Van Dessel Factory racing has announced its Factory Team roster for 2017/2018 cyclocross season, adding considerable firepower to the squad with the addition of UCI Cyclo-cross World Championship Silver Medalist and four time French National Champion, Caroline Mani.
Mani only adds strength to a powerful lineup of women that also includes Cassie Maximenko and Sunny Gilbert. Maximenko is coming off an injury plagued 2016/17 season and is eager to return to racing and the form that saw her winning a number of UCI C2 races in 2015. Gilbert, having had her best season as a cyclocross racer with a top 50 UCI ranking and a top 10 finish as US nationals, hopes to continue to build on her success this year. Mani will race a full US season before heading to Europe for the second half of the year.
Rounding out the roster is Petra Schmidtmann, current US National Championship Silver Medalist 15-16; Tyler Smith racing in the Junior Men’s division; and George Schulz who will be racing his debut season in the U23 age group.
The legendary Laura Van Gilder, current US National Champion in the 50+ division, will once again be toeing the line on her own Mellow Mushroom/ Van Dessel team.
Issac Neff, current 30+ and single speed National Champion, will be riding Van Dessel as part of his Neff Cycle Service team.
Reigning SSCXWC, Jessica Cutler, riding for the NWCX team, is also returning to the Van Dessel family for this season.
Finally, Canadian cross stalwart Derrick St. John will once again be atop a Van Dessel along with members of his junior squad, Van Dessel presented by Hyperthreads.
All Van Dessel Factory Team riders and Van Dessel athletes will be on board the brand’s flagship carbon race bike, the Full Tilt Boogie, as well as the ground-breaking, multi-faceted aluminum A.D.D for training and racing.
Edwin Bull, founder and President of Van Dessel, is excited about the team “We have an incredibly talented line up of riders – both on the Factory Team and others- riding inspired on Van Dessel this cross season. As a brand steeped in Belgian tradition it’s exciting to see so many gifted athletes on our bikes in the discipline that is nearest and dearest to our heart. I am excited to see what this season holds for us!”