Down but not out: Drops team remain ambitious after difficult winter

After losing their title sponsor last November, the 2018-2019 off-season was a difficult one by anyone's standards for the Drops team. Despite that, the team have now dusted themselves off and are preparing to start afresh at next month's Setmana Valenciana.

The British squad were getting ready to start preparations for their season debut at the Women's Tour Down Under but were forced to drop everything to save the team. It was another blow for Drops after previous title sponsor Trek pulled out earlier in the season to start their own women's squad. A crowdfunding campaign saw them raise just over £25,000, on top of some private donations and sponsorship deals, and helped secure their future for 2019.

With them throughout their travails have been new bike sponsor Cannondale, which penned a two-year deal with Drops at Eurobike last summer. The new bikes will be finished off by Fabric, FSA and Vision. Meanwhile, the Le Col clothing brand created by former British rider Yanto Barker replaces Sportful as their kit supplier. Met will provide custom-designed helmets.

ADVERTISEMENT

To go with their new start, the team will have a new jersey next month, with a design that team manager Bob Varney calls a "radical evolution" on their previous look.

Things are looking up, but they've had to make some sacrifices over the past two months. However, the team are maintaining a positive outlook.

"We have a smaller budget this year, but we're still in the game and we're still able to produce a solid European programme," Varney told Cyclingnews.

Salaries and WorldTour ambitions

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com