Volvo signs Australia's top racers

Volvo has signed ten of the Australia's top racers in an attempt to take outright honours in one of the country's top sprint series. But despite the addition of V8s to its XC90 and S80 ranges, the Swedish marque is not chasing V8 Supercar silverware. The tilt is at a sprint series of the two-wheeled kind -- the prestigious Jayco Bay Cycling Classic.

Heading the Team Volvo men's squad for the Jan 3-7 event is three-times Tour de France Green Jersey winner, Robbie McEwen. McEwen, who has won the Bay Classic series six times, will be joined by fellow Predictor Lotto (formerly Davitamon Lotto) Pro Tour team member, Nick Gates.

Jason Phillips, David Kemp and Craig Cahill form the backbone of the squad which will contest five sprint events of approx 45 minutes each over the five-day event. This year marks the 18th running of the event which takes in venues around Melbourne's Port Philip Bay.

For McEwen (pictured at last year's event) the Bay Classic forms an important part of his season build up before heading to Europe when the international calender proper kicks off in late February.

Heading up the women's squad for Team Volvo is multi-times Australian road and track champ Belinda Goss. Goss is joined by AIS riders Tiffany Cromwell and Bianca Rogers along with under-19 champ Katie Jones and hometown favourite, Briana James.

Cycling and vehicle companies are closely linked in Europe where events like the Tour de France provide huge exposure for brands such as Skoda, as well as the French triumvirate of Peugeot, Citroen and Renault. Locally Volvo has had a low key commitment to the sport but stepped things up a gear with support of the Bay Classic event via team entries in 2006. It also sponsored the Herald Sun Tour and individual cyclists like up-and-comer Simon Gerrans in 2006.

While the marque will likely have something to celebrate when full 2006 new vehicles sales are announced later this week, it's also hoping to kick off 2007 with wins from both the mens and ladies teams in the Bay Classic event.

Volvo Public Affairs Manager Todd Hallenbeck told CarPoint: "Cycling is a great fit for Volvo -- it hits the right demographic in terms of age and income but more importantly it's also a great family-oriented, outdoor sport. Cycling and Volvo are talking to the same people."

"We're supporting professional cycling such as the Jayco Bay Classic as well as individual riders but we're also committed to helping get the road safety message across to all motorists and cyclists -- to this end Volvo is also a sponsor of the Amy Gillett Foundation," Hallenbeck said.

Gillett was tragically killed, and teammates Katie Brown, Louise Yaxley, Lorian Graham, Alexis Rhodes and Kate Nichols injured, when a car ploughed into them during a training ride in Germany in 2005. The Amy Gillett Foundation was set up in the aftermath of the accident and has at its core a charter of  reducing road trauma caused by the interaction between cyclists and motorists via "promoting a safe and harmonious relationship of shared respect between the two groups".

Given the ideals of the Foundation it's fitting that its patrons are champion Aussie cyclist Phil Anderson and keen pedaller and F1 star, Mark Webber.

The Foundation's main awareness ride also takes place this weekend (Saturday, Jan 6) on Victoria's bellarine Peninsula as part of the Bay Classic festival.

All ten of the Team Volvo riders will participate in the awareness ride along with other top Aussie cyclists including Cadel Evans, Baden Cooke, Simon Gerrans, Katie Mactier and Kate and Natalie Bates.