Team Type 1 Reveals 2010 Pro Men’s Roster (press release)

Team Type 1 will field a versatile roster sprinkled with international flavor and experience when it begins its third season as a men’s professional team in 2010.

In 2009, Team Type 1 won 55 races, finished fourth in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings and captured the King of the Mountains title at five races, including the Tour of Missouri. In two seasons, the squad has registered 100 victories and 219 podium (top three) finishes.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Team Type 1 is the world’s only professional cycling team with a roster that includes riders who have Type 1 diabetes. Established in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge, the team strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes.

Southerland said the team’s previous success paves the way for an expanded racing calendar in 2010 that will include competition in North and South America, as well as Europe, Asia and Africa.

“We have had two great years with a great group of guys,” Southerland said. “The beauty of our team is the impact we have. With this roster, we hope to leave a long-lasting – and winning – impression on people around the globe.”

Southerland said the support of sponsors and a strong group of riders has the team on target to achieve its long-term goal of competing in the Tour de France by 2012.

“The notoriety Team Type 1 has garnered has allowed us to partner with great companies, as well as the International Diabetes Federation, with the goal of providing insulin to the 70,000 people in need of it around the world,” he said.

Southerland will continue as the team’s Chief Executive Officer but not compete professionally after being sidelined much of the past two seasons by a leg injury. The second-year pro competed in the Amgen Tour of California in 2009 and was part of Team Type 1’s winning eight-person team in the Race Across America (RAAM) in 2006 and 2007.

Team Type 1’s roster for 2010 includes a strong mix of veterans (Michael Creed, Valeriy Kobzarenko, Shawn Milne), sprinters (Eldridge, Ken Hanson and Aldo Ino Ilesic), stage racing specialists (Chris Jones and Davide Frattini), European talent (Javier Megias, Thomas Rabou and Martijn Verschoor) and an abundance of promising newcomers (Will Dugan, Alexey Shmidt, Thomas Soladay and Scott Stewart).

Four of the 17 riders have Type 1 diabetes: Fabio Calabria, Eldridge, Megias and Verschoor. In addition to nine Americans, there are riders from Australia, Holland, Italy, Russia, Slovenia, Spain and the Ukraine (see complete roster below).

Vassili Davidenko returns for his second season as the team’s director sportif. He will be assisted by Michael Carter.

Team Type 1’s 2010 Roster:
*Fabio Calabria (Australia)
Michael Creed (United States)
Will Dugan (United States)
*Joe Eldridge (United States)
Davide Frattini (Italy)
Ken Hanson (United States)
Daniel Holt (United States)
Aldo Ino Ilesic (Slovenia)
Chris Jones (United States)
Valeriy Kobzarenko (Ukraine)
Shawn Milne (United States)
*Javier Megias (Spain)
Thomas Rabou (The Netherlands)
Alexey Shmidt (Russia)
Thomas Soladay (United States)
Scott Stewart (United States)
*Martijn Verschoor (The Netherlands)

*Indicates rider who has Type 1 diabetes.