Corbett back from retirement with Tibco

By Kirsten Robbins

After one year of retirement from cycling, former Directeur Sportif of the Health Net presented by Maxxis team Jeff Corbett will return to a leading position with the US-based women's team Tibco. Corbett will begin his role as the associate directeur sportif, along side team owner Linda Jackson for the 2009 women's Tour of California criterium, Jackson told Cyclingnews.

"I'm really looking forward to Jeff bringing out the best in the team," Jackson said. "He will bring his years of expertise about strategy to the team and we really need that."

Corbett began directing the Health Net team in 2004 and retired in 2007 after three North American Race Calendar (NRC) series victories. Turn the pages back a few more years and Corbett was directing the US-based women's team Diet Rite leading riders like former multi-time US national criterium champion Tina Pic along with Kori Seehafer and Joanne Keisanowski.

"He is tough and he's directed women's teams in the past, too," Jackson said. "You can't have a directeur that people will walk over. He's going to help us at the races this season. I'm really excited about that for 2009."

"I really need Jeff focused on the riders and doing the on-road directing of the team," Jackson said. "He will do several of the races this year. He will also be in charge to build the team calendar and take control of team dynamics."