CAMS-Basso relaunches as DAS-Handsling for 2023 season

Mathew Mitchell

Published on January 31, 2023
in Women's Cycling

Long-time women’s cycling fans can cast their minds back to 2017 and 2018 when the team now known as DAS-Handsling were racing as Team Onform. Back then, a young Anna Henderson led the ranks as the team won several Tour Series races and more. Brother UK joined the team for the 2019 but the team had great ambitions with a Continental licence necessarily to race in the UK’s flagship event the Women’s Tour. From 2020-22 they were known as CAMS-Tifosi and then CAMS-Basso and stood out in their red and yellow jerseys but the team undergoes a rebranding for 2023. New colours and a new name – the team is now DAS-Handsling and remains in the Women’s Continental ranks.

“As a British team, It’s an ideal fit for us to have two important British brands as partners. It also enables us to continue for a fourth year as a UCI registered team and deliver a healthy domestic and international programme in road, TT, gravel and track.

“Handsling bikes are top quality and they have models to cover all the disciplines we race. There was an immediate connection with the people at Handsling. They’re incredibly supportive and want to get involved with the team. We’re looking forward to working with them on product development and hope this is a partnership that will continue for a long time.

DAS and Handsling’s sponsorships support a pathway for British riders to gain exposure and experience racing at the highest level. In a time when women’s cycling is still in the ascendancy but opportunities remain limited, it’s huge that we can take on a number of first year seniors as they transition to elite level racing.

We’re looking to retain both the individual and team titles in the UK National Road Race Series, as well as a successful crit campaign in the Tour Series and National Series. We’ll be building on the learnings and successes from last season, and will continue to invest in rider development.”
Simon Howes, DAS-Handsling team manager

DAS has joined the team on a 2-year deal, which helps with year-on-year stability in tough times. DAS is a family-run interior furniture business working with global trading and financial brands. The company has previously been involved in sponsorship deals in motorsport and football but cycling now takes up their sole focus.

“Now is the right time for us to expand our involvement in cycling and there was really only one women’s team we were going to work with. It was a no-brainer for us. We’re looking to build a quality, long-term partnership with the team, like we do with our clients. Sponsorship of the team is one of the ways we are trying to give stability and sustainability to the British cycling scene.”
Callum Riley, DAS Events and Sponsorship Coordinator

“We are delighted that DAS is on board for two years. It’s invaluable for us to have that stability and opportunity to focus on racing and developing our riders. I’ve known the team at DAS for many years now and we have already partnered on a few initiatives, so it’s brilliant we can now take that partnership to the next level. Callum has been involved in every aspect of cycling for a long time and so he really understands where we are coming from.”
Andrew Paine, co-Team Owner of DAS-Handsling

The team switches from Basso to Handsling bikes for 2023. They will use the A1R0evo road frame, the TR3evo track frame and the CEXevo cyclocross frame. All of the models are race winners at different levels. For Handsling, the sponsorship of the team aids their objective to support talented young riders and also expand women’s cycling. Sponsoring a pro team like DAS-Handsling is part of the brand’s global growth strategy as it runs on a direct-to-consumer model, similar to the likes of Canyon does.

Handsling is extremely proud to become the official bike supplier to DAS-Handsling. From the start, we were hugely impressed with the strength of the roster and its vision for taking women’s cycling in the UK to the next level. The team set up and its support programme for emerging female cyclists ties in with Handsling’s brand ethos and was one of the main factors behind the partnership.”
Simon Whitten, Handsling director

The team’s roster for 2023 includes more than just British riders. Spanish rider Sara Bonillo stays with the team and is joined by French road and track rider Bénédicte Ollier. Fan favourites Danni Shrosbree, Sammie Stuart and Katie Scott will be joined by the exciting young talent Emma Jeffers. She lit up the Tour Series and other races in 2022 with her strong sprints whilst on junior gearing.

The team begins its international campaign with two races in Spain next month, Clasica de Almeria and Setmana Ciclista Valenciana.