Evelyn Stevens signs two-year deal to stay with HTC

Evelyn Stevens will stay in an HTC-Highroad jersey for two more seasons after penning a contract extension following an impressive debut season among the pro ranks.

Stevens, 26, left behind a budding Wall Street career in order to try her luck in cycling. HTC gave her the chance to commit full-time to racing and training in 2010, and she paid back the team with five victories, including the U.S. national time trial title and a stage win at the women’s Giro.

“The team took an enormous risk in signing me, but this has been an incredible year for me,” said Stevens in a team release. “I knew it would be challenging, and it’s been a lot of hard work, but I’ve made the right decision. There were a lot of high points in the year, but maybe the highest was the Giro di Toscana this autumn, which was an awesome team experience all around .… My aims for 2011 are simple: to use what I’ve learned in 2010 to raise the bar on what I’ve already achieved, and to be the best teammate possible.”

HTC-Highroad’s Ronny Lauke said the team is pleased with how Stevens performed and said they want to keep supporting her as she improves in the coming seasons.

“Evelyn had a really impressive rookie pro year,” Lauke said. “The way Evelyn approaches cycling, too, is inspiring for our other riders. Rather than see the pain and suffering sometimes involved in road racing, she’d rather see all of the advantages. We’re thrilled she’s continuing with HTC-Highroad.”

FILED UNDER: News TAGS: Evelyn Stevens / HTC-Highroad