Introducing Team Velocio // Exploro

When I first saw BrittLee’s Matches To Burn project, I became a fan instantly. She runs a team on a limited budget, but looking at it you would never know. The equipment, the uniforms, their website and social media presence, everything looks slick and very well put together.

And most importantly, the riders are fast and the team is a joy to work with. Not that this surprises me, in my former life as one of Cervélo’s founders, I’ve dealt with a lot of teams. On average, the female riders were a lot more professional than the men. Exceptions to every rule, and out of the hundreds of of men we sponsored dozens we’re also nice to work with, but still the difference was stark.

So when she asked if we could step up our support and headline the team together with Velocio, it was easy to say yes. Especially because Velocio happens to be another company I love for their support of women’s cycling. People may remember the Velocio SRAM team from a few years back, and throughout their history they have focused on getting women to ride more.

The Velocio // Exploro elite women’s gravel cycling team features a powerful roster of 8 women who are chomping at the bit to race at the biggest gravel events in the U.S. for 2020 with a calendar spanning coast to coast with lots of gravel in between. Of course as we all know, that won’t be happening very soon, but we’ll find ways for you to see them in action in other ways, so stay tuned.

The team did have a training camp just before everything shut down, and you can see some images here. If you look carefully, you’ll also see a limited edition Exploro frameset in the photos. We will make one small run of this matte green/blue/mint Velocio // Exploro frameset, available soon but undoubtedly gone in no-time.

So if you’re interested or know somebody else who might, be sure they are signed up to the newsletter so they see the launch announcement and can snap one up before they’re gone. And of course, be sure to follow the team itself and its riders on any of the social media platforms listed below.

Team Velocio // Exploro will ride Exploros outfitted with SRAM Force eTap and Eagle AXS groups, Fi’zi:k cockpits and saddles, Stan’s NoTubes wheels, Schwalbe tires and Stages Dash bike computers. Further sponsors are POC, Clif Bar, The Meteor Cafe, Feedback Sports, Bruce Paly Dentistry, Muc Off and Strava.

Here’s a first team message from team camp:

“Every spring we come together as a team; some members just meeting for the first time and some long time teammates embracing after a winter spent apart. Our gathering was planned for the second weekend in March in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. The coronavirus situation in the U.S. was in a completely different place between the day we left for camp and when we returned home. We are now practicing social distancing and will not be racing until health authorities approve of large gatherings.

We are thankful to have been able to come together when we did. These photos are reminders of how much we all have to be thankful for; community is so important and cycling gives that gift. We look forward to future days like these on the bike. Our sponsors make this all possible and we are beyond grateful. xoxo, Velocio // Exploro, #matchestoburn”

Team Roster and Athlete Instagram Accounts:

Team Web/Social:

• Instagram: @velocio_exploro
• Twitter: @velocio_exploro
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MatchesToBurn/
• Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/MatchesToBurn
• Website: www.MatchesToBurn.com
• Hashtag: #MatchesToBurn

2020 Team Race Calendar (pending the corona crisis):