Long-term future of Marianne Vos's team secured with new five-year sponsor
Former Rabo-Liv team to compete as WM3 Pro Cycling in 2017
After being initially branded Fortitude Pro Cycling, Marianne Vos's team looks to have secured its long-term future with a new five year deal with WM3 Energie, a Dutch sustainable energy consultancy.
The former Rabo-Liv team had been in danger of folding at the end of the 2016 season with the withdrawal of Rabobank from women's professional cycling, four years after it withdrew from the men's side of the sport in 2012 in the wake of the Lance Armstrong drug scandal.
>>> Women's world champion Amalie Dideriksen shows offer new rainbow jersey
The team will compete as WM3 Pro Cycling in 2017, with Vos joined by Polish road and time trial champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma and Dutch road champion Anouska Koster. However the squad will be without Olympic gold medallist Anna van der Breggan who will ride with Lizzie Deignan at Boels Dolmans, while former world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot has made the switch across to Canyon-SRAM.
Despite the considerable changes to the team's line up, team manager Eric Van Boom is optimistic about the upcoming season: "We have an eager and talented team, which will be on the hunt for success, in 2017 and thereafter. Determination, courage and passion are the key words which describe our team. In short: fortitude, as we already announced previously."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
'With a few changes, it'll be class' - Josh Tarling optimistic about Ineos Grenadiers future
'Everybody wants to get better and get back to winning,' 20-year-old tells audience at Rouleur Live
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Knowing the course in a virtual race is maybe even more important than in road racing': Former e-sports World Champion's top tips
Speed skater turned eSports world champion, Loes Adegeest, on how to become virtually unbeatable when racing indoors
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Lotte Kopecky: Paris-Roubaix Femmes went ‘exactly as planned’
The reigning female world champion outsprinted Elisa Balsamo and Pfeiffer Georgi in the Roubaix velodrome after a brutal day on the pavé of northern France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Police to interview spectator who threw liquid at Marianne Vos at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Dutchwoman said incident, ahead of her victory last weekend, was "a shame"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I no longer had that imposter syndrome’ - Lizzie Deignan on the ride that changed her
Lidl-Trek star looks back on a special moment at the London 2012 Olympic Games
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Marianne Vos doubles up on ‘nervous’ stage four of Vuelta Femenina
The Jumbo-Visma rider is yet to finish off the podium at the Spanish race
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We didn't expect this': Wind causes havoc on stage three of La Vuelta Femenina as Marianne Vos wins
Dutchwoman takes first ever Vuelta stage win, completing the Grand Tour set, as multiple GC riders suffer in echelons
By Adam Becket Published
-
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig survives repeated attacks to win the Tour of Scandinavia
Marianne Vos takes a fourth stage win win after an entertaining and combative final day in Norway
By Owen Rogers Published
-
Marianne Vos makes it a Tour of Scandinavia hat trick
The Dutch rider took a masterful victory after being boxed in and out of position in the final
By Owen Rogers Published
-
Vos nets back to back wins in Tour of Scandinavia
Dutch woman extends her overall advantage to 14 seconds as she takes an intelligent win by less than a wheel’s length.
By Owen Rogers Published