Ribble Rebellion:
Disrupting The Global Criterium Scene
Ribble Cycles has put together a world class team featuring the fastest riders to compete on the exhilarating criterium racing scene
With closed circuits that allow excellent fan engagement and short, understandable race formats in city centres, criterium racing has long taken the United States by storm, and over the past month, the new team from Ribble Cycles, RIBBLE REBELLION, debuting over the pond has been creating huge waves and wreaking podium havoc on the US crit scene.
In order to achieve this objective, Ribble has brought together a team of criterium racers from all over the globe to build an impressive roster of talent. The team’s captain is Joe Laverick, a former rider for Hagens Berman Axeon, Axel Merckx’s development squad. Laverick has stated the intension from the start was to go out there and be a force to be reckoned with – to podium and win: “Being part of the team that has put RIBBLE REBELLION together has been a tremendous opportunity. We have a set of talented individuals and on the road we’ll be racing as one – wanting to do things very differently. That’s what this team is all about. Our goals are quite simple – ride to compete, to podium, to win.”
The dynamic team features riders from a range of countries, including Ruben Apers of Belgium, a former professional for pro-continental team, Team Flanders-Baloise. The Canadian duo of Cam Fitzmaurice and Al Murison, Cole Davis of the USA, plus riders from the UK include Max Rushby, Tom Couzens, Jim Brown and former British National Criterium Champion, Matt Bostock completes the line-up.
“RIBBLE REBELLION is the next exciting chapter in our long history of cycle racing. Crit racing is fast, furious and exhilarating, where every performance advantage counts. When you have the fastest riders in the world on the globe’s most aerodynamically optimised bike you have something very special,” says Andy Smallwood, Ribble’s CEO.
The team race on Ribble’s eye-catching, aerodynamic race bike, the Ultra SL R, custom painted with a bold, bright design which reflects the personalities and confidence of the team. Each member of RIBBLE REBELLION has their own unique rider colour on the Ultra aero bars and forks to ensure they are distinguishable in the peloton.
Standing out with a scoop of wins in the USA at Redlands & Speedweek there is growing opinion in cycling that criterium racing and this team could be a beacon of hope for the sport’s future.
RIBBLE REBELLION kick start their domestic season with events hosted across the UK.
To see the team speed by in action, aiming to win every title and to experience the excitement of criterium racing, visit: ribblecycles.co.uk
