Local Ride Racing Launches Elite Women's Mountain Bike Team

Local Ride Racing is expanding their current local road, cyclocross and mountain bike team in 2009 to include an elite women's mountain bike team. Sandra Walter, Jean Ann McKirdy and Bianca Adolf will be teaming up to take on the National and US Cup series mountain bike races, as well as selected World Cup's, Canada Summer Games, and of course some of the local races in BC such as the Test of Metal.

After four successful seasons in Europe, racing for the Swiss based Felt X.O team, Sandra Walter has returned to Canada. Her career highlights include 4th in the Swiss Cup Series in 2007 and 2008, Canada Cup Series winner in 2003 and eight years on the Canadian National Team. Watch for her to be mixing it up at events such as the Sea Otter Classic, selected World Cups, Canada Cups, US Cups and at the BC Bike Race.

Jean Ann McKirdy will be continuing to rip it up with Local Ride Racing after two successful cyclocross seasons on the team, in which she took multiple wins in the BC Cup Cross Series. In 2008 she won the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series, and two top 20 World Cup finishes. In 2009 she hopes to improve on her World Cup results, and will be racing for the podium in the Canada Cup and US Cup Series.

After only two seasons of racing, and an impressive 2008 season, which saw her finishing 6th at the Junior World Championships, Bianca Adolf will be joining Local Ride Racing for her first year racing elite. Her focus will primarily be Canada Cups and Canada Summer Games, but watch out for her at some North American and International events as well!

Sponsoring the team this year is Xprezo Cycles, out of Bromont QC, who will be supplying custom built frames for the team. Haywood Securities and Fab-all manufacturing are also on board as sponsors. The team will be running Met helmets, Time shoes, pedals, gloves and saddles, Tifosi eye wear, Gore Ride-On cables, Sugoi clothing and Sram parts.

Local Ride Racing's Elite Women's mountain bike team is looking forward to an exciting and successful race season in 2009.