As cycling sponsors go, they don’t get much bigger than motoring giants Ford, which has signed up to sponsor a new UK women’s team headed by two-time National Road Series champion Nikki Juniper.

Team Ford Ecoboost will hit the domestic scene next season with a squad hand picked by Juniper, who says the team has riders for all parcours.

Juniper will be joined by Charline Joiner, Henrietta Colborne, Lizzie Holden, Charlotte Broughton, Julie Erskine and Anna Turvey along with two development riders Clover Murray and Adele Martin.

“I was very selective and hand picked the girls – I wanted a mix of youth and experience with some pure raw talent and grit,” Juniper told women’s cycling website Neutral Service. “I wanted team players; we have sprinters, climbers and all-rounders and I’m pleased.

“I want it to be a nice team as well; I try to always try to come across as approachable and down to earth and I want the girls to follow that as well.”