SRAM new title sponsor of Karol-Ann Canuel’s team

Bicycle component giant SRAM has thrown its casquette into the title sponsorship ring by supporting the revamped Specialized-lululemon squad, Velocio-SRAM, home of Canadian Karol-Ann Canuel. This is SRAM’s first foray into title sponsorship. Specialized-lululemon was the UCI’s second-ranked women’s team in 2014 as it racked up 25 major wins, including the team time trial gold at the Ponferrada, Spain world championships.

Although it lost the formidable trio of Carmen Small, Evie Stevens and Chantal Blaak, Velocio-SRAM retained German Lisa Brennauer, who took Ponferrada gold in the individual chrono and silver in the road race, her compatriot Trixi Worrack, and Aussie Tiffany Cromwell. The team will ride Cervelo bikes with SRAM Red 22 drivetrains and Zipp Firecrest wheels in 2015.

In a press release, SRAM’s Global Sponsorship Manager Alex Wassmann said, “This team is too good not to support. They focus on winning, specializing in races against the clock, and deliver pure professionalism through it all. It’s the perfect formula for us as we continue to drive top level women’s racing globally.”

In her first season with Specialized-lululemon after several years at Vienne-Futurasport, Canuel finished sixth in her first attempt at the elite women’s world time trial championship. She was also in the team time trial line-up that took top honours at the Open de Suède Vargarda.