Team News: Anna Christian Joins Drops

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Isle of Man cyclists Anna Christian & Lizzie Holden will join Drops Cycling Team for the 2017 season.

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Team News: Anna Christian Joins Drops

Anna Christian
The 21-year-old Manx rider joins the team from Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling where she has spent the last two seasons.

Drops Team Director, Bob Varney said: “Anna is a rider that we have been quietly monitoring all season. We feel confident that she will flourish with a change of scene and the additional race days that it will provide. Anna is a proven talent, and we hope that with our help, she will go on to reach her full potential. It’s a really exciting signing for us, and reinforces our ambition and vision to work with the very best British talent.” Anna is the second new recruit to the team for 2017.

She’s been involved with cycling since a young age when she joined her local cycling club, Royal London 360 which is run by Dot Tilbury. Dot’s involvement in the sport has given many youngsters from the Isle of Man the chance to progress in cycling, including Mark Cavendish and Pete Kennaugh. Cycling soon turned competitive for Anna and her rise through the UK domestic scene soon saw her join Epic Cycles – Scott Contessa where she had the opportunity to race in UCI races such as Tour de Bretagne.

This led to appearances at the Commonwealth Games and both junior and senior World Road Race Championships where she ultimately caught the eye of Wiggle High Five team owner, Rochelle Gilmore.
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Anna’s two years with the Wiggle High Five setup has been one full of learning as she’s taken in a broad range of UCI racing and Anna is excited to target stage races next season. Excited by the prospect of joining Drops Cycling Team, Anna commented “I’m delighted with my move to Drops for 2017. I feel that the great set up and environment of the team can help me further develop as a rider and work towards my goals. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into the race programme they can offer me. Drops are definitely a team looking forward with a bright future and I’m really excited to be travelling on that journey with them!”

Drops Team Director, Tom Varney added “We’re really chuffed that Anna has chosen to further her career with our team. As a former British Junior Champion it’s clear that Anna has the potential to progress in the sport and we’re excited to help her hone her talent with one eye on the Commonwealth Games in two seasons time.” The transfer is subject to the regulatory process with Anna’s contract commencing with Drops from January 1, 2017 but the team is looking forward to welcoming Anna.
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Lizzie Holden
Another Isle of Man rider, Lizzie Holden, was the first new signing announced recently. Lizzie has recently spent time focusing on her exams and had minimal racing during this season, however still gained some impressive results on the domestic calendar. These results led to Lizzie being invited to join the team during a Belgian kermesse block held in August, where she took the experience in her stride.

Drops Team Director, Tom Varney said: “Lizzie is a talented bike rider that we’re looking forward to helping progress. With her studies behind her she can now concentrate fully on cycling and we’re excited to see what she’s capable of following a full winters training and full focus on racing once the season starts. I’m sure she’ll fit straight into the team off the bike too and that’s an important factor for us.”

Lizzie too started her cycling career at the famed youth sessions ran by Dot Tilbury. Previous to this season, Lizzie finished second in the British junior championships in 2015 and 2014, whilst also representing GB in the Junior World Championships in Richmond in 2015. Here she helped Grace Garner gain a top 10 finish, only a short time after recovering from a broken collarbone sustained in a crash at Ride London.

Drops Team Director, Bob Varney said: “Lizzie is already a very accomplished bike rider. I feel strongly that our structured race programme, with frequent exposure to international competition, is absolutely perfect for her to develop to the next level. I have no doubt that she has a big future ahead, and I am looking forward to working with her immensely.”

Lizzie added “I’m super excited to be given the opportunity to be a part of Drops next year. I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into the international race calendar and developing as a rider. The team have performed amazingly throughout 2016 and the whole setup is brilliant and I can’t wait to get started.”

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