A Shropshire cycling team, which has gone from strength to strength in its first racing season, is expanding with several new members ready for competing in 2017.
Rhino Velo Racing, an amateur team mentored by well-known Shrewsbury cyclist Mike Jones, is celebrating a successful first year of racing.
The majority of the team’s riders have achieved their season goals and members of the team have made a real impact on road racing, time trials, hill climbs and cyclo cross in the West Midlands region.
Ben Lawrence, managing director of independent Shropshire insurance broker Beaumont Lawrence, and Chris Pook, Director of estate agents Cooper Green Pooks, are managing and sponsoring the new team, which is made up of 15 riders from across the West Midlands.
Mr Pook, who is also a member of the team, said: “We have had a fantastic first year and set a great foundation for success in 2017.
“The plan is to spread the word further afield, whilst continuing to remain prominent in the local area.
“To do this, we have further strengthened the team by recruiting some exciting new riders.”
New to the team is Devon Round, an 18-year-old from north west Shropshire who has achieved excellent results at junior level.
Rob and Tom Seeley, brothers from Sutton Coldfield, will also be joining the team in 2017.
They have both spent the last couple of years working as cycling guides in Calpe, Spain, before starting racing in 2016 with promising results.
Ollie Hayward, a third year Engineering student at Birmingham University, will also be racing for Rhino Velo in 2017.
Mr Pook said: “We raced against Ollie a lot last year and admired his riding style and think that he will be a great fit with the ethos of the team.”
Team member Matthew Garthwaite is currently racing in the West Midlands Cyclo Cross League while the rest of the team is focussing on training for the road racing season, which begins in March.
Mr Pook said: “This involves wrapping up warm and heading out on the winter bike to do ‘base’ miles before building in the intensity come late January and February, when we have booked our team training camp with Rhino Velo Pyrenees, a B&B in the Foix, Midi Pyrenees, run by Mike Jones.”
For more information about Rhino Velo, see https://www.facebook.com/Rhino-Velo-Racing-1694907564097320/
