With new sponsorship, Optum becomes Rally Cycling
The top-ranked continental men's and women's team in America has a new name, as Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies welcomes a new title sponsor in Rally Health, a Washington, D.C.-based digital health company.
The top-ranked continental men’s and women’s team in America has a new name, as Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies welcomes a new title sponsor in Rally Health, a Washington, D.C.-based digital health company.
With that sponsorship, Optum now becomes Rally Cycling.
The name change brought about by the new sponsorship fittingly reflects the team’s mission of promoting active, healthy lifestyles, something Rally Health executives focused on when making the announcement. “Cycling is a fantastic way to improve one’s health, both for lifestyle enthusiasts and professionals,” said David Ko, the organization’s president and chief operating officer. “We are inspired by these athletes, and know their stories will help motivate Rally users to stay active.”
“The team,” Ko added, “embodies the Rally Health mission and, together, we want to inspire people to be active and make better, more informed decisions about their health.”
As Optum and now as Rally Cycling, the squad’s roster of cyclists, it goes without saying, has represented some of Canada’s best when it comes to athletics. Adam de Vos and Rob Britton, both from Victoria, carry the standards of Canadian cycling on the men’s team. For the women, Jasmin Glaesser of Coquitlam, B.C., Katherine Maine of Ottawa, Sara Poidevin of Canmore and Catherine Ouellette of Saint-Lambert, QC are among Rally Cycling’s shining stars, with Glaesser recently making headlines in Hong Kong for her silver medal win in points competition during the 2016 track cycling World Cup. Heading into the 2016 season, the team is no doubt counting on the young Coquitlam rider’s dazzling talent—something that served as a pillar of her team’s successes during its previous incarnation as Optum.
The same certainly goes for the rest of the team’s ranks. With talent and sheer cycling power, the athletes at the heart of Rally Cycling have helped build the squad’s fortunes in previous seasons. For the men, high-profile victories at the Amgen Tour of California and the Tour of Utah were highlights, as well as podium spots at the USA Pro Challenge, the Tour of Alberta and other competitions. Internationally, a historic podium showing at La Course by Le Tour de France and a fourth-place performance at the UCI world team time trial championships of 2014 were also head-turners.
Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies is now @rally_cycling. The fingers of cycling journos rejoice. https://t.co/9dhRmLAIWU
— Matthew Pioro (@matthewpioro) January 15, 2016
Those who have been at the team’s ground floor since its infancy, of course, are among the proudest to see the squad take another leap forward.
“As the founding partner of the team,” said John Kelly, president of Kelly Benefit Strategies, “it is exciting to see the program take another step forward. Through the years we have enjoyed great results due to our amazing partners, dedicated staff and talented athletes. Having Rally as the title sponsor is a great continuation of the program’s legacy.”
“Rally is committed to the same mission this team embodies: promoting a healthy and active lifestyle,” Kelly added.
