TIFFANY CROMWELL
SPECIALIZED - LULULEMON
The start of 2014 saw me in new racing colours, having joined the fastest team in the world, Specialized-lululemon. Starting anything new can be daunting, whether it’s school, a job or team. That sense of uncertainty as to whether you’ve made the right choice, or whether you’ll be the outcast, is common in the weeks before you get there. All those doubts, however, were washed away the minute I arrived after 16 hours from Adelaide to San Luis Obispo, California for our team camp.
I was one of four new riders, along with current French national champion Elise Delzenne, Dutch rider Chantal Blaak and Canadian Karol-Ann Canuel. The team welcomed us with open arms and I felt like part of the family right away. There was a great sense of camaraderie in this very international team with personalities from different and unique backgrounds sharing one common passion – cycling. Aside from the team itself we have an amazing group of people helping us to be the best. These are some of the key ingredients that make this team so successful.
Pre-season camps are always a lot of fun as it is one of the few times in the year where you have the whole team together. It is a chance to get to know each other both on and off the bike while everyone is super motivated for the season ahead.
We packed a lot into our two-week camp. As well as the many tough team rides, we hosted a community ride in conjunction with the Women’s Cycling Association encouraging women to get out on their bikes and join us for a ride. We unveiled our brand new 2014 kit and hung out with many of our great sponsors. We spent two days in Morgan Hill at the Specialized HQ, meeting the people behind the company, and took on their infamous, ultra- competitive lunchtime ride. I also tested my skills on the backyard pump track and went inside their state- of-theart wind tunnel to further tweak my time trial position. Lululemon then spoilt us with a shopping trip to one of their stores and let us pick out some of their favourite pieces to wear off the bike throughout the season before treating us to an NHL ice hockey game.
First impressions from my new team leaves me feeling excited and super motivated for the season ahead. It is a group of positive and inspirational women that supports one another 100 per cent both on and off the bike. Expect great things and enjoy our journey through 2014.