Hot on the heels of their 2011 launch, Boardman Bikes have announced the sponsorship of three of the UK’s rising off-road stars – Annie Last, David Fletcher and Grant Ferguson.
The trio, whose feedback was key to the development of Boardman’s top-end EM 1.7 launched earlier this month, will race under the banner of the Boardman Elite Mountain Team throughout the year.
Last, silver medallist at the under-23 World Championships and third overall in the under-23 World Cup series, is the current women’s elite national champion, while Fletcher is current men’s under-23 national champion, and Ferguson finished runner-up at the National Junior Championships.
“The Boardman MTB has developed over the last two years into a world class MTB race bike,” said Last.
“The bike handles really well on technical sections and trails, and the new design of the 2011 race bike has moved the machine on again to another level, coming in even lighter than the prototype I was racing on in 2010.”
Last and Fletcher will race a full World Cup programme in 2011, continuing their build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, while Ferguson will ride as a junior.
“These guys are great,” said former road and track star Chris Boardman, director of research and development at Boardman Bikes.
“We’ve worked closely with them and listened to key feedback which has helped to inform the all-new Elite Series of super-light bikes they’ll be racing. The EM bikes are full carbon frame with some great touches to maximise the performance of the riders.”
Boardman Bikes CEO Alan Ingarfield added: “Sponsorship for Boardman is key. It creates the stage to show-off our bikes at the highest levels within the sport.
“To sign these three riders at this early stage in their career allows us to create a partnership which will help them in their ambition to succeed as they work towards London 2012 and beyond.”
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