SAS-Macogep receives UCI license for 2017

12 women roster for Montreal-based team announced

Philippe Tremblay January 13, 2017

Facebook: Sas Macogep Acquisio propulsée par Mazda @sasmacogepacquisio

SAS-Macogep has been awarded a UCI women’s road license for the 2017 season. The Montreal-based team was established in 2006 and held a UCI license in 2011 and 2013. With the UCI designation, the team will be able to participate in World Cup and Women’s WorldTour races with a portion of the season being devoted to the European calendar during which the team will be based in Bordeaux, France. SAS-Macogep is the only Canadian women’s team to receive UCI status for the coming season.

“It’s huge for us!” Adriane Provost told Radio-Canada. “This means that we will be regularly invited to races by the organizers, which will pay a large part of the costs.”

The goal for 2017 will be to collect as many UCI points as possible as the team tries to put itself on strong footing for future seasons according to team president Gérard Penarroya.

“It’s my third try,” he said. “It’s really my goal, I want to attract the most important Canadian athletes. We haven’t been able to in the past because of budgets. We don’t get much government support,” Penarroya explained. “It’s delicate. As a UCI team we will have more name recognition.”

Through their results, the team also hopes to be able to attract new sponsors and hopefully keep their UCI status until the 2020 Olympics. The accomplish that goal the team will have 35 to 45 races on schedule for the coming season. The season starts on March 8 at the Tour de Valencia, a race exclusively for UCI teams.

“It’s going to be important to show that we have our place in the UCI WorldTour calendar races,” Frédérique Larose-Gingras, one of the teams new Canadian recruits told Radio-Canada. “It will be necessary to accumulate points to get noticed and to attract other sponsors, without which all of it would be impossible.” she also pointed out.

2016 SAS-Macogep roster. Facebook: Sas Macogep Acquisio propulsée par Mazda @sasmacogepacquisio

2017 SAS-Macogep roster

Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (CAN)
Adriane Provost (CAN)
Sarah-Anne Rasmussen (CAN)
Frédérique Larose-Gingras (CAN)
Véronique Bilodeau (CAN)
Emma Bédard (CAN)
Marjolaine Bazin (FRA)
Soline Lamboley (FRA)
Iris Sachet (FRA)
Emilie Rochedy (FRA)
Irena Ossola (USA)
Pascale Jeuland (FRA)