Sally Bigham Won't be Defending her title for 2012 at National Marathon Champs

As most people know, I've been a rider on a German team called Topeak Ergon Racing Team for the last 3½ years. Our brand identity is green and black; defining colours central to who we are and how we're recognised. Since I've been on the Team we've had Russian, Austrian and British National Championship titles every year. This is amazing, but the consequence of our success is that we've worn our National jerseys (which in my case is white, red and blue) in races rather than our Team's green and black ones. If at any time we didn't wear our National jerseys we'd incur a monetary fine from the UCI. 

Wearing a National jersey is an honour. However, from a team marketing perspective having more than half of the race team wearing predominantly white jerseys dilutes the very thing that defines our Team: green and black. It is for this reason that I won't be on the start line in Selkirk on May 20th. 

The importance of the Nationals should not be underestimated - the National title has been central to my goals as a cyclist - and I hope my absence this year demonstrates my commitment to my Team and its objectives. I've had the honour of pulling on the National jersey three times (2008, 2009, 2010). Now it's someone else's turn.

I'm sad that I won't be able to support the race and the race organisers and I'm also disappointed not to be able to experience what I think will be an amazing course. To all of those who will be attending: I wish you strong fast legs, good luck and fun. 

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