FOLLOWING on from many years of successful racing and a wealth of winning performances to their name, the Gateway Racing Team decided to call it quits at the turn of 2009 and throw in their lot with Abergavenny RC.

Consequently the husband and wife partnership of Dicky and Claire Bowen who own Abergavenny's Gateway Cycles and created the Gateway team way back in 2003, would like to take this opportunity to thank all the cyclists who have ridden for them throughout the years.

Dicky Bowen told the Chronicle, "It's been literally an uphill struggle for everyone involved with the Gateway team since its inception, but I can definitely say it's been a rewarding one.

"The team have been a dominant force in Welsh Cyclo-Cross over recent years and we've produced a number of results and champions who we feel are worthy of note and deserving of recognition."

Last year alone saw Lynn Lines, competing in the blue and yellow of a Gateway shirt, crowned the Welsh Cyclo-Cross over-50 champion after riding the race of his life.

The team's Andrew Baum also stormed to third senior in the 2008 Welsh Cyclo-Cross Championships, and not to be outdone Claire Bowen also claimed third place in the Cyclo-Cross champs.

Meanwhile, in the 2008/09 Welsh Cyclo-Cross League, Andrew Baum was the series final winner, Dicky Bowen took third place overall, Lynn Lines was first over-50, and Claire Bowen was first overall lady.

Unfortunately the 2007 National Marathon Champion Pete Turnbull couldn't defend his title in 2008 as he riding in Australia as national champ, but his achievements in a Gateway shirt will be remembered well by all involved with the club.

Having now signed a sponsorship contract with Abergavenny RC, the majority of riders who formerly rode for Gateway will now swell the ranks of the fastest growing cycling club in Wales, about which Dicky said, "I think when you consider the great road team that Abergavenny RC are renowned for as well as their talented youngsters, combined with the wealth of cyclo-cross experience that the former Gateway RC riders can bring to the table, then you really have a force to be reckoned with, and one which everyone at Gateway Cycles is really looking forward to being involved with over the coming years."