Health Net to ride Cannondale for three years

The most successful team on the NRC circuit in 2005, Health Net presented by Maxxis, will ride Cannondale bikes for the next three seasons, the deal announced at Helen’s Bikes in Santa Monica, CA. The Cannondale Bicycle Corporation announced the three-year sponsorship agreement with Momentum Sports Group, owner and operator of the Health Net squad with team riders Gord Fraser, Mike Sayers, Scott Moninger, Nathan O’Neill and Kirk O’Bee all present at the event.

The new sponsorship came about in part through a long-standing relationship between directeur sportif Jeff Corbett and Cannondale, which was the bike sponsor for Corbett’s 7Up-Maxxis teams of the late 1990's and early 2000's. “I’m really excited to be back in the Cannondale family. They have always been responsive to team input and I’m confident our rides are going to be more dialed than ever for ‘06,” said Corbett.

“This team is going to play a major role in helping us launch several key products in 2006,” said Cannondale CEO Matt Mannelly. Cannondale will use the partnership to help test and refine new product, both in training and race conditions. “Starting in January we’re getting these guys out to our factory and into a wind tunnel. We’re going to do everything we can to keep them on top,” he added. In addition to Six13 frames and forks, Cannondale will provide CAAD 8 Optimo frames and forks, as well as new time trial frames and forks. The agreement also calls for Cannondale and sister company Diadora to provide kit, shoes and casual apparel for the team.