes using SRAM drivetrains with RockShox suspension and Truvativ cranks. Crank Brothers will once again supply the team’s pedals. Ritchey will supply the bars, stems, and posts. Squadra US will provide the team kits with Bell Sweep Helmets. Our sponsors for the year include Inno car racks as well as Pedros mechanic supplies, Ultimate support stands and racks, and Victory Circle graphix.
The Ford sponsorship of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will also be supported by the team. They will work together to increase awareness about breast cancer treatment, detection and recovery. The team’s successful series of clinics has been a success for many years. The clinics are not only about breast cancer awareness but also offer a chance for advanced and beginning women riders to meet with the team, ask questions about nutrition, warmup, visualization, as well as get tech tips from the team mechanic.
The team will continue to be involved in extracurricular activities like mentoring young athletes, school safety programs, coaching and appearing at Ford dealerships across the country.
The season will begin with a training camp, followed by a photo shoot. They will then begin their quest to be the top ranks in the Norba National Mountain Bike Series, World Cup races and compete at the Sea Otter Classic as well as other regional mountain and road events throughout the U.S.
More information on Ford Cycling can be found on the team Web
site: www.fordcycling.com.
Quick Release Racing, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI, owns and manages Ford Cycling. Quick Release also manages the Ford Cycling Mountain Bike Team and a number of other cycling programs, including the Built Ford Tough Norba Series races in Michigan, Ford Midwest, Orlando Velo, and Ann Arbor Velo. Quick Release Event Promotions, a partner company, promotes road and cross racing in Michigan. Its partners also serve on the board for the Michigan Bicycle Racing Association.
