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Search forExciting times as Mozley signs up with new Derby-based road racers
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 07:30
Former professional racer Cherie Pridham, from Chaddesden, and former Great Britain youth coach Eddie White, also from the city, have been confirmed as the director and manager of the newly-formed Plowman Craven/Madison racing team.
And the team's formation also means the confirmation of a professional contract for next season for 21-year-old Borrowash racer Jon Mozley (pictured right).
The new team comes about as the result of a merger between the existing Plowman Craven team and the Pearl Izumi development squad that Pridham and White have been running with notable success over the last four years.
Negotiations continued through the summer and the new team's roster of 10 was completed this week with – in cycling circles – the big-name signing of Great Britain Academy rider Ross Creber, a 20-year-old Scot who has been training in Italy under the experienced eye of retired Derby-born racer Max Sciandri.
Mozley, Stephen Adams and flying Dutchman Jeroen Janssen, who is continuing to study at Loughborough University, will be the riders carrying on from the Pearl Izumi team.
From last season's Plowman Craven squad come Olympic track silver medallist Tony Gibb, GB international road racer Evan Oliphant, James Millard and Tom Barras. Barras was previously under Pridham and White's tutelage two years ago.
In addition, they have signed promising young racers Tom Murray and Jonathan Tiernan-Locke.
For the Derby pair, the new fully-professional set-up is the culmination of a five-year plan drawn up by Pridham, 37, as she came to the end of a racing career that had seen her finish eight women's Tours de France.
"My heart is still very much into putting back into the sport," said Pridham.
"The aim was to develop young riders but also to reach a point where we could run a professional team and we've got there.
"At this level, the development continues but we also need experienced riders to take us to the level of being able to compete in races like the Tour of Britain."
Pridham and White say they made big efforts to ensure the Pearl Izumi team's preparation and promotion was professional in the last year as they attempted to land a large corporate sponsor.
It was one of the sport's biggest backers, Plowman Craven MD Simon Barnes, who was most impressed.
The company is a diverse, high-tech business with interests in precise measurement and forensics – and also with a corporate presence at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge and Silverstone race track, as well as the Manchester Velodrome.
"Simon was a top class amateur cyclist and he's passionate about the sport and he markets his team very well among his corporate customers," said White.
"The riders and staff have to visit the company and be able to rattle off a bit about what Plowman Craven is about."
Most of the new team's racing will be on these shores. A few years ago, that would not have been high-profile enough but Britain's Olympic success in track cycling has changed the landscape for all cycling disciplines.
A new criterium series next summer will be televised, as will the Tour of Britain and some Premier Calendar road races.
"We have riders capable of winning criteriums and getting podiums in road races," said Pridham.
"Winning the general classification in the Tour of Britain may be beyond us next year – but we will certainly want to get a stage win if we can."
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