British Cycling today unveiled the new Sky+HD Trade Team which includes Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Shanaze Reade, Jamie Staff, Ross Edgar and Jason Kenny.
The new Sky+HD-branded jet-black skinsuits, featuring electric blue ‘light trails’, will be first raced at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester this weekend.
“We’re delighted to be unveiling the Sky+HD Trade Team and the new branded kit,” says Robert Tansey, Director of Brand Strategy and Marketing at Sky. “Sky+HD, our high definition service, uses cutting-edge technology to provide TV pictures with unparalleled clarity and precision and we feel the Sky+HD Trade Team reflects this high quality performance.”
Dave Brailsford, British Cycling’s Performance Director added, “Cycling in the UK is at an all-time high, especially following the success of the summer. Our partnership with Sky is fantastic and will really help the sport go from strength to strength, from the grass roots entry points up to the highest levels of the sport.”
The Sky+HD Trade Team will compete from 31 October to 2 November in the first World Cup event since British Cycling’s momentous triumph at the Olympics. Any points secured in Manchester will then count towards the national team’s overall qualifying score for the next World Championships, held in March 2009.
Olympic gold medallist and Sky+HD Trade Team member Victoria Pendleton commented, “Manchester is an important event for us and will begin to determine our success at the World Championships in Poland next year. It will be a fantastic feeling for me being back in front of a home crowd and the whole team are really excited about competing.”