Matrix Vulpine women's team applies to join top tier of cycling

One of Britain’s leading women’s teams, Matrix Vulpine, has revealed its aim to get into the top tier of the sport after applying for UCI Professional status.

The team’s management company, On The Drops, says that it has the backing of its sponsors and aims to make a number of signings to strengthen its squad, as well as potentially setting up a feeder team to bring through young talent.

In a statement, it said: “Five years of concerted efforts by On The Drops and our partners to develop women’s cycling, as well as vying for a place in the peloton has flown by. The UK has now got televised races, a UCI stage race in the form of the Women’s Tour of Britain, and a depth of competition never seen before. We are, however, still lacking a domestic professional team for British road riders to aspire to. In 2015 we hope to change this as we take the project forwards to become a full UCI pro team.

“We have the necessary letters of intent from our major sponsors and are working hard to secure some additional superb elite riders that will be necessary to make this project a success. Our ambition is to create a team and structure, that can go to pro races to be in the cadre of potential winners or at least shine through our performances at the highest level”

The team said that current directeur sportif Stefan Wyman would be likely to step down from that role and concentrate on team management instead.

It added: “We now have the funding to commence the UCI professional registration process and we are committed to a largely British team. We are also looking at the potential of an official feeder team in the UK from which stagiaire riders would be called. We have already commenced the search for team accommodation in Belgium, likely Oudenaarde, and a service course facility.”