Storey Racing launched as Dame Sarah Storey returns to the elite women’s peloton
Dame Sarah and partner Barney Storey have launched Storey Racing and announced their return to the elite women’s peloton with a fresh look, new partnerships and the backing of many loyal brands, including sponsor adidas Sport Eyewear who have produced a Storey Racing Special Colourway of their Zonyk Aero Pro performance eyewear.
Speaking at the launch, Britain’s greatest ever female Paralympian and adidas Sport Eyewear athlete, Dame Sarah Storey said:
I am delighted to be able to bring an elite women’s racing team back in to the UK peloton, with a line-up of talented, motivated women and the backing of some big-name sponsors. We will maintain the strong development opportunities of the Boot Out Breast Cancer Cycling Club with a focus on junior women making that daunting jump into the Senior UK peloton.”
Dame Sarah is already looking forward to an exciting future for Storey Racing. “I hope this new platform will give us a strong basis on which to build over the coming years as there remains a unique opportunity to create a world-dominating, entirely British-focused professional team, should the right backing be found. As we see better and better coverage for women’s racing, and therefore a greater return on investment for sponsors, we hope to play a part in creating that opportunity.”
With the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the horizon, the team will also provide a platform for riders to qualify to compete, with almost half of the new line up having a realistic opportunity. adidas Sport Eyewear is celebrating this opportunity by releasing a Storey Racing Special Colourway of the Zonyk Aero Pro in Matt Black Frame with a matching Mirror Red Lens echoing the brand new Le Col team kit.
The Zonyk Aero Pro has been engineered with the input of pro peloton riders to maximize performance and safe speed on the road. Zonyk Aero has a lightweight but durable SPX frame with integrated Climacool ventilation system, adjustable TRI.FIT temples with Flex Zones to increase grip when on the move, and comes with a Double-Snap Nose Bridge to help achieve a customised fit. The brand new Lens Lock-System makes it possible to exchange lenses quickly and easily.
The Zonyk Aero Pro is fitted with a detachable foam sweat bar, which is shaped to maintain a cooling flow of air while keeping sweat out of your eyes. According to Dame Sarah adidas Sport Eyewear was key to her Paralympic victories which took her Gold Medal tally to 14. “Having worn this eyewear to some of my biggest career victories in both London 2012 and Rio 2016, I am delighted to be sharing this with my team mates. adidas Sport Eyewear forms an important part of our technological package – it’s about protecting everyone’s greatest asset in reading a race; their eyes. Over years of research and refinement adidas Sport Eyewear have developed market-leading technologies which ensure the glasses are not just great looking but more importantly functional and protective. The glasses are designed to both filter the harmful rays of the sun and ensure clarity of vision.”
As Sports Director of Storey Racing, Barney Storey values the adaptability of the eyewear. “The provision of adidas Sport Eyewear’s Zonyk Aero Pro to all riders provides me with peace of mind, knowing my riders have got the best optics with which to read a race, regardless of the conditions.”
Stepping into this newly created elite racing team will be women who started the year with the Boot Out Breast Cancer Cycling Club, including six riders who raced under the guidance of the Storeys in 2016. Neah Evans, Bethany Crumpton, Monica Dew, EJay Harris, Katie Prankerd and Hannah Dines were all part of the Storey’s previous set up. These six riders will be joined by five new faces as Dannielle Khan, Chanel Mason, Jennifer George, Laura Cameron and 1st year Junior Mercy Webb are also added to the talented roster.
Adding to the comments of his wife, Barney Storey said: “We launch this new project at a very exciting time for women’s racing in the UK. We will also be looking for the right UCI opportunities in Europe, and supporting riders with dual disciplines to access track or cyclocross in the winter months.”
