Wishing a happy 26th birthday today to the final rider on Sunsports 2017 roster. Step forward Lizzy Banks, yet another rider hailing from the other side of the hills-this time Sheffield.

She leaps across from Fusion RT Fierlan  after a successful 2016 in which, despite an injury hit mid season, she gained some notable results. Namely the individual and team gold medals at the British Universities and College Sports Hill Climb Champs in Stirling as well as a second place in the Buxton Mountain TT and third at the Manx International GP.

Although only riding for two seasons Lizzy is clearly both talented and ambitious and is likely to be the mountain goat of the team when the road rises. She will be targeting the National Series races and, in common with her other team mates, fancies a crack at the continental scene.

In her own words:

“I can’t wait to start racing with Sunsport Velo WRT and make use of all the excellent support and performance knowledge they offer. It is so important to start with a good base in your winter training and having the team support you with coaching, nutrition, performance testing, strength and conditioning and much much more will give me a head start and all the motivation needed to get through a solid winter of training! The team has an incredibly professional setup and great range of riders with a mix of talents on both the road and the track”

So with all riders names now out there plans are underway to turn this group of highly talented individuals into a team to be reckoned with when the season starts. There is a lot of tough competition in women’s cycling and nobody thinks it will be easy but with the excellent support of the owners, managers and sponsors I would say that they are better placed than most to achieve success

Lizzy Banks