Colavita/Fine Cooking Pro Cycling Team Signs NCC Champion Erica Allar
In 2013, Allar (left) sprinted to more than a dozen wins, including NCC Dana Point Grand Prix.
Colavita/Fine Cooking Expands Roster for 2014 Season
Edison, NJ – The Colavita/Fine Cooking Pro Cycling Team is adding a powerful new ingredient to its roster. Erica Allar, the 2013 National Criterium Champion (NCC), has signed for the 2014 season. John A. Profaci, Vice President of Colavita USA, marketers of the #1 brand of Italian extra virgin olive oil, made the announcement.
“We are thrilled to welcome Erica to our program,” said Profaci. “With Erica’s speed and our strengths in teamwork and strategy, Colavita/Fine Cooking will be delivering results that make headlines.”
“This is an exciting time in women’s cycling,” Profaci continued. “Erica’s progress from amateur track racer to Under 23 National Criterium Champion and now NCC leader demonstrates the tremendous potential we have here in the US.”
Allar, who grew up in Pennsylvania and currently resides in Tucson, AZ, got her start riding at the local velodrome. She switched to road racing in 2007 and earned her second U23 National Criterium Championship title the following year. In 2013, Allar sprinted to more than a dozen wins, including NCC and USA Crit Series events.
“I am very excited about racing in Colavita/Fine Cooking colors,” said Allar. “I have always appreciated and respected John Profaci and Colavita’s support for women’s cycling.”
“Colavita/Fine Cooking is a very accomplished squad,” Allar said. “We will have lots of options next year for breakaways and sprints.”
Colavita/Fine Cooking finished the 2013 season as the #3 team in the NCC. Core members of the squad, including Lindsay Bayer, Laura Brown, Jennifer Purcell, Whitney Schultz, and Mary Zider, have re-signed for 2014. In addition to Allar, other new hires include Lenore Pipes and Jessica Pinner. Additional signings will be announced in the next few weeks.
About the Colavita/Fine Cooking Women’s Pro Cycling Team
Family-owned Colavita USA LLC, headquartered in Edison, NJ, has been importing and distributing Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil for over 30 years. Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil is recognized as the #1 Italian brand in the US and has earned awards from renowned cooking publications such as Fine Cooking and Cook’s Illustrated and general-interest magazines like Men’s Health.
Colavita® authentic Italian specialty products, including durum wheat semolina pasta, a full selection of balsamic and wine vinegars, traditional and organic pasta sauces, and olive-canola blended oils are the ingredients of choice for chefs in home, restaurant, and professional kitchens. In addition, Colavita markets fine food and beverage products under the Cirio and San Benedetto labels and through partnership agreements with leading retailers, chefs, and cookbook author and TV host Rachael Ray. Colavita is also the sole importer and distributor of Perugina food and confectionery products, including the iconic Baci line, in the US.
Colavita is entering its second decade as a sponsor of professional cycling. Since 2003, women’s teams powered by Colavita olive oil and pasta have consistently ranked in the top 10 in the US, with #1 rankings in 2010 and 2011. At the same time, Colavita continues to cultivate talent at the grassroots level. Team Colavita is the largest recreational cycling organization in the US, with 14 regional teams representing over 600 amateur women, men, and youth cyclists in more than 20 states from coast to coast. Follow Team Colavita at www.Facebook.com/TeamColavita; results, news, and information are available at www.TeamColavita.com.
Fine Cooking is a nationally known brand where food is the celebrity. In every issue, web page and event Fine Cooking is entirely food focused. Fine Cooking fuels the passion of cooking enthusiasts who love food and entertaining with a lively mix of information and inspiration. Fine Cooking has proven itself in the epicurean magazine category with its 250,000 circulation, 1,500,000 average unique users on FineCooking.com, 15,000 online paid members and numerous accolades. To learn more about Fine Cooking please visit http://www.finecooking.com/ and www.Facebook.com/FineCooking
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