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Fresh off the co-promotion of the Excelsior Criterium the Verve Racing team has already made an impact on the local cycling scene in 2008. With a ton of questions left unanswered before the start of the year BTDC was able to track down team founder, Paula Plant, for a some information on the squad.

Verve Racing powered by Vital Images.

Verve Racing is a team of elite and developmental women cyclists from Twin Cities, MN with a passion to promote women’s cycling. In a sport that has historically been dominated by men, more and more women have discovered cycling as a path to a healthy lifestyle and self-confidence. We’re here to promote that growth.

The team’s founders Paula Plant and Sarah Stratton have done much to further women’s racing in Minnesota by starting and maintaining the Midwest Women’s Cycling Made Real (MWCMR) Race Series for Category 4 women. This race series and associated clinics have aided the growth of women’s field sizes in Minnesota. Verve’s goal is to support women racers, develop women’s racing in the Midwest and build a strong elite team, competing in various races throughout Minnesota and the Midwest.

The idea for the team came about in the summer of 2007 at the Rasmussen College Women’s Cycling Summit. After listening to the discussion on women’s racing on a national level, the void in local women’s racing became clear. “I knew the depth of talented women cyclists in the state was huge, and there’s no reason we couldn’t be competitive on a national level,” said Plant. “I thought, ‘What do other states have that Minnesota does not?’” The answer seemed to be more women’s-only teams that are dedicated to racing, and availability of teams that provide the kind of support that demonstrates women’s participation is meaningful and valued. Thus, the effort to form a new team was born.

Verve’s roster is packed with experienced Category 2’s and 3’s, as well as a few Category 4 racers. The roster includes Angie Vasquez, Alex Lacey, and Sarah Pritzker as Cat 4’s. Julia Mairs, Sheryl Golin, Sara Brokaw, Alix Kerl, and Sarah Stratton comprise the Cat 3 squad, and Cat 2 racers include Sara Morse, Catie Watson, Jeannette Sample, and Paula Plant.

The 2008 schedule for Verve Racing includes local races on the Minnesota Cycling calendar, the Quad Cities, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, the International Cycling Classic (Superweek), and the National Criterium Championships in Downers Grove, IL. Verve Racing team members will also be racing at the Velodrome and in the dirt (mountain and cyclocross) and we hope to see you out there too!

“As a team we are lucky to be able to work with a number of great sponsors,” said Mairs, who was instrumental in organizing sponsorship. Verve Racing is proud to be sponsored by Vital Images, a leading provider of advanced visualization and analysis software solutions for the medical industry. Excelsior is home to Excel Cycle, the team’s sponsor shop. With so many cyclists riding around Lake Minnetonka, the shop’s location is an ideal place to stop before, during, or after a ride. Verve Racing also receives generous support from Nina’s (pronounced “Nye-nah’s”) Coffee Café in St. Paul, a favorite meeting place with fantastic food, culture, and a friendly staff. Additional sponsorship is provided by 2nd Wind Exercise, IronGirl, and Inner Strength Fitness.

The 2008 Verve Racing powered by Vital Images Cycling Team:

L-to-R: Sara Morse, Sheryl Golin, Paula Plant, Alex Lacey, Julia Mairs, Sara Brokaw, Jeannette Sample, Alix Kerl, Catie Watson, Angie Vasquez, and Sarah Stratton in the back right.