THE RIDE 24/7 road racing team jetted off this week for Arenal in Majorca – a mecca for all professional cyclists – on a week-long training camp.

Among the 17-strong party associated with the Cirencester cycling shop, will be the women’s team launched for the first time in 2015.

“It is the next stage in our three-year blueprint,” said team manager Grant Bayton.

“Year one was to set up a senior team, in year two we created a pathway for young riders and the hat-trick is to launch a women’s team.”

Bayton has recruited three well known local triathletes – Corinne Clark, Diane Moore and Dorothy Liviabella – and the women now complete a full set of squads alongside 11 men, six youth riders and four juniors managed by Dave Evans, Gary Smith and Bayton.

“Corinne and Diane have decided to stop competing in triathlons and focus entirely on road racing,” said Bayton. “We have had some Saturday coaching seminars for women at the purpose-built cycling facility at Odd Down near Bath.

“They are learning vital lessons about how to ride in a group and taking corners comfortably.

“They are going about it in the right way whereas with blokes testosterone takes over and they end up on their arses.

“It has already proved valuable with Corinne and Phoebe (Speck) gaining early season-podium finishes.”

Bayton’s day job is as British Cycling’s Regional Events Officer for the South and he has decided to ease his way into competitive retirement by not naming himself as part of the Ride 24/7 senior team for 2015.

He insists it will not be diminished by his absence and he was able to bow out on a high by leading a Ride 24/7 whitewash in the long-running Cotswold League standings last season.

Bayton said: “I may still dabble a bit but I am trying to fade out,” he said. “The team will nevertheless be stronger this season with the likes of Colin Parry and Deacon Cuttingham and of course we still have the legendary Ben Luckwell.

“We have riders that have won national titles, regional titles, Commonwealth Games medals, premier calendar and podium winners, in almost all major domestic races in the UK.

“This gives our youth and new female team riders the opportunity to learn from an endless pot of knowledge.

“We want to win the Cotswold League again but this year will look to get riders placed in the major domestic races which form part of the Spring Cup and Grand Prix series.”

Ride 24/7 senior team: Ben Luckwell, Mark Perry, Adrian Lawson, Colin Parry, Deacon Cuttingham, Mitch Evans, Billy Osmond, Tom Bowering, Lee Davis, Nick Watson, Darren Compton.

Women’s Team: Corinne Clarke, Phoebe Speck, Diane Moore, Dorothy Liviabella, Holly Gamble, Katie Thilthorpe, Alexandra Stubbs.

Youth Team: Joshua Price, Will Matthews, Lewis Turner, Gabriel Chinn, Jonathan Oxley, Brad Day.

Junior Team: Chris Rothwell, Matty Hodgson, Harry Jarvis, Ben Hogan.

Ride 24/7 sponsors: Isiglobal, Honeywell, Cirencester Friendly, Steele Davis, Somewhere Else, James Whitting.