The 2007 Cheerwine professional women’s cycling team gathered in North Carolina for the annual team presentation. The group arrived on Thursday in Pineville North Carolina and started individual bike set-up appointments for road bikes on Friday and then time trial bikes on Saturday. Between fits, the athlete’s, team director Thad Fischer and team owner Anne Bolyea went for team training rides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well undergoing fitness testing at the Per4mance training center.

In addition to training rides and bike fits, team photographer Coke Whitworth was on hand to do individual portraits, team shots and photos of the riders on training rides.

The women were able to test the fitting of their new Orbea Opal bicycles on the rides while team mechanics Mike Boone and Bob Nixon were on hand to do any adjustments necessary for the riders.

Saturday evening the riders gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn for a meeting with Orbea representatives. The team was able to have any questions answered that may have come up. They also discussed marketing strategies for Orbea “in the field”. After the meeting with Orbea, the girls changed into their new kits for the presentation. National race commentator Chad Andrews was master of ceremonies. Chad introduced riders and staff to a banquet room full of family, friends and the president of Cheerwine, Mark Ritchie. Mr. Ritchie told the riders and guests “this program is very exciting and we look forward to the most successful racing season we have had in 5 years. Anne has done a wonderful job in picking riders and staff (new director Thad Fischer) and Cheerwine is extremely proud of this team.” The 2007 team consists of Laura Van Gilder, Kelly Benjamin, Sarah Uhl, Rachel O’Connell, Clara Beard, Catherine Cheatly, Sarah Bamberger, Betina Hold, Chrissy Ruiter, Leigh Hobson, Brooke Ourada, Beth Frye and Alisha Lion. After the presentation, the riders and guests enjoyed a buffet dinner in the Hilton ballroom.

After the presentation weekend, the riders were off to South Carolina to a cabin on the lake to train for a week in the mountains. “It was a very remote destination without the distractions of television or internet. The girls had a wonderful time bonding and riding upwards of six hours a day. In conjunction with the rides, the athlete’s worked on “unique” team building skills in the cabin with each rider going home with their own black and red friendship bracelets. I am going to plead the fifth about the cherry tattoos.” stated Anne Bolyea. The team will start the season in Australia with the Geelong tour and World Cup and then head to New Zealand for the Trust House tour where Cheerwine rider Catherine Cheatly won in 2005. The team will also send a squad to the first races in California starting with the Santa Clarita race and then start the NRC calendar.

 
UCI WPT Cheerwine 2007

Anne Bolyea, Team Owner, Team Leader

Cheerwine President, Mr. Mark Ritchie addresses the audience

MC Chad Andrews keeps asks Brooke “wazz up with the hands?”

ORBEA From the Heart of the Pyrenees!

The squad less Catherine Cheatley of New Zealand