UCI women’s cycling Team Ibis Cycles will not continue with its activities in 2013 in it’s current form. Due to some last minute setbacks, the team was not able to raise the budget needed to enter the 2013 season with sufficient financial backing.
The team has existed for 5 years. During that period the team has developed from a Dutch club team in 2008 to a British UCI registered professional woman’s cycling team in 2012.
Team manager Toon van der Putten: ‘Initially all looked well for the team, which made us start with the application for UCI registration in 2013. Unfortunately two weeks ago we were confronted with a some major setbacks, one of which was the retirement of current team leader Pippa Handley, with this and the financial setbacks the difficult decision was to stop the team. This of course, is a deep regret for all involved and a shock to all the team’s riders.’
Team Ibis Cycles wishes to stress that this decision has nothing to do with its current sponsors. Quite the opposite: We would like to thank all our sponsors for their dedication and support which made the 2012 season a fantastic one and we are grateful for the commitment they gave us for the 2013 season.
‘The decision to stop is a major disappointment for everybody involved: riders, staff and sponsors. This has made our decision even harder and extra difficult, but the financial risk was just too high and it would have been unfair for everybody involved to decide otherwise’.
There are wheels turning at Team Ibis HQ and the hope is to find a new backer and rebuild the team under new ownership.
Click here here to see the original press release.
