Horizon Fitness Racing Team. Photo courtesy.
After a hugely successful first year, Johnson Health Tech UK is pleased to announce its continuing role as title sponsor of the Horizon Fitness Racing Team. UK Managing Director, Jon Johnston, commented, “Our investment in the Horizon Fitness Racing Team has been one of our most successful sports sponsorships to date. We have received an unprecedented return on investment in terms of media coverage, and we’re pleased to be associated with such a proactive team, which cares about delivering true value to its sponsors, supporters and fans.”
The team’s achievements over the last 12 months have led to three Commonwealth Games call-ups for its riders, and the year is far from over, with more UK and European road races, Professional Time Trials, UK National Track Championships, and also a long cyclocross season for several riders.
Team Manager, Stefan Wyman said, “I’m really happy to get the news that Johnson Health Tech UK is continuing to back this team. One of the core goals of the team is to provide a stable base for developing riders from the UK. We are able to do that with this news, and hopefully continue to take big steps forward.” Stefan added, “It’s not always been easy this season with rider illness and injury, but the way the riders have dealt with these problems in tandem with the team has been fantastic. Several riders have just finished a Team Pursuit training camp which we arranged for them as part of our commitment to helping them develop into the best athletes they can possibly be, and 2011 will see us taking on some new riders and increasing our focus and input in all areas of the sport.”
Part of the success this year has been the introduction of the Horizon Fitness GP, held in Stoke-on-Trent. Backed by Johnson Health Tech, and run by the Tour Series, this event was a great platform for women’s cycling to start the process of moving forward with new events and greater publicity. “It was a great event, very well run, and everyone involved enjoyed themselves. I really hope we can expand that race to a series of races in 2011, and ensure that the format of those events suits the riders competing in the UK. I really think that with more top-quality televised races, we’ll be able to increase the level across the board for women riders” commented Wyman.
On where the future of the team lies, Stefan added, “There is no secret about our desire to take this team to the top of the sport. UCI professional status will be gained at the right point for all concerned, and potentially a professional track team as well. We’re already planning women’s-specific training camps to be held in Italy in 2011, where professional riders will be on hand to educate riders on team tactics, training and other key areas of cycling, and we anticipate significant interest from women racers across the UK.
“We’ll have a much-increased UCI road race program next year too, plus a bigger focus on the UK scene, where we hope for many more performances like our winning rides at the Bedford 2-Day and the Horizon Fitness GP this year. And I’d really like to see a Horizon Fitness team taking part in track World Cups in the future. We’re also committed to increasing the amount of opportunities to get involved with the team. Being inclusive is important to us as a team, and to Johnson Health Tech UK.”
More information on the team and Johnson Health Tech UK can be found at:
www.onthedrops.com
www.horizonfitness.co.uk
