It’s great to see another women’s cyclocross team out on the course. We’ve brought you news of Fearless Femme and the Northwest Women’s Cyclocross Project, and now the Arensman sisters headline a new team from the Carolinas called the J.A. King p/b BlueRidge ’Cross team. Details below.
J.A. King p/b BlueRidge ’Cross team skinsuit, soon to be near the front of a women’s race near you.
J.A. King p/b BlueRidge ’Cross is a new Carolina-based cyclocross team; more specifically, a professional, Elite and development women’s cyclocross team.
Composited by Studio7 Multisport’s Junior developmental cycling coach, Allison Arensman, and head coach, Sonni Dyer, this two tiered program consists of two pro women and a development team comprised of six handpicked junior and U-23 women. These development riders are rising talents from the Southeast: Lily Ahrens, Hannah Bauer, Keren Bennett, Isabella Brookshire, Riley Gallagher, and Alison McKeithan.
J.A. King p/b BlueRidge ‘Cross is a new womens-specific CX development team.
Professional Riders:
- 2016 Junior Road World Championships USA Women’s 17-18 team member
- 2016 Junior Road Nationals, Women’s 17-18 Time trial Champion
- 2016 Cyclo-Cross World Championships USA Women’s U23 team member
- 2016 Cyclo-Cross Nationals Women 17-18, Champion
- 2015 Cyclo-Cross Nationals Women 17-18, bronze medalist
- 2016 U23 Road Nationals, Women’s Time trial, Road race, and Criterium Champion
- 2016 Cyclo-Cross World Championships USA Women’s U23 team member
- 2015 U23 Road Nationals, Women’s Criterium, Champion
- 2015 Pan-Am Championships, Women’s U23 silver medalist
- 2015 Collegiate Cyclo-Cross Nationals D2 Women, Champion
Hannan Arensman celebrates her 2016 17-18 Women’s title with sister Allison. Women Youth, 2016 Cyclocross National Championships. © R. Riott/Cyclocross Magazine
The vision behind creating this two-tiered team is to create an environment where the pro riders come alongside the development riders to mentor and teach them, and field their questions. Given this vision the focus of this Carolina-based team is therefore two-fold. The first is to support the professional riders so that they can compete at top USA UCI races and at top European races with the USA team, with the objective of qualifying for the World Championships. The second focus is to give the development riders the opportunity to increase their skills and experience, thus providing them the ability to one day compete as professionals on BlueRidge’Cross or on another pro team. It gives them the opportunity to one day experience racing in Europe and ultimately to develop them to qualify for and compete at the World Championships in the U-23 race.
Team Mission Statement:
“Our passion is more than just racing bikes and receiving professional level support. It’s creating the ‘next step’ for the talented and hard-working female juniors and U-23s who are quickly rising in the USA; to give these girls the same support as their male counterparts. In essence, the team is more of a cause, a ‘gender-equity’ mission.” -Studio7 coaches Allison Arensman and Sonni Dyer
The title sponsor of BlueRidge’Cross is J.A. King, a precision measurements company based in North Carolina. J.A. King is a significant supporter of women’s cycling and youth development. Not only are they sponsoring this new cyclo-cross team, they also are behind a successful mountain bike team and are supporting the growth of the NICA high-school mountain bike league in its inaugural year in North Carolina.
J.A. King p/b BlueRidge’Cross
In addition the team is sponsored by:
- Boyd Cycling, a handmade wheels-company from South Carolina
- GRAVA Bikes, a North Carolina bike company
- Rouler Sportswear, a high quality cycling apparel company based in North Carolina
- Defeet International, North Carolina-based and internationally respected for their customizable, open air weave socks
- Studio7 Multisport, a North Carolina-based national and world level coaching company
- Ally’s Bar, a non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher energy bar made in North Carolina
- Roots Hummus, the microbrew of hummus made in Asheville, North Carolina
“We’re very excited for the season…myself, Hannah, the devo group, sponsors, parents, and the list goes on. The team has already gained a lot of momentum, because its formation followed the very successful National Championships held in Asheville this past season. It takes a village, so I couldn’t be more excited to see the team’s sponsors be Carolina-based companies. The support I’ve received from everyone while getting this program off the ground has been astounding. Can’t wait to start things off at the UCI weekend in Baltimore, MD!” ~Allison Arensman
For more info on the J.A. King p/b BlueRidge’Cross:
- blueridgecross.jimdo.com
- Facebook: @BlueRidgeCX
- Instagram: @blueridgecross_cx
- Twitter: @blueridgecx
