Andreu is leading the charge with the Kenda p/b Gear Grinder team

If you are reading my site chances are you already know who Frankie Andreu is. A quick primer: he was the backbone of the U.S. Postal team with rides in the Tour de France as well as the Classics. You have also seen him on television doing pre and post stage interviews during the Tour and in the recent past he had done stints at Toyota-United and Rock Racing as a team director. This year Andreu is once again behind the windshield this time for the Kenda presented by Gear Grinder squad. When I saw the press release linking him to Kenda I mentioned the obvious; his experience to any team would be invaluable. What I didn’t know about Frankie was his no-nonsense approach to directing a team. I’ve spoken to Frankie before and to me he always seemed an easy going guy. However, he expects results from the team and is expecting them to race hard and aggressively. If they don’t, well…

Browne: You have been a team director before what has made you want to return?
Frankie Andreu: Mainly I missed it. I enjoyed working with a team and it’s something I loved doing. I have been speaking with Chad Thompson for the past couple of years and in 2009 the talks became a little more serious. For me it’s a way of getting back into the peloton.

Browne: Are you going to be behind the windshield at all the races? This is a full-time gig?
Andreu: This is a full-time director at Kenda. Doing tactics, strategy and logistics as well as helping the riders achieve their goals. I want to grow this team into a powerhouse team in the next couple of years.

Browne: The team this year has a modest budget. What do you see as some of more immediate goals of the Kenda team?
Andreu: Our first immediate goal is the Tour of Taiwan. That’s definitely a major goal of ours. It’s difficult because it is really early in the season and it is our first race, so you are not sure on how the riders are doing. You have to rely on them training at home. After that we have a good criterium team in which we can be very competitive at NRC events like Speed Week and the USA Crits Series. We have also brought on a nice balance of climbers, some overall workers and time trialists. In some smaller stage races, five to six day races, we can be competitive. I expect the team to win and I won’t expect anything less than that.

Browne: Of the riders on your team roster who do you think we should keep an eye on?
Andreu: Phil Gaimon is a good climber and came from Jelly Belly. Stefano Barberi I brought back to the team. I worked with him from the Toyota-United days. I think this guy is a very talented climber but has always been in the position of being a worker. I would like to see him come out from that role and start achieving some of his own objectives. Chad Hartley has had injuries in the past and I think he has recovered from that and is training well. I think he is going to be coming back to the top of his game. Then we have some sprinters like Chad Burdzilauskas and a super strong rider in Jake Rytlewski. This guy is an animal! I think the best thing about the team is how aggressive they are. The guys are not ones to just follow. They like to attack and race aggressively. If we can continue doing that, that will pay off big dividends with these guys. And that’s the way I like to see bike races. You do better when you are aggressive, rather than being on the defensive.

The Kenda team will be riding Masi frames with SRAM components

Browne: Is that the Frankie Andreau influence: the aggressive nature?
Andreu: These guys already have that aggressive nature so I am just trying to instill that in them. I’m going to tell them when we are at a big race just because some of the bigger teams are there, doesn’t mean we change the way we race. When you are aggressive, that is how you get into the breaks and win races. I’m going to continue giving them that confidence to attack whenever they want to.

Browne: The economic climate for cycling is tough right now. Some ProTour teams are losing their title sponsorship at the end of the year, while other teams are having to cut back. Races are also disappearing off the calendar. What do you see the future, domestically, for cycling?
Andreu: That’s a good question, because there seems to be more races disappearing than appearing. Without the bike racing there isn’t a need for teams. Hopefully the economy will start to turn around and a lot of companies have put the brakes on their marketing objectives. Hopefully they will start to see the value of cycling, which will bring more events. It’s a fight because everyone is fighting for the same dollars. Cycling is widespread, but it doesn’t appeal to everyone.

Browne: You have been in the sport and have seen the ups and downs in cycling. Why do you keep coming back to it? Are you crazy?
Andreu: It’s my passion. Someone asked me the other day what was my long-term goal. My passion is cycling, and I love doing the commentating and announcing. I love being part of the team and directing. I love working in cycling. I work hard at trying to stay involved in the sport and I think I do a good job. My experience is wanted in different areas and I would love to stay in the sport as long as I can till I’m forced out or have no choice.

Browne: You mentioned commentating, are we going to see you on Versus?
Andreu: I’m pretty sure the Tour de France again. That’s the only thing I do. Versus has cut back a lot with their programming. And again I’m lucky I’m able to go to the Tour de France. I love my job over there running around and it’s fun. The play-by-play is something I really enjoyed doing, but I won’t get into that for a long time.

Browne: What are some of the team’s long-term plans?
Andreu: We are doing a couple of international races and I think long term. We like to be able to grow the budget and grow that depth of the roster. We have a great roster right now and it is up to the riders if they want to remain on the roster. They need to train and race hard. If they race hard, they will stay on the roster. If they don’t come up to that challenge there are lots of riders out there that don’t have contracts or other riders that are looking for teams. I think that riders that are on any team should realize they are benefiting from finding a team and are lucky. They need to make the most of that opportunity. Eventually I would like to have a powerhouse team for the US but also expand into doing some international races.

Browne: You mentioned that riders are lucky to be on a team. It brings to mind Burke Swindlehurst who is racing solo. That’s a unique situation.
Andreu: I saw that and it is very unique. But as you well know, in criterium and road racing the team is really essential. With Burke, he is such a great climber so he can go to climbing races and make his own way. But it will be tough. I definitely don’t want to see the sport going with individual riders scrounging for individual sponsors like mountain biking does. The beauty of the sport is its team aspect. What I think Burke is doing is smart because it keeps him in the peloton and keeps him racing. Burke’s a great climber and if he gets good results someone else will pick him up and that will be his way of getting back in.

Browne: Team owner Chad Thompson seems to be working like a dog to get the team going. What do you think motivates Chad to pound the pavement, work the media and work any angle he can?
Andreu: I think a bit his pride. He has put a lot of time and money into building this team and he wants to see it succeed. Also, the passion. He loves cycling. He used to be a rider and loves riding. I tell you he is one motivated individual and I have enjoyed working with him. Like you said, he is always out there pounding the pavement, always positive and reaching out to everybody. He works his tail off to find that sponsors to make this thing work. I have to give him credit. He is 100% committed to the team and to see that passion is similar to the passion I have for cycling, which is great. He’s a good boss.

Floyd Landis - Man of Mystery Photo: John Segesta

As the season approaches and teams are conducting training camps, Rock Racing has been surprisingly silent. No press releases of upcoming training camps or even a 2010  team roster. In 2009 Rock rode in a splashy kit proclaiming “Rocks not dead”. For 2010 team owner Michael Ball stated he was taking the team to the next level: pro continental. Rumors swirled around the team. Rock Racing was going to be registered in Mexico, they were going to race in Europe and even earn wild card entries into the Classics and smaller stage races. With a strong core roster of Spanish riders like Oscar Sevilla, Victor Hugo Pena and Francisco Mancebo the team has proven to be a force to be reckoned with domestically, so why not take it to the next step? Hyperbole ramped up to overdrive at Interbike where Ball unveiled a complete line-up of Rock branded cycling apparel as well as full carbon fiber frames and components. For 2010 they strengthened the Rock team by signing Tony Cruz, a rider who has raced successfully on both sides of the Atlantic. However the new marquee rider Ball was rumored to have signed was Floyd Landis. Landis issued a press release in December stating his departure from the OUCH team (now UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) however leaving out who he was going to be racing for in 2010. This only fueled the fires of speculation of who he was racing for in 2010. But all those Rock Racing dreams of a European campaign, and perhaps even an American campaign, have seemed to have crashed with the denial of pro continental status by the UCI. Sources have told me that Ball still owes money to riders and race promoters which will seriously hamper any chance of competing in any races of importance.  After several days of text messaging with Landis I was able to track him down on the phone to discuss the upcoming season and whether Rock was indeed dead.

With the apocalyptic weather conditions that has been lashing down on Southern California I asked Landis what he has been doing for training. “Oh the usual. Riding around, bowling, just doing stuff.” I pressed him on the status of the Rock team and the rumors that he had signed with the team for 2010. On this subject he was a little more to the point. “I’m racing in the Tour of the Bahamas this weekend in a Rock kit, so yeah, I’m doing that. I told them (Rock Racing) that I wanted to do that race so they sent me a kit.” Landis is lining up for his first race in 2010 in a Rock kit, but what is the status for the rest of the year? “I honestly don’t know. I don’t know even if Ball has thought about the team these last two weeks. I don’t know what is going on. I’m focusing on my training and my bowling. I need to think of my future after cycling and bowling might be it.” After the Tour of the Bahamas his future is not so crystal clear. “I have no clue what’s going on. After the Tour of the Bahamas I’m going back to my shack behind the car wash. Maybe I’ll write a book.”

George set the tempo all weekend CREDIT: Chris Anderson

This past weekend the 2010 Hincapie Development squad got together for the first time. Excitement had been building for the riders the week before and the U23 riders were chomping at the bit to throw a leg over the new Shimano Dura-Ace, Ritchey and Thomson equipped BMC Pro Machine. This was going to be my first time meeting the riders as a mentor/coach for the team. The Hincapie’s have been spending their time and resources on developing future American talents and it was starting to come to fruition. Craig Lewis, now a member f the HTC-Columbia squad, got his start on a team sponsored by Hincapie Sportswear. Chris Butler, a member of the Hincapie Devo team last year who made the jump to BMC for 2010, is heading off to the team training camp in California at the end of the month. Strad Helms is another rider from the Hincapie Development class of ’09 that made the jump to the big leagues joining Team Type 1 for 2010. With that kind of track record this year’s crop of U23 riders should be showing results.

Friday night was the first official team meeting. And like any professional organization there were certain rules and regulations that are expected of the riders. As I sat there I thought how similar this was to other pro team training camps I’d attended. Just before forms were filled out and swag bags passed out Steve Baker, Hincapie team liaison/mentor, reminded the riders how important this opportunity was to them. He also relayed the fact how important it was to the team that no one drops out of a race unless it’s an injury or mechanical failure. “George doesn’t quit a race.” Baker said. I thought about that and I couldn’t think of an instance when George Hincapie headed to the broom wagon because he’s been dropped or when the race wasn’t going his way. The times he hasn’t finished a race was when he had crashed out and was physically unable to cross the finish line. Crossing the finish line, or completing what you say you are going to do, is an important trait for the Hincapies whether in a race or in the business world. Hopefully the riders on the team will pick up on this type of work ethic and transfer it to their daily lives.

Sponsor goodies courtesy of Oakley, Giro & Hincapie Sportswear

Saturday was a team training day and George met the squad to lead the ride. This Tuesday he packs his bags and leaves for the Tour Down Under, so he still needed to log training miles. The temperature in the morning was in the 20s. Thick tights, insulated jackets, shoe covers and full finger gloves were the bare essentials for the day. Our group had swelled to over 20 riders which included almost the entire Hincapie Devo team, as well as also mentor riders and supporters. We rolled down the road, riding two abreast, George at the front keeping a steady tempo. I have ridden with pros before and I am always in awe of how easily they flick over the pedals as if the cranks were just an extension of their legs. George is no exception and kept the pace constant and unwavering. Beyond the smooth nature of Hincapie’s pedaling I also noticed new BMC rider Chris Butler’s style. Butler’s pedaling is just as fluid, however his body is more compact than George – the obvious morphology of a climber with the results to back it up. Butler is a student at Furman University in Greenville and had planned on missing part of the upcoming BMC camp. That has changed and he is going to attend the full training camp, which means recon rides of key Tour of California stages. The new devo riders showed the potential that caught the eye of Hincapie Sportswear and showed a certain amount of souplesse as we ticked over the miles. None of the riders had hunched shoulders and sloppy pedaling technique even after several hours in the saddle. When it was all said and done my Garmin 705 laid out the facts: we’d ridden for three and a half hours, 60 miles total and with an elevation gain of 5,800 feet (twice over Paris Mountain). Not too bad. I didn’t hear any whining or complaining from any of the riders, even when we made that left hand turn to climb over Paris Mountain for the second time.

The following day was a shorter ride with George again riding point. While the previous day’s ride was well over 20 riders, Sunday’s was down to the devo riders, mentors and George. We zig-zaged across the Upstate with seemingly no rhyme or reason. George apparently knew where we were going as he confidently and without hesitation pointed which way to turn. He must have the innate gps-like ability of a homing pigeon as I had no idea where we were. I have written this before and I’ll say it again; I don’t know why most pros don’t live in this area. The conditions are fantastic. Sure we’re in the middle of an unusual cold snap, but when dressed for the conditions, it isn’t that much of a hardship. And I can count on one hand how many cars we encountered once we were out of town.

This is what it looks like to follow George up Paris Mountain

After about an hour and 40 minutes George and Chris Butler turned right, heading to the six-mile climb of Caesar’s Head. For those two it was another long day in the saddle, but for us it was time to head for home. With riders coming from all over the southeast, a few riders were facing several hours drive back home. Back at the starting point it was a little over two hours, but with some heavy legs from the previous day, that was enough. It’s only January and a lot of racing is still in front of them.

It was a great weekend of riding. We rode, swapped stories and consumed massive amounts of well deserved calories together. Some riders knew each other and the staff, but for me it was a great opportunity to get acquainted with the riders and be a part of something that these guys will always remember.

Hincapie Sportswear Development Roster
Stephen Colavito
Justin Lowe
Parker Kyzer
Tyler Karnes
Mike Stone
Blair (Edison)Turner
Logan Haskew
Matt Lipscomb
Aubrey Moore

Sponsors
BMC
Hincapie Sportswear
Shimano
Oakley
Giro
Thomson
Ritchey
FinishLine

Hincapie photo by Chris Anderson

National champion kit

One of the advantages of riding with the Hincapie Sportswear staff is that I’ve gotten to see or hear the inside scoop on what’s going on with the BMC team. When I rolled into the office today for a ride, UPS had just dropped off a huge shipment of the first batch of team issue BMC clothes. The staff was quickly separating what the team needed for the upcoming Tour Down Under and what they need for the California training camp later this month. While they allowed me to take a look at the new kit I had to take a blood oath not to post pictures or even discuss what colors they used. I’ll say that the kit looks clean and will standout from the rest of the peloton.

I spoke to Rich Hincapie about the production details of the clothes Hincapie Sportswear had to produce for the BMC team. Add to the fact that the team has two current American national champions, a world champion, as well as former national champions on the team there needs to be elements beyond a standard jersey design. The UCI has certain standards for how a world champion stripes, as well as how a national champion jersey, is to look. After the technical details of how wide the stripes need to be or exactly what shade certain colors needs to be, the rider gets to weigh in on the design. This takes a lot of emails back and forth with the rider and many late nights at the office. After seeing the kit myself and witnessing the work first hand, I’m confident that the tifosi will approve.

Quick Facts:

• The BMC team has 23 pro and three U23 riders.
• Each rider will get approximately 60 pieces of cycling clothing throughout the year. Clothing is replaced when riders crash, lose them or wear out.
• Casual clothing will include Hincapie denim jeans, track suits and collared shirts. If you want to hear a fun story ask Rich what he had to do to the track jackets before they were sent to the team.
• The total amount of clothing pieces sent to the team are in the thousands (in addition to the basic kit of shorts and jersey there are many different types of gloves, various skinsuit types, various jackets and shoe covers to name just a few pieces).
• The retail cost for the amount of clothing for the team is between $300,000 to $400,000.

There's a lot of clothes that need to be checked in

BMC Pro Machine full Campy, Easton parts, Speedplay pedals

It is officially the beginning of the pre-season. Teams are coming together around the globe for training camps. There have been some early training camps, but those are mostly for the sake of the press and sponsors. The camps from here on out are getting a little more serious. Today I had an early evening meeting with Hincapie Sportsware. I will be one of the mentor/coaches of the U-23 Hincapie Development squad and at the end of the week the U-23 guys are coming to Greenville for a mini version of a training camp. We’ll be handing out team products, explaining goals and aspirations of the team and having a good time for the few days that we are together. I am very much looking forward to working with the riders. It’s going to be a great year of racing and riding from a personal standpoint. I’m hoping these young pups will whip me back into shape.

As I was waiting for the meeting, the Hincapie art department was doing a photoshoot with George in the new national champion kit along with his new bike. Over the din of the cranked to maximum spaceheater I think someone said his BMC Team Machine was 15.1 pounds. Soon George will be heading to his training camp in California and other local teams will be having theirs. Team Type 1′s camp is in Georgia next month and I’ll drop by and see the guys. Another pro team that I have a weakness for is the Kenda p/b Geargrinder team. Their founder Chad Thompson is a can-do guy and has put his blood, sweat and tears into making that program work. An example of his Herculean effort is bringing Frankie Andreu onto the staff. Andreu is a stand-up guy and any organization should be proud to have him working for them. Their camp is also next month in Georgia so that gives me another reason to visit. It’s only January and my travel calendar is starting to fill up.

From Feb. 12-14, participants will experience what it is like to be a member of Team Type 1, the world’s only professional cycling team with riders who have Type 1 diabetes. They will enjoy a memorable, exclusive experience by riding, eating, learning and relaxing with members of the Team Type 1 men’s and women’s professional teams, as well as the Elite and Developmental squads.

Team Type 1 CEO Phil Southerland said inquiries from Team Type 1 fans and supporters about how they could show their support for the program led to the creation of Pedal With The Pros.

“This is a great way to give those people a real hands-on experience at what the ‘pro lifestyle’ – and more specifically, what the ‘pro lifestyle with diabetes’ is like,” Southerland said. “We can show people with and without the disease the additional steps our athletes take to be the best they can be, and how we use diabetes to make us better people.”

Southerland said money raised from Pedal With The Pros will go toward supporting the European racing campaign for the professional men’s team in 2010.

“This is just another step to put us on the fast track to the Giro d’Italia in 2011 and the Tour de France in 2012,” he said.

The $5,000 per-person registration fee includes air transportation to and from camp (U.S. domestic flights only), hotel accommodations and meals. Participants also receive daily massages, full mechanical assistance and they will go home with a complete Team Type 1 cycling kit (jersey, shorts, socks and other accessories), logo bag and water bottle.

More details can be found on the event’s website, www.pedalwiththepros.com. Deadline to register is Feb. 4.

Team Type 1 Promotion and Fundraising Manager Jennifer Helms said Pedal With The Pros promises to be a memorable experience, regardless of age or ability.

“This opportunity is perfect for individuals who love cycling, want to support Team Type 1 and make a tax-deductible donation before the end of the year,” she said.

Zabriskie will be defending his TT title for four more years with Garmin

Slipstream Sports LLC and its chief venture, Team Garmin-Transitions, is once again poised for a big year. Coming off the 2009 Tour de France, where the team placed second overall with two riders in the top 10, along with three stage victories at the Vuelta and success at the Tour of Britain and the Sun Tour, the team has officially unveiled its 2010 roster. Team Garmin-Transitions features 10 Americans among a total of 27 riders from eight different countries. Christian Vande Velde, 8th overall in the 2009 Tour de France, David Zabriskie, U.S. Time Trial Champion and sprint sensation Tyler Farrar will return to the squad along with stars Dan Martin, Ryder Hesjedal and David Millar.

New additions include Jack Bobridge, Australia’s U23 Road Race and Time Trial Champion, Johan Van Summeren, two-time top ten finisher of Paris Roubaix, and expert lead-out man Robbie Hunter.

Vande Velde, Martin and Zabriskie have all renewed contracts with the team that will extend through 2012, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

“I’ve come an long way with Team Garmin-Transitions in a short time,” said Vande Velde. “I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve done as part of this team and I’m excited to see what the next three years have to hold.”

“The progress we have made together in the past two seasons shows what a perfect environment Garmin-Transitions is for a young rider,” said Martin. “I’m really excited to have the chance to continue to improve, grow and have fun in what is the perfect team for me.”

“It’s a beautiful thing,” added Zabriskie. “To commit for four years myself, and to have the team commit to me is something really special.”

A complete roster follows:

Jack Bobridge, AUS
Kirk Carlson, USA
Steven Cozza, USA
Tom Danielson, USA
Julian Dean, NZ
Timmy Duggan, USA
Tyler Farrar, USA
Ryder Hesjedal, CAN
Robbie Hunter, SA
Fredrik Kessiakoff, SWE
Michele Kreder, NED
Trent Lowe, AUS
Dan Martin, IRE
Maartijn Maaskant, NED
Christian Meier, CAN
Cameron Meyer, AUS
Travis Meyer, AUS
David Millar, GB
Danny Pate, USA
Thomas Peterson, USA
Peter Stetina, USA
Svein Tuft, CAN
Johan Van Summeren, BEL
Ricardo van der Velde, NED
Christian Vande Velde, USA
Matt Wilson, AUS
David Zabriskie, USA

“We’re poised well for 2010. Our roster is strong and versatile with some of the world’s best riders returning to us, and the addition of others,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports management company. “This year we will look to build on Tyler’s success by adding lead-out guys, we’ve added climbers to help Christian in the mountains and we’ve rounded out our Classics team. With Christian, Dan and David signing on for the next few years, we’ve built a foundation that we will be able to enhance in years to come. Looking ahead to 2010, we expect to be competitive throughout the year.”

Team Garmin-Transitions will compete in a full slate of international races throughout the spring and summer, kicking off with the Tour Down Under in January 2010.

Team OUCH is now UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis returns a solid core of veterans to work with a strong new crop of young riders for the 2010 season.

“One of the things this organization has always done well, from day one, is to blend veteran professionals with younger riders into consistently strong teams,” said team directeur sportif Mike Tamayo. “The new group we have coming in has a lot of talent. When you put them together with guys like Rory (Sutherland), Tim (Johnson) and Chris (Baldwin), they not only have a chance to learn how to race from some of the best, most professional riders in the country, but also how to win.”

Leading the new group will be young sprinters Jake Keough and Eric Barlevav. At 22, Keough comes to the team from Kelly Benefits, for whom he put up strong results in 2009, including three stage wins at the Vuelta Ciclista del Uruguay. The 23-year-old Barlevav, in his first pro season with Mountain Khakis in 2009, showed that he was turning into a formidable sprinter, winning the finale of the USA Crit Series, while showing consistency throughout the year.

Tiny peek at UnitedHealthcare jersey courtesy @rorysutherland1

They’re joined by another young fast man, Jonny Clarke, who, despite just turning 25, has a wealth of experience at the pro level, particularly in his time racing with the South Australia-AIS squad. In 2007, he delivered a stage win in the Jayco Tour Down Under, and he’s shown that he’s more than capable of winning sprints or providing lead-outs.

“We’re excited about these three young guys,” Tamayo said. “Eric and Jake both have really good speed, and Jonny has a good sprint and is solid tactically. He’s still finding where he fits in with his talent, and we’re looking forward to shaping his career.”

UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis has also bolstered its stage-racing team with four additions to the squad, led by Morgan Schmitt, who comes to the program from Bissell. Schmitt, who turns 25 just after the New Year, will be entering his fourth season as a pro, and he’s been developing more each year.

“Morgan is a good all-around rider,” Tamayo noted. “He climbs well and time trials well. He’s just a big engine.”

He’ll be joined by another rising stage race star, Max Jenkins, who won the 2007 U23 Road Race National Championship. Jenkins, who just turned 23, spent the 2009 season racing predominantly in Europe with the Glud & Marstrand squad. However, he turned a few heads back in the states when he made the final selection at the U.S. Pro Road Race and finished 14th.

“He’s spent a lot of time racing in Europe the past few years,” Tamayo said, “and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in the U.S. with that experience.”

Matt Crane, now 24, returns to the organization after a year away. He rode for the squad in 2007 and 2008, and returns with his strong work ethic and time trialing skills.

Just short of his 26th birthday, Adrian Hegyvary joins UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis for his first season as a pro on the road, but the big rider has plenty of experience and success internationally on the track. Hegyvary brings another big engine to the squad, having finished 2nd in the 2009 U. S. elite national time trial championships. Proving he’s well-rounded, Hegyvary made his way onto the podium at the 2009 Athens Twilight Criterium. “Adrian is just super-strong,” said Tamayo. “He’s a lot like Roman Kilun.”

UnitedHealthcare will continue on Kuota bikes for 2010

Dutch rider Marc de Maar rounds out the new signings. De Maar, who turns 26 in February, rode for the Rabobank Pro Tour team for the last three years, and the Rabobank Continental team for two years prior to that, where he was a teammate of Rory Sutherland in 2004. He raced a number of prominent stage races in Europe the past few years, including finishing both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. De Maar comes off an injury-filled 2009, and is looking to return to form in the U.S. in 2010. “Marc is excited to give racing in the U.S. a go, and we’re excited to have him,” Tamayo added.

Veteran Core

United Healthcare Presented by Maxxis returns a core group of riders who have been critical to the team’s success the past three years. Leading the team once again will be 2007 and 2008 NRC Individual Points Champion Rory Sutherland. The soon-to-be 28-year-old has been one of the most consistently successful and reliable riders in North America the past three years. The Australian won the overall titles of the Nature Valley Grand Prix the past two years, and the Joe Martin Stage Race the past three. His success results from his versatility: he is a solid climber, strong time trialist and can put in a very good sprint, especially out of breaks. When the team needs a rider to step up, he has always been there with a top performance.

For stage races, Sutherland got help in the latter part of 2009 from Chris Baldwin, who returns to the team for 2010. He made an immediate impact last year, finishing 2nd overall at the Mt. Hood Classic. Baldwin, a two-time U.S. National Time Trial Champion, returns as a leader for climbing stage races like Hood and the Tour of Utah that take the riders to higher elevations.

The stage race squad returns two more strong workers, Kilun and Bradley White. Kilun enters his fifth season with the organization. His growing experience and ability to ride himself into the ground for his teammates have proven invaluable the past few years. Whi te, meanwhile, continued his aggressive riding in his second year as a pro in 2009. He could often be found in breaks, and earned Most Aggressive Rider status in stages of both the Amgen Tour of California and the Tour of Missouri.

Karl Menzies and Andrew Pinfold return for the criteriums and one-day races, as well as stage races like Nature Valley that call for a rider who can sprint and get over the climbs. Menzies, also entering his fifth year with the team, returned to form last year after an injury marred 2008, winning the sprinter’s competition of the Vuelta Mexico. Pinfold served the dual role of lead-out and lead man for numerous races in 2009, posting a stage win at the Vuelta Mexico and winning the overall title of the Tour de White Rock. He was a regular visitor to the podium in 2009, closing out the year with a 2nd place in the final stage of the Tour of Missouri.

Tim Johnson returns as road captain, following yet another stellar cyclocross season that saw him win his third elite national championship. Johnson has been a team leader for three years now, and applies his vast tactical knowledge like an extra directeur sportif.

“As a team, we have a huge amount of optimism for the 2010 season,” Johnson said. “We’re really set up well with the guys we have, with the motivation and support, to have one of the best seasons ever, not just in results but in the way we race. You need a group of guys you can trust to get the job done, and we have that.”

Fraser Returns

One other important addition to the organization is the return of Gord Fraser, who will be one of the team’s directeur sportifs. Fraser was a pillar of the team from its first year in 2003 until he retired after the 2006 season.

“I had a really good experience in 2009 in my first year of directing with Team Type 1, but it’s really great to come back to this program,” Fraser said. dquo;I have a lot of pride in having helped build this team from its beginning in 2003 into a national power. I’m looking forward to working with Karl and Tim again, and I’m really excited to be working with the young guys, especially Eric, Jake and Jonny, and turning them into top sprinters.”

In his career, Fraser racked up over 200 wins, went to the Olympics three times and won just about every major race in North America, as well as winning a stage of the Criterium International in France. Fraser not only brings this vast racing experience to the team, but also the knowledge of training and nutrition he’s built the past couple years as a coach with Carmichael Training Systems.

“My experience with CTS the past few years can also help guide our riders in 2010,” Fraser said. “I can also serve as a liaison with the riders’ coaches, coordinate training programs and make sure the riders are peaking at the right time for races.”

Above all, Fraser noted, “We have a great new sponsor, and I’m really looking forward to working with them to achieve their goals for the sponsorship, and help them further their mission of promoting healthy lifestyles. I’ve actually had UnitedHealthcare as my insurance provider through CTS the past couple years, so I have a first-hand knowledge of their great service. This is my chance to re-pay them a bit, too.”

Just a tease of the national champion's BMC kit

This image comes courtesy of Craig Lewis‘ twitter account. As I looked at the image I pondered, “If I publish it will I find myself thrown out of Greenville (yes, the Hincapie’s do have that type of power)?” Then I figured, if it wasn’t me it would be someone else posting this photo. So for your enjoyment and continual speculation a tiny tease of the Hincapie national championship kit.  Looks like we’ll have to wait till early January for a full frontal of the complete kit.