CharterMason has joined forces with Degani and CBD Cycles to sponsor a men's and women's pro team who will compete at the upcoming Jayco Bay Cycling Classic event in Williamstown and Geelong from 2 to 6 January 2009.

The men's team is led by Will Walker, a current European touring professional. The women's team is led by Rachael Heal who tours in the US and has represented England in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Criterium racing (originating from an old French term referring to "racing around the steeple") is extremely exciting and spectator friendly - each stage involves racing around a road course (2 to 3 km long).

The event attracts approximately 30 000 to 40 000 people over the 5 days. CharterMason's banners and flags will be up at the team tent. Attendance is free: come along for an exciting days racing!

Race locations are:

Fri 2 Jan -  Williamstown
Sat 3 Jan -  Eastern Garden Long Course Geelong Botanical Gardens
Sun 4 Jan - Easten Garden Short Course
Mon 5 Jan - Portarlington
Tues 6 Jan - Geelong Waterfront (evening twilight race)

Channel 10 will cover the event each evening on Sports Tonight as well as air a dedicated 2 hour event summary on 17/1/09. The summary showing will also be aired on Foxtel and will be used as a filler programme on regular occasion for 11 months after the event. The event will be covered daily in the Herald Sun and the Age (at least 1/2 page per day) with a focus on podium places.

Our pro team (particularly the women's team) is targeting to be on the podium on at least two occasions through the 5 days.

All teams will be racing in Degani / CBD Cycles / CharterMason jerseys, so keep your eyes peeled and show your support!

More information is available at www.jaycobayclassic.com.au.

Meet Team Degani / CBD Cycles / CharterMason:

Women's Team

Laura Bowles - US
Rachel Heal - UK
Kate Ross - US
Clare Vlahopoulos - AUS (Vic.)
Rebecca Domange - AUS (Vic.)

Team Manager: Bob Kelly

Men's Team

Will Walker - AUS (Vic.)
Matt King - AUS (NT)
Johnnie Walker - AUS (Vic.)
Daniel Braunsteins - AUS (Vic.)
Nathan Wise - AUS (Vic.)

Team Manager: Paul Richards

Team Profiles

Men’s Team Profile

Will Walker (Victoria, AUS)

Will rode for four years with the Rabobank team in Holland and has been a member of the Australian team every year since 2003. In 2008, Will recovered from Bells Palsey and had 10 top 10 finishes within a half year period. Will Walker is no stranger to the Bay Cycling Classic and will excel for Team Degani / CBD Cycles on the more testing days, such as Portarlington.

Cycling results

2007						1st place Kom Sachsen tour Germany Top stage results in Giro Ditalia.
2006						1st place Australian Open Road Championship Finished Vuelta Espagna at 20 years Represented Australia at Commonwealth Games
2005						2nd place Under 23 World Road Champs 7th place Tour de Lavenir
2004						1st place Tatts Cup 1st place Tour of Sunraysia
2003						5th place World Time Trial Champs Australian Junior of the Year 1st place Geelong stage of Bay Cycling Classic making him the youngest winner ever 1st place Melbourne to Warnambool 1st place last stage of the Sun tour

2009 Plans

In 2009, Will heads to Spain to ride with Fuji-Servetto.

Matt King (Northern Territory, AUS)

A strong one day rider, Matt King rode for Team SouthAustralia.com-ais in 2008. Matt will be great for Team Degani / CBD Cycles in a bunch sprint finish.

Cycling results

2008						Rode for Team SouthAustralia.com-ais Winner national Under 23 time trial champs 2nd place Under 23 road race at Nationals
2007						Winner prestigious stage race in Germany
2006						Australian team at Junior Worlds

Johnnie Walker (Victoria, AUS)

Johnnie Walker is a member of the VIS and in 2007-2008 rode for Team SouthAustralia.com-ais. Johnnie rides aggressive and is a specialist climber. He will definitely feature in breaks for Team Degani / CBD Cycles!

Cycling results

2008						3rd place stage Tour de Lankawi. 4th place mountain stage Circuito Montanes in Spain 3rd place Geelong stage of Bay Criteriums
2007						Australia Team, Under 23 Road World Champs Stuttgart 3rd Geelong stage of the Bay Cycling Classic
2006						Rode in Holland for Team de Jonge Renner

Daniel Braunsteins (Victoria, AUS)

A talented hill-climber, 20 year old Daniel will be a great asset to Team Degani / CBD Cycles.

Cycling results

2008						Joined Drapac Porsche after being a stagier for the team during the 2007 season. He was a key contributor to the team’s results and travelled to the Japan Cup with the team.
2007						Competing at the highest level in mountain biking and won the U21 International Italian series.

Outside of cycling

Daniel is currently completing a Bachelor of Science degree.

Nathan Wise (Victoria, AUS)

Nathan Wise is an all rounder from the Mornington Peninsula and is likely to be seen in break aways for Team Degani / CBD Cycles throughout the event.

Cycling results

2008						6th place Damien McDonald Classic 28th place Australian Cycling Grand Prix
2007						2nd place Stage 6, Tour of Gippsland 9th place Stage 8, Tour of Gippsland 3rd GC Tour of the Southern Grampians; Bay 2 Bay Classic 10th place Stage 9 Tour of the Murray River 7th place Creswick ‘Fred Icke’ 5th GC De Bortoli tour A grade (5th, stage 3)

Outside of cycling

Nathan is currently studying Exercise Science at University.

Women’s Team Profile

Laura Bowles (US)

Riding with the Advil-Chapstick Pro Cycling Team in 2007 and 2008, Laura has achieved outstanding results. Hailing from North Carolina, Laura is no stranger to Australia and is looking forward to joining Team Degani / CBD Cycles.

Cycling results

2008						1st place French Broad Cycling Classic 1st place Augusta Georgia Omnium 4th place Pro Am Downer's Grove Criterium
2007						2nd place Greenville Spring Series 4th place Pro Am Downer's Grove Criterium 5th place Decatur Daily Criterium 8th place Reading Classic Criterium 10th place USA Open Cycling Championship 10th place Walterboro Criterium; Southeast Criterium Series; Raliegh Twilight Criterium
2006						1st place KOM 2nd place GC Owasco Stage Race; Seqouia Cycling Classic, 3rd place Central Valley Classic Criteirum, 4th place Park Ridge Criterium, 6th place CSC Invitational Criterium; Redlands Classic Criteirum; 8th place Raliegh Twilight Criteirum

Outside of cycling

Laura is a Mental Health Counselor and has a Bachelors Degree in Science from Appalachian State University.

2009 Plans

Following the 2009 Bay Classic, Laura will return to the US to ride with Vanderkitten and focus on the USA Crit series.

Rachel Heal (UK)

Rachel is in Australia for three months as she trains, races and escapes the Irish/English winter. Currently calling Dublin home, Rachel has been a professional cyclist since 2001 and is excited to be riding for Team Degani / CBD Cycles in the 2009 Bay Classic.

Cycling results

2004						Great Britain Olympic team member 7th place Geelong World Cup
2002						Medallist, Commonwealth Games Road Race
2001						2007 Great Britain World Championship team member

Rachel has won 14 medals in National Championships in Road Race, Time Trial, Cyclo Cross and Track, and was a stage winner in the Tour de L’Aude, France.

Outside of cycling

Rachel is a Project Engineer at Cadburys and has a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering. She is also a qualified personal trainer and cycling coach.

2009 Plans

Following the 2009 Bay Classic, Rachel will return home to ride for Colavita/Sutter.

Kate Ross (US)

Kate will be kicking off her 2009 race season in Australia with the Bay Crits and is inspired to be training and racing with such a strong team. Kate loves the challenge that the bike provides and is ready to ride for Team Degani /CBD Cycles.

Cycling results

2008						America's Dairyland Team Member
2007						Wisconsin Cycling Association Division Leader America's Dairyland Professional Developmental Rider
2006						Wisconsin Off-Road Series Sport Class - Winner/Elite Class Racer

Outside of cycling

Kate has a BS Biology, BA Geography, and BA Education from University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She has works as a Sales Associate at University Bicycles in Colorado and a Greenhouse Manager and Researcher at a Research Farm.

2009 Plans

When Kate returns to the US, she will be racing for the Lipsmackers Professional Women's Cycling team.

Clare Vlahopoulos (Victoria, AUS)

Clare has achieved great results in road and track cycling since taking up the sport only three years ago. She has raced for the America’s Dairyland women’s cycling team all over the USA.

Cycling Results

2008

America's Dairyland Team Member

Outside of cycling

Pathology Collector for pathology company

2009 plans

Clare plans to race throughout Australia in 2009.

Rebecca Domange (Victoria, AU)

Born and bred in Victoria, Rebecca currently lives in Balwyn and aims to ride for a professional woman’s cycling team in either the USA or Europe.

Cycling Results

2008						Numerous top 3 placings at club criteriums in B grade 2nd place Phil Anderson Classic – Apollo Bay 8th place Time Trial Australian Cycling Grand Prix – Ballarat 9th place Criterium Australian Cycling Grand Prix - Ballarat 1st GC B grade Doherty Tour
2007						Numerous wins at club criteriums in D and C grades 1st place Phillip Island Cycling Grand Prix 2nd place CCCC Hill Climb Championships Numerous wins at club road races (Crib Point, Casey Fields, Hastings) 5th place Club Championships Road Race (Modella) 1st place Victorian Teachers Games – Individual Time Trial

Outside of cycling

Rebecca is a secondary school Physical Education teacher with a Bachelor of Education.

2009 plans

In 2009 Rebecca will race the NRC and aims to finish in the top 5 at the end of the season, top 10 at the National Road Race Championships and win the State Road and Criterium Championships.

Sponsor profiles

Degani Bakery Cafe

Degani’s goal is simple: deliver the best foods; deliver the best coffee; deliver the best service.  Degani have been the industry leaders in gourmet foods and impeccably brewed coffee for decades.  From their first Bakery Cafe in Clifton Hill, Degani have now expanded to multiple outlets in and around Melbourne...and growing.  The stores combine easy take away bakery items with inviting eat-in options in a comfortable environment.  

Degani have supported cycling over many years and 2009 will be Degani’s third year as a team sponsor in the Bay Cycling Classic.  In 2008, Degani supported the inaugural Degani King Lake Ride, which attracted over 2,000 riders and established itself as a premier ride in Australia.

For further information, store locations and business opportunities, visit www.degani.com.au.

CBD Cycles

Located at 50 Bourke Street and 660 Bourke Street in the heart of Melbourne, CBD Cycles is one of Victoria’s iconic cycling super stores.  A strong support of both cycling and triathlon, CBD Cycles are proud to the associated with Team Degani / CBD Cycles.

Kelly Cycle Coaching

Prominent Level 2 qualified cycling coach, Bob Kelly, is the team manager for Team Degani / CDB Cycles Women’s Team.  Kelly Cycle Coaching has been behind some of Australia’s top cyclists, and coaches athletes from local club/regional standard to National and International standard.  Bob coaches all forms of cycling – road, track, mountain biking – and specialises in coaching juniors and women.  Bob can be contacted on 0412 827 001.

Charter Mason

Charter Mason is an execution management company. They are the trusted executor to businesses dealing with complex change and performance improvement. Their services focus on program management, project management, organisational change management, business analysis, process consulting, ERP and IT consulting.  Visit www.chartermason.com for further information.

Minor Sponsors

CoffeeCo        Nalini        Power Bar        Pura Milk

Further information

For further information on Team Degani / CBD Cycles, or to organise rider interviews or photo shoots, please contact:
 
Men’s Team Manager:    Paul Richards
                0409 881 422
 
Women’s Team Manager:    Bob Kelly
                0412 827 001

Alternatively, contact George Pezaros on 0413 407 945 or email george@degani.com.au.  

To obtain a soft copy of the sponsorship media pack or team or individual photos, please contact George Pezaros via the above contact details.