by Joanna Rowsell
On Friday 25th January it was the team launch of my new team Wiggle Honda Women’s Procycling Team in London. Myself, Laura and Dani had just returned from a training camp in Majorca the night before and we travelled straight from Gatwick to a hotel in Croydon where the team were staying. It was like Christmas as I went into my room to find kit bags full of new cycling kit and accessories! We had dinner as a team and it was great to meet all the new riders but then it was an early night due to an early start the next morning ready for the launch.
The day began with getting our make up done and then some filming at the hotel with Global Cycling Network before setting off to the station to get the train into London. Fortunately we managed to board a train with space for all 12 riders plus staff to find seats, quite a luxury on a rush hour train into London!
The venue for the launch was Millbank Media Centre where we arrived to see a smart looking new Honda team car with team bikes on the roof as well as lots of people already gathering for the launch due to start at 10am. We began with team photos before getting ready for the launch hosted by David Harmon.
David spoke on stage and interviewed the team owner Rochelle Gilmore, the sponsors and our DS Simon Cope and then some of the riders. Afterwards there were plenty more interviews to do individually including one with the BBC which can be found here.
It was then time for myself, Laura and Dani to leave as we had another event at the O2 where we were speaking at a conference in front of 3500 people. The event was hosted by Clare Balding and the other guest speakers were Katherine Grainger, David Weir, Ellie Simmonds and Jessica Ennis. I enjoy the buzz of public speaking and it was great to be able to speak about the news of the Wiggle Honda team and the new challenges of road racing in 2013.
My first race for Wiggle Honda will be Het Nieuwsblad on 23rd February in Belgium. This is a cobbled classic race of 123km taking in some of the famous stretches of cobbles and steep bergs of Flanders. I am looking forward to racing with my new team mates and getting stuck in to the challenge!
I have two weeks training in the UK now before heading off to Club la Santa in Lanzarote for my final training block before racing begins.
Joanna x
