Cannondale Welcomes Anita Naidu to Athlete Roster

March 23, 2023

Naidu signs multi-year contract, using her platform as an athlete, mountain bike coach and international humanitarian to host a North American series of anti-racism education mountain bike skills clinics

Wilton, Conn. – March 23, 2023 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Today, Cannondale is thrilled to welcome gravity athlete, acclaimed mountain bike coach and anti-racism consultant, Anita Naidu, to its athlete roster for 2023. A pioneer in diversifying the outdoors, Naidu was the first professional mountain biker of East Indian heritage. She brings her coveted experience as an award-winning international humanitarian, engineer, and skills as one of mountain biking’s top coaches to put anti-racism and climate justice education at the forefront of the cycling industry, working towards a more equitable future.

“Not only was Anita one of the first females of color to compete on a global level, but she is now using her platform as a professional mountain biker to drive the race equity conversation for generations of cyclists to come,” said Jonathan Geran, Cannondale global director of sports marketing. “Using mountain biking as a conduit to create lifelong anti-racism advocates, Naidu is making serious strides in diversifying the industry and we could not be more excited to support her and her upcoming endeavors.”

Naidu is hosting a series of upcoming mountain bike skills clinics that are centered around anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and climate change education. These workshops welcome woman-identifying riders of all ages and skill levels and include an extensive scholarship program. Participants will learn about anti-racism and its relationship to society’s most pressing issues such as environmental mitigation and sustainability, and work together to create a toolkit for navigating today’s modern day social climate, all while building confidence on the bike. The clinics also provide coaching opportunities for women of color to become leaders in the mountain bike industry.

Anti-racism clinics will be held across North America. Clinics will kick off in the United States in May in Omaha, Nebraska, in partnership with the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the IMBA Local Partner in Omaha.

Additionally, Naidu will lead a virtual comprehensive anti-racism industry training session on March 30, partnering with IMBA to train its nationwide team. The session titled “Achieving Anti-Racism in Mountain Biking and the Outdoors: What It Looks Like and the Path Forward” offers practical guidance and concrete actionable steps for making tangible progress towards an anti-racist landscape across the industry.

“One of the greatest opportunities that comes with being a sponsored athlete is the platform it provides to make a meaningful impact on the world and the point of getting a seat isn’t to preserve it, it’s to use it,” said Naidu. “These anti-racism bike clinics are an avenue to offer expertise and knowledge in service of creating more capable and educated lifelong advocates, not just in the outdoor community but society at large. With the right backdrop and set of efforts, together we can build over doubt and resistance to create a world where more people can live their passions free of discrimination.”

Off the bike, Naidu is widely regarded for her work in the global refugee crisis, human slavery, environmental impact strategies, peace and security, and anti-racism. Her humanitarian, engineering, and athletic exploits have garnered her numerous accolades including being named as one of the planet’s 15 Most Adventurous Women and 100 Most Provocative Cultural Catalysts. She is currently being filmed for a feature series as one of Canada’s most impactful young people shaping the conversation on race equity. Follow her on social media to learn more about her initiatives.

Naidu will be riding Cannondale’s trail category mountain bikes, specifically the Habit & Jekyll models. To learn more visit: www.cannondale.com

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ABOUT CANNONDALE:

With a reputation for continuous innovation and quality, Cannondale is a global industry leader with a strong heritage in design, development and manufacturing of high-performance bicycles and accessories. For more information, visit www.cannondale.com.

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