{{short description|Women's cycling team}} {{Infobox cycling team | name = Équipe Paule Ka | image = [[File:Bigla Cycling Team logo.jpg|200px]] | code = {{unbulleted list|TBG (2005)|BCT (2006–2009, 2012–2015)|CBT (2016–2018)|BIG (2019–2020)|EPK (2020)}} | registered = {{unbulleted list|Switzerland (2005–2015, 2020)|Germany (2016–2017)|Denmark (2018–2019)}} | founded = {{start date|2005}} | disbanded = {{end date|2020}} | website = http://www.bpct.ch/ | generalmanager = Ernst Meier, Mario Vonhof | teammanager = Emil R. Zimmermann | discipline = [[Road bicycle racing|Road]] | bicycles = [[BMC Trading|BMC]] (2005–2009, 2012–2014)<br/>[[Cervélo]] (2015–2018)<br/>Chapter 2 (2019–2020) | status = [[UCI Women's Team]] | season = 2005<br>2006–2015<br/>2016–2018<br/>2019<br/>2020<br>2020 | oldname = Team Bigla<br>Bigla Cycling Team<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingarchives.com/ploegfiche.php?id=19829|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140107054344/http://www.cyclingarchives.com/ploegfiche.php?id=19829|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 7, 2014|title=Bigla Cycling Team 2014|author=Cycling|work=cyclingarchives.com}}</ref><br/>Cervélo–Bigla Pro Cycling<br/>Bigla Pro Cycling<br/>Bigla–Katusha<br>Équipe Paule Ka | kitimage = | current = }} '''Équipe Paule Ka'''<ref name="EPK">{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/former-bigla-katusha-womens-team-rebranded-as-equipe-paule-ka/|title=Former Bigla-Katusha women's team rebranded as Équipe Paule Ka|website=[[Cyclingnews.com]]|date=2 July 2020|accessdate=2 July 2020|first=Daniel|last=Ostanek}}</ref> ({{UCI code|EPK}}) was a professional [[cycling team]] based in Switzerland, which competed in elite [[road bicycle racing]] events such as the [[UCI Women's World Tour]].
==Team history== [[File:Quaregnon - Le Samyn, 4 mars 2015, départ (B04).JPG|thumb|The team at the [[2015 Le Samyn des Dames]]]]
===2015=== For the 2015 season the team announced the signing of [[Annemiek van Vleuten]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-vleuten-leaves-vos-for-bigla-cycling-team|title=Van Vleuten leaves Vos for Bigla Cycling Team|work=Cyclingnews.com}}</ref> [[Ashleigh Moolman]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ashleigh-moolman-joins-bigla-on-two-year-deal|title=Ashleigh Moolman joins Bigla on two-year deal|work=Cyclingnews.com}}</ref> [[Shelley Olds]], [[Doris Schweizer]], [[Iris Slappendel]] and [[Sharon Laws]]. The team also extended the contracts of [[Vera Koedooder]] and [[Lotta Lepistö]]. On October 30 the Cyclingnews.com announced the signing of [[Joëlle Numainville]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/news-shorts-santambrogio-to-return-with-amore-and-vita|title=News shorts: Santambrogio to return with Amore & Vita|work=Cyclingnews.com}}</ref> On November 20 the team signed [[Clara Koppenburg]] and [[Caroline Baur]] as well as extending the contracts of [[Nicole Hanselmann]] and [[Emilie Aubry]]. On December 1 [[Jacqueline Hahn]] and [[Désirée Ehrler]] left the team to join [[Feminine Cycling Team]].
===2016=== In September 2015 it was announced that [[Cervélo]], who supplied bicycle frames for the team in 2015, would become a title sponsor for the 2016 season, with the team becoming Cervélo–Bigla Pro Cycling.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cervlo-becomes-title-sponsor-for-bigla-pro-cycling-team/ |title=Cervélo becomes title sponsor for Bigla Pro Cycling Team|date=27 September 2015 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |access-date=27 September 2015}}</ref>
In September 2016, the team announced that British rider [[Ciara Horne]] would be joining with immediate effect, and would compete with the team in the [[team time trial]] at the World Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bpct.ch/ciara-horne-brings-time-trial-boost-to-cbpct/ |title=Ciara Horne brings time trial boost to CBPCT|website=BPCT.com |date=8 September 2016|access-date=9 September 2016}}</ref>
===2020 funding issues=== In June 2020, the team's title sponsors Bigla and Katusha Sports announced they would withdraw funding for the team, with the team having to access their UCI bank guarantee in previous months in order to pay rider and staff wages. [[Paule Ka]], a French [[ready-to-wear]] clothing brand was later announced as the new title sponsor for the team, agreeing to a deal through to the end of 2024.<ref name="EPK"/> In October there was uncertainty over the team's future with the team drawing on a UCI bank guarantee to pay rider's salaries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mickey |first1=Abby |title=Equipe Paule Ka in danger of folding for 2021, draws on UCI bank guarantee |url=https://cyclingtips.com/2020/10/equipe-paule-ka-in-danger-of-folding-for-2021-draws-on-uci-bank-guarantee/ |accessdate=6 October 2020 |work=CyclingTips |date=6 October 2020}}</ref> On 16 October the team announced that it would cease racing and close with immediate effect.<ref>{{cite news |title=La fin de l'Équipe Paule Ka |url=https://www.equipepauleka.com/la-fin-de-lequipe-paule-ka/ |accessdate=16 October 2020 |work=Équipe Paule Ka |date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016085700/https://www.equipepauleka.com/la-fin-de-lequipe-paule-ka/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Team roster== [[File:2019 BLT Stramproy start Bigla.jpg|thumb|The team at the [[2019 Holland Ladies Tour]]]] {{Updated|29 July 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/14190/1000993/258|title=Bigla – Katusha|work=UCI.org|publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale]]|accessdate=19 January 2020|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200119212946/https://www.uci.org/road/teams/TeamDetail/14190/1000993/258|archivedate=19 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.valcar-travelandservice.com/nuovo-arrivo-in-casa-valcar-travel-service-ecco-martina-alzini/|title=Nuovo arrivo in casa Valcar-Travel & Service: ecco Martina Alzini|language=Italian|trans-title=New arrival at Valcar-Travel & Service: here is Martina Alzini|work={{UCI team code|VAL|2020}}|publisher=Team Valcar a.s.d.|date=28 July 2020|accessdate=29 July 2020}}</ref>}} {{Cycling squad start}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Lizzy Banks]]|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1990|11|7}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Elise Chabbey]]|nat=SUI|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1993|4|24}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Niamh Fisher-Black]]|nat=NZL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|2000|8|12}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Mikayla Harvey]]|nat=NZL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1998|9|7}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Clara Koppenburg]]|nat=GER|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1995|8|3}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Emma Cecilie Norsgaard]]|nat=DNK|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1999|7|26}}}} {{Cycling squad mid}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Nikola Nosková]]|nat=CZE|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1997|7|1}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Marlen Reusser]]|nat=SUI|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1991|9|20}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Maria Vittoria Sperotto]]|nat=ITA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1996|11|20}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Kathrin Stirnemann]]|nat=SUI|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1989|10|22}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Leah Thomas (cyclist)|Leah Thomas]]|nat=USA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1989|5|30}}}} {{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Sophie Wright (cyclist)|Sophie Wright]]|nat=GBR|birthdate={{birth date and age2|df=yes|2020|7|29|1999|3|15}}}} {{Cycling squad end}}
==Major wins== {{Main|List of wins by Team Bigla and its successors}}
==National and continental champions== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} ;2005 :[[File:MaillotKaz.PNG|20px]] Kazakhstan Time Trial, Zoulfia Zabirov :[[File:MaillotKaz.PNG|20px]] Kazakhstan Road Race, Zoulfia Zabirova ;2006 :[[File:MaillotKaz.PNG|20px]] Kazakhstan Time Trial, Zoulfia Zabirov ;2007 :[[File:MaillotKaz.PNG|20px]] Kazakhstan Time Trial, Zoulfia Zabirov :[[File:MaillotKaz.PNG|20px]] Kazakhstan Road Race, Zoulfia Zabirova ;2008 :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Track (Omnium), Andrea Wölfer :[[File:MaillotKaz.PNG|20px]] Kazakhstan Time Trial, Zoulfia Zabirov :[[File:MaillotKaz.PNG|20px]] Kazakhstan Road Race, Zoulfia Zabirova :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Road Race, Jennifer Hohl ;2009 :[[File:MaillotItalia.svg|20px]] Italy Time Trial, Noemi Cantele :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Time Trial, Karin Thürig :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Road Race, Jennifer Hohl ;2012 :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Time Trial (Juniors), Caroline Baur ;2013 :[[File:MaillotAustria.PNG|20px]] Austria Road Race, Andrea Graus ;2014 :[[File:MaillotAustria.PNG|20px]] Austria Road Race, Jacqueline Hahn :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Road Race, Lotta Lepistö ;2015 :[[File:MaillotSudáfrica.PNG|20px]] South Africa Time Trial, Ashleigh Moolman :[[File:MaillotSudáfrica.PNG|20px]] South Africa Road Race, Ashleigh Moolman :[[File:African Continental Champion Jersey.png|20px]] African Time Trial, Ashleigh Moolman :[[File:African Continental Champion Jersey.png|20px]] African Road Race, Ashleigh Moolman :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Time Trial, Lotta Lepistö :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Time Trial, Doris Schweizer :[[File:MaillotCan.PNG|20px]] Canada Road Race, Joëlle Numainville :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Road Race, Lotta Lepistö :[[File:MaillotHolanda.PNG|20px]] Netherlands Track (Points race), Vera Koedooder ;2016 :[[File:MaillotUSA.PNG|20px]] USA Time Trial, Carmen Small :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Time Trial, Lotta Lepistö :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Road Race, Lotta Lepistö :[[File:MaillotAllemania.svg|20px]] Germany Track (Individual Pursuit), Lisa Klein ;2017 :[[File:MaillotSudáfrica.PNG|20px]] South Africa Time Trial, Ashleigh Moolman :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Time Trial, Lotta Lepistö :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Road Race, Lotta Lepistö :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Time Trial, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig :[[File:MaillotAllemania.svg|20px]] Germany Road Race, Lisa Klein :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Road Race, Nicole Hanselmann :[[File:MaillotPolonia.PNG|20px]] Poland Track (Scratch race), [[Daria Pikulik]] ;2018 :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgium Time Trial, Ann-Sophie Duyck :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Time Trial, Lotta Lepistö :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Time Trial, Nicole Hanselmann :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Time Trial, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig :[[File:MaillotFin.PNG|20px]] Finland Road Race, Lotta Lepistö ;2019 :[[File:European champion jersey 2016.svg|20px]] [[2019 UEC European Track Championships|European Track]] (Madison), Julie Leth ;2020 :[[File:MaillotNuevaZelanda.PNG |20px]] New Zealand Road Race, [[Niamh Fisher-Black]] :[[File:MaillotNuevaZelanda.PNG |20px]] New Zealand U23 Road Race, [[Niamh Fisher-Black]] :[[File:MaillotSuiza.svg|20px]] Switzerland Time Trial, Marlen Reusser :[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Time Trial, [[Nikola Nosková]] :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.PNG|20px]] Denmark Road Race, [[Emma Cecilie Norsgaard]]
{{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.bpct.ch/}}
{{UCI Women's Teams}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Equipe Paule Ka}} [[Category:Cycling teams based in Switzerland]] [[Category:UCI Women's Teams]] [[Category:Cycling teams established in 2005]]