Holli Steelman, victory-driven co-director of the JuicePlus+ team image courtesy of the JuicePlus+ team

Look for this jersey near the front of the pack this season image courtesy of Hincapie Sportswear

DOVER, N.J. (February 5, 2008) Building upon its reputation for picking winners, Van Dessel Cycles announced today that it has signed the JuicePlus+ Elite Women's Cycling Team to ride Van Dessel bikes this season. Team members Holli Steelman, Gina Voci, Laura McCaughey, and Rachel Warner share several top five finishes scored over the past few seasons, including a pair of podium finishes earned during last season's NRC US Crit Series. This season they will set out to defend those wins and gain a few more atop Van Dessel's Rivet road bike and All Systems Go time trial bike. Remarkably, it wasn't either of these bikes that clinched the relationship with JuicePlus+.

"Our team rode the Drag Strip Courage track bike in 2006 and it was by far the best track bike I had ever ridden," said Bill Short, team director for JuicePlus+.

Short and Jame Carney, the world-class track racer who helped design the Drag Strip Courage, rode for the same team in 2007 and found their bike sponsor to be less than reliable, if not downright unsafe.

"Jame broke his bike and showed up the next weekend on a Rivet," Short said. "It was love at first sight. There is no other bike out there that even comes close to the quality of the Van Dessel Rivet, and with all the girls either on a 47.5cm or 50cm frame, there is nobody else out there that offers such a perfect fit like the one you get with Van Dessel's geometry."

Van Dessel's strengths have always been its performance, function and dependability at a respectable price point. The Rivet's distinct weight, stiffness, responsiveness, strength and geometry boast qualities to suit any racing team but at some point, it's the engine that must power the machine to drive home results.

So it doesn't hurt Van Dessel's marketing plan to have four powerhouse racers competing for victory on two continents. It started with Tasmanian resident McCaughey, who dominated the Tasmanian Track Championship in 2007 by winning every event on her Drag Strip Courage. She's in fast company too since fellow Tasmanians include CSC's Mathew Goss, Toyota-United's Caleb Manion, and 2007 'Toona stage winner, Karl Menzies.

"It is perfect for us, they are a small group of really talented athletes and we are thrilled to be able to work with them," said Van Dessel's owner and president, Edwin Bull. "Also, we were already planning on supporting Rachel Warner and it just worked out that she found a home at JuicePlus+.  It is a great group of athletes that I think will turn some heads this season."

The Van Dessel-sponsored JuicePlus+ Women's Cycling team kicks off the racing season at the Jacksonville Cycling Classic on March 22. Race calendar highlights include the Tour of Somerville, the Liberty Classic and the Tour de 'Toona, among others.

'Cross Countries

Van Dessel cyclists claimed national titles in both Canada and the US for the 2007 season. First it was John Fokemma who won the Canadian National Title for Men 30-39 on his Gin & Trombones. Next it was 14-year-old Jeff Bahnson who took the US National Title for Junior Men 15-16.

With the way he's going, Jeff Bahnson will likely be making headlines for years to come

Bahnson stretched his legs the day before his national title race by hauling the entire field of U29 men around the course for a couple laps before pulling out at his coach's recommendation. This warm-up primed him for victory the next day and despite a forgettable starting position, Bahnson moved up quickly.

"I started the first lap and I was third row," Bahnson said. "I kept trying to move up and by the second lap, I caught up to the first-place guy and passed him somewhere in the middle of the course when he bobbled."

Bahnson took off and never looked back. He also commanded 'cross nats at the helm of the Gin & Trombones, which should help him score even more victories next season.

Bull, a native of Belgium, captured a bit of Belgium's zeal for 'cross and put it into two 'cross bikes: the Hole Shot and its predecessor Gin & Trombones. The cultish appeal for 'cross coupled with Bull's influential roots have made both of Van Dessel's 'cross bikes some of the most-seen models at 'cross races nationwide.

To set up an interview with members of the JuicePlus+ team, or for editorial test/demo requests, high-resolution images, or further detail, contact Bull directly at: Edwin@vandesselsports.com or via phone at 866-835-5454

Ride inspired since 2000, Van Dessel Cycles is dedicated to maximizing performance, function, and dependability in every Van Dessel bike. Van Dessel's 2008 line of bikes debuts at www.vandesselsports.com and features the carbon Rivet road bike, the ultra-light aerodynamic TT/Tri All Systems Go, the full-suspension Jersey Devil FS and the single-speed Country Road Bob. Determined to build up the sport from its grassroots, Van Dessel believes in promoting cycling through talented, results-oriented athletes. Look for Van Dessel Cycles beneath teams like the New England Van Dessel Factory Team (formerly Colavita New England), the New Jersey Van Dessel Factory Team, the Virginia Van Dessel Factory Team, Deno's Wonder Wheel out of Brooklyn, NY, Kissena, Project Velo Racing, and the Iraq Junior National Team. In addition to these teams, Van Dessel now sponsors the Juice Plus+ pro women's team, the Colavita U-19 team and the Georgetown University cycling team.   To see Van Dessel bikes up close, find a dealer at www.vandesselsports.com

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Online version of this release can be viewed here: http://www.boohermedia.com/VanDessel/PR_15.htm