TEAM CERTINI PUT CARDS ON TABLE
CERTINI AIMING TO DEFEND SOUTH WEST TITLE
11:50 - 27 March 2007
A cycling team who were ranked number one in their first-ever competitive campaign are fighting to keep their title.The Plymouth-based Certini Road Racing Team racked up enough points in their first year to be ranked number one in the South West.Now the team will be defending their title against all-comers in the year ahead.The team has just received a boost with a sponsorship package from the Certini Bicycle Store, which is based in Saltash.One of the team's riders, Rob Willcocks, said Certini were confident of retaining their National British Cycling Federation South West division title this season, which ends in mid-October.But Willcocks said the team faced a tough challenge from competitors.The Certini team started off with 10 members, while bigger outfits such as Tiverton-based Mid Devon can command number of up to 40 riders.Willcocks said: "This season is just starting, but last season we just entered as many events as we could to build up our points."We just entered as many races in the South West region as possible."The key is work together as a team, to get as many points as we can."This season, we're going to have teams trying to win the title - particularly the Mid Devon team, who we took the title off last year."What we are aiming to do is to keep on top of things. There were teams who were close to us last season who will be working to get the title back."We can't go any further in the competition, but we will definitely be working hard to keep our title and remain the top-ranked team in the South West."Willcocks said one of the key elements of the team's title defence would be each rider's fitness.He said: "It's a personal thing to better your own level of fitness, but we are pretty focused people who are totally dedicated to the sport."The team was formed after a group of cyclists got together and decided to take their sport to a new height.One of the team members is Kairn Stone, Plymouth's top distance runner and triathlete.Willcocks himself was attracted to the team after his exploits in the triathlon.He said: "I started in triathlons and the guys I train with asked me if I was interested."We have got one or two new members this season and they are very strong cyclists, so it's looking good."
A cycling team who were ranked number one in their first-ever competitive campaign are fighting to keep their title.The Plymouth-based Certini Road Racing Team racked up enough points in their first year to be ranked number one in the South West.Now the team will be defending their title against all-comers in the year ahead.The team has just received a boost with a sponsorship package from the Certini Bicycle Store, which is based in Saltash.One of the team's riders, Rob Willcocks, said Certini were confident of retaining their National British Cycling Federation South West division title this season, which ends in mid-October.But Willcocks said the team faced a tough challenge from competitors.The Certini team started off with 10 members, while bigger outfits such as Tiverton-based Mid Devon can command number of up to 40 riders.Willcocks said: "This season is just starting, but last season we just entered as many events as we could to build up our points."We just entered as many races in the South West region as possible."The key is work together as a team, to get as many points as we can."This season, we're going to have teams trying to win the title - particularly the Mid Devon team, who we took the title off last year."What we are aiming to do is to keep on top of things. There were teams who were close to us last season who will be working to get the title back."We can't go any further in the competition, but we will definitely be working hard to keep our title and remain the top-ranked team in the South West."Willcocks said one of the key elements of the team's title defence would be each rider's fitness.He said: "It's a personal thing to better your own level of fitness, but we are pretty focused people who are totally dedicated to the sport."The team was formed after a group of cyclists got together and decided to take their sport to a new height.One of the team members is Kairn Stone, Plymouth's top distance runner and triathlete.Willcocks himself was attracted to the team after his exploits in the triathlon.He said: "I started in triathlons and the guys I train with asked me if I was interested."We have got one or two new members this season and they are very strong cyclists, so it's looking good."
