Leanda Cave, the four-time triathlon world champion at ITU long course and IRONMAN distances, is the second professional triathlete signed to the Ventum bikes roster.
Cave was the 2002 ITU Olympic Distance World Champion, 2007 ITU Long Course World Champion, and 2012 IRONMAN 70.3 and IRONMAN World Champion. She joins 2014 Lifetime Series Champion Alicia Kaye as a Ventum sponsored athlete.
Ventum is developing what it bills as ‘the world’s fastest triathlon bicycles’. As the company points out, it ‘requires world-class triathletes to demonstrate the power and speed of its faster and more aerodynamic bikes.’ As a Ventum athlete, Cave will compete on the Ventum One bicycle.
“It is an honour to join Ventum as it creates and builds the next generation of triathlon bicycle,” said Cave. “Ventum saw an opportunity to build a faster competition bicycle and I’m thrilled to be part of the team. As triathletes we’re constantly training and improving our time and technique. Ventum is helping us by building a better and more aerodynamic bicycle. I’m looking forward to my first race on the Ventum One.”
Born in Louth, England, Leanda Cave has been competing in triathlons since 1994. In 2001, she was the European Under-23 Champion. The following year, she made her international debut with silver medal finishes at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and at the European Championships. Cave earned her first world title at the 2002 ITU World Championships in Cancun, Mexico.
Cave began her triathlon career at the Olympic distance and gradually made her way to dominating the long-course triathlon. Cave now holds world titles spanning all four major triathlon distances. In 2012, Cave became the only female triathlete to win the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and IRONMAN World Championship in the same year. Following her successes in the IRONMAN championships, Cave was recognized by CNN as one of the ‘World’s Fittest Women’.
Cave has received numerous awards throughout her professional career. She’s a two-time recipient of the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year Award (2002 and 2012); the 2012 Endurance LIVE Female Athlete of the Year Award; and the 2013 British Gold Pin Award, recognizing her significance and long standing contribution to triathlon.
“We are delighted to sign a world champion triathlete in Leanda,” said Jimmy Seear, Ventum co-founder and fellow professional triathlete. “As a four-time triathlon world champion, who has competed at and reached the podiums of some of the toughest triathlon events in the world, we are honored to have her on the Ventum team. She’s a well-respected triathlete and one of the most decorated female triathletes in history.”
Cave now resides in Miami Beach, Florida. She plans to compete in 10 races in 2015, including Challenge Dubai on 27 February.
Ventum was founded in 2014 by a team of athlete-engineers and entrepreneurs. It is based in Miami Beach, Florida. Ventum notes that it ‘uses technology from fighter jets and Formula One racing to create the world’s fastest triathlon bicycles, ideal for triathletes competing in non-draft-legal races, such as IRONMAN and Challenge events.’
Ventum’s first production bicycle, the Ventum One, will be available for purchase in select bicycle stores later this summer.
