Le Col steps up backing for Drops

Funding deal offers increased support for British women’s team, reports Vern Pitt

- Vern Pitt

British UCI women’s team Drops has, after years of searching, finally been able to strike a deal to secure funding for 2021 and 2022.

The team will become Drops-Le Col supported by Tempur for the next two years. Drops started in 2016 and had previously been co-sponsored by Trek Bicycles, but the American firm pulled out suddenly at the end of 2018 when it started its own squad, Trek-Segafredo, leaving Drops struggling to find backers.

Staff but no salary

The team’s future has hung in the balance since and it previously launched crowd-funding efforts in a bid to boost their visibility.

Team manager Bob Varney said getting a deal done “made the hard work worthwhile”.

He was also keen to highlight the advantages of having clothing brand Le Col step up from supplier to title sponsor as this will enable greater support for the riders. “We will have regular staff, so we won’t be relying on volunteers, we can go to more races – perhaps two days before as opposed to the day before – and can do recon, just prepare much better recover from travel. These are all things riders say are important to them,” he said.

He added that it also means riders will get a nutrition programme away from races rather than only at them.