Rosara Joseph signs with the Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team

It’s not exactly new news (I’ve been away from the computer since Wednesday) but Rosara Joseph has joined American Cyclecross legend Katie Compton on the the Rabobank-Giant Offroad team for 2011 (while Compton has signed for the 2012 season as well). It’s pretty solid news, not since Kashi Leuchs’ glory days have we seen a New Zealand cross-country athlete on a big time international team. For her sake I hope she practices one-metre drops or she will feel Amy Laird and Cam Cole’s wrath on the Champery XC course! Full press release below.After a successful first season, the Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team paves the way for the coming season with the signing of new world class female riders, Katie Compton (USA, age 32) and Rosara Joseph (NZ, age 28). These exciting new signings give the team an immediate positive impact, and strengthen their standing in the new UCI Elite Mountain Bike Team rankings of 2011, which now combines male and female riders.

Jan ten Tusscher, team manager of the Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team explains: “As of this year, for the rankings the team’s top 3 men and top 2 women will count as a team. Katie is very motivated to succeed at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and will be targeting this year’s Mountain Bike World Championships as a key stepping stone. The continued expansion and globalisation of our team played a key role in attracting both Katie and Rosara to the Team. Rosara had her share of bad luck in the past years, but is back on track. We will give her all our support to develop herself.” Compton signed a two-year deal, whilst Joseph has a one-year deal.

“Katie’s at the top of her game, and we’re proud that she has chosen the Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team and Giant bikes to help take her XC and ‘cross racing to an even higher level,” said An Le, Giant’s Global Marketing Director.

Katie Compton has just finished an outstanding Cyclo Cross season, with 5 World Cup victories in succession at Aigle, Koksijde, Kalmthout, Heusden-Zolder and Hoogerheide and an excellent Silver medal at the World Championships. Compton: “I am very excited to join the Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team over the next several years, which I believe will be the best of my career. I have high goals and expectations for myself for both Cyclo Cross and Mountainbike. I am happy to be a part of such a respected and well run team as I continue to pursue these goals.”

Biography  Rosara Joseph

2nd Commonwealth Games in 2006
5th UCI World Championships 2007 Fort William
9th Olympic Games Beijing 2008
17e UCI World Championships Mont Sainte Anne 2010

Biography Katherine Compton