July 29/13 9:19 am - New N. American Women's Pro Team Announced

Posted by Editoress on 07/29/13
 

Momentum Sports Group, LLC, owner and operator of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, today announced it will launch a women’s professional team.

The new women’s team, which will also be sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, will include 10-12 members. Momentum will announce the riders, as well as team director and staff, later this summer. The team will begin racing in 2014.

“We are excited about adding our women’s team in 2014,” said Mike Tamayo, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team general manager and team director. “We have very high expectations for our women’s team, which will be built for excellence and to win. Momentum knows how to build a winning team. We plan on building the women’s program in the same manner we built our successful men’s program.”

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team women’s program will focus primarily on racing on the domestic circuit, but once the combination of the 2014 calendar is announced and riders are signed to the team, Tamayo will determine the team goals and official race schedule.

For more than a decade, Momentum Sports Group has built one of the most successful teams in the sport. Company President Thierry Attias believes strongly in the promise of what the 2014 season will bring.

“We are enthusiastic about the launch of our women’s team,” he said. “This is the right time and the right thing to do to grow professional cycling in the right direction. We believe strongly in women’s pro cycling, and this addition is a great way to not only help grow women’s cycling, it is a strong complement to what we have with our men’s program.”

UnitedHealthcare has been a sponsor of the men’s team since 2009 and the title sponsor since 2010. UnitedHealthcare’s support gives the cycling team members and staff, the opportunity to promote the benefits of exercise, nutrition, goal setting and healthy living to people across the country. As ambassadors of living a healthy lifestyle, the pro cyclists on the team have reached thousands of people with that positive message.

“UnitedHealthcare looks forward to supporting a team of amazing women athletes who embody good health and well-being. In addition to competing in races, cyclists selected for the team will serve as health and wellness ambassadors in communities across the country, inspiring both young and old to live a healthier life,” said Dave Tjaden, vice president, National Marketing at UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual.

“Adding a women’s program is very important to our sponsors, including UnitedHealthcare,” Attias said. “A large part of our focus is what our athletes do on and off the bike to inspire people to lead healthier lifestyles. The women we sign to this new team are all role models and will enhance ability to inspire, motivate and influence people to live healthy lifestyles.”