Sponsorship elevates role of whole grains diet in endurance sports
In a sport that requires endurance, athleticism, speed, strength and bike handling skills, a vegan might appear to be at a disadvantage. That’s most certainly not the case with vegan cyclist Maureen Bruno Roy, the overall winner of the 2009 USA Cycling Cyclocross Calendar, who has added whole grains leader Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods to her sponsor team for the upcoming cyclocross season.
As Bruno Roy and others are discovering, a diet of slow release carbohydrates like those found in whole grains, helps cyclists achieve peak performance in a sport that demands a tremendous amount of energy and aerobic endurance from its competitors. That’s one reason why Bob’s Red Mill has become increasingly active in the cyclocross community, sampling Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats® at events across the country, and sponsoring teams and riders in cities including Louisville, Ky., Madison, Wis., and Santa Cruz, Calif.
A household name in cyclocross circles, Bruno Roy started riding in 1996 and became active in cyclocross in 2004. In 2009 she rode on the USA Cycling World Championship Team, and she has competed in races in Roubaix, France, Hoogerheide in The Netherlands and Tabor, Czech Republic. For the upcoming cyclocross season, which typically runs September through January, she’ll have the added benefit of Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats and Quinoa sustaining her vegan and vegetarian-fueled diet.
For Bob’s Red Mill, the sponsorship of Bruno Roy is a natural extension of their growing participation in the increasingly well-known and popular sport of cyclocross. Bob’s Red Mill steel cut oats, which were named the World’s Best at the World Porridge Making Championship last October, are fueling riders at notable events on the U.S. cyclocross calendar. During the upcoming racing season, Bob’s Red Mill will again sponsor the United States Grand Prix of Cyclocross, the North American Cyclocross Trophy, Cross Crusade and the U.S. Nationals of Cyclocross. As in previous years, a team of employees from Bob’s Red Mill will also compete in races in the company’s home state of Oregon.
“Maureen is a great example of athleticism, dedication and enthusiasm in sports and we are excited to partner with her for the upcoming cyclocross season,” said Bob’s Red Mill Marketing Director Matthew Cox, who also rides as part of the company’s cyclocross team. “We’re really looking forward to working with Maureen as she ‘trains with grain’ this season.”
Bruno Roy also keeps a blog highlighting her vegan recipes at http://thevegandelicious.wordpress.com. For 12 years, she has worked as professional massage therapist specializing in deep tissue, sports, pre-natal and Thai yoga massage. She runs a full time massage practice in her hometown of Arlington, Mass., where she has worked with many of the top ranked domestic and international cycling teams.
“I am incredibly excited to be partnering with Bob’s Red Mill as my title sponsor for the 2010/2011 cyclocross season,” said Maureen Bruno Roy. “It is an honor to be supported by a brand whose dedication to produce natural foods the natural way supports and promotes a healthy lifestyle. As an athlete ambassador for Bob’s Red Mill, my hope is that through this partnership, I will have the opportunity to be able to inspire and encourage others to pursue health and wellness through exercise such as cycling and lifestyle changes that include nutritious whole grain foods.”
In addition to title sponsorship by Bob’s Red Mill, Seven Cycles will return for the 2010/2011 cyclocross season as a co-sponsor. Maureen’s team Bob’s Red Mill presented by Seven Cycles with also be sponsored by SRAM, Mavic, TRP, Challenge, Bonfire Health, Fizik, Mad Alchemy and Pedros. For more information about Bruno Roy, visit www.mmracing.org.
