Back in January, my lovely assistant and I had the pleasure of traveling to Clermont, FL to spend the weekend with the Colavita-Bianchi Women’s Professional Cycling Team at their team camp. I’ve been looking forward to meeting up with the team for my first of many events with them this season. I already knew one of their newest riders from the cyclocross season, Seattle, Washington’s Jessica Cutler, but besides some emails with rider and team director, Mary Zider, it was my first time meeting everyone in person. I also finally met Bicycling’s Selene Yeager, who was also a guest at the camp.
The team had set up operations in a house in Clermont, and had a full list of activities planned each day to maximize the trip for everyone. Before we arrived, each rider had already received their kits and clothing, were fitted on their bikes, and had started to get to know new members of the team. On my first day, I met everyone, and it was off for the first ride. Jame Carney, former director of the team, was there to help out, and ended up being my driver for most of the weekend. He had a Jeep Patriot rental, the back of which became my mobile studio. Besides having a blast shooting, it was great to get to know Jame and receive and education on many parts of the cycling world that most people don’t see or even think about. The rest of the weekend was filled with team rides, head shots in my makeshift studio at the house, team shots at the beach, and editing as fast as I could.
On February 5th, Peloton Magazine posted a press release that came out from Bianchi with my pics from the camp, and the team has also sent out a newsletter to their fans with a recap from camp. Here are some of the pics that have been posted already. Sorry, no gallery on this one, but keep an eye out for pics of the Colavita-Bianchi Women’s Pro Cycling Team later this year. If it is a race on the east coast, chances are it is my pic.
Erica Allar
Morgan Brown
Jessica Cutler
Katie Donovan
Jessica Prinner
Whitney Schultz
Mary Zider – Director
Amanda Rose Shission – Soigneur
Andrea Smith – Mechanic