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North American News: Roster additions and announcements

By VeloNews Interactive, and press releases
Published: Dec. 22, 2005

Health Net-Maxxis adds Roulston
The Health Net Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis has made one final, significant addition to its 2006 roster: New Zealander Hayden Roulston. The Kiwi joins compatriot Greg Henderson on North America’s top team after departing from Discovery Channel.

"Hayden is a big addition to our squad," said Greg Raifman, chairman and CEO of Momentum Sports Group, which owns and operates the Health Net team. "He gives us another strong engine in our lead-out train, a strong rider for the one-day races and adds significant international experience as our team steps up to Continental Pro level and makes trips overseas."

Team director Jeff Corbett also noted the importance of Roulston’s international experience and success. "He has World Cup and world-championship medals on the track, has ridden at the ProTour level for both Cofidis and Discovery and has scored top-10 finishes in semi-classics like Kurne-Brussels-Kurne and Classico Haribo," Corbett said. "He’s only 24 and still has his best years ahead of him."

Roulston comes to Health Net from Discovery following an October conviction for disorderly behavior for his involvement in a brawl outside a bar in Timaru, New Zealand. In mid-November Discovery reported that Roulston had "voluntarily asked for his release from the team." Roulston spent much of 2005 on the injury list and was unable to make a significant contribution to Discovery. He was among 12 riders set to take part in the team's annual December training camp in Austin, Texas, when he announced his resignation.

"Although it was me who asked to leave the team, it was still a very hard and emotional decision to make," Roulston said. "The team has been nothing but supportive through this very difficult year and I thank them for that."

Roulston will join the Health Net team at its training camp in January.

Carney to direct Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada
The Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team has announced the signing of Jonas Carney, a former Olympian and 25-time U.S. national champion, as its team director for the 2006 season.

Carney, who retired from racing in 2004 after 15 seasons as a professional cyclist, said, "After a year away from racing, the chance to join Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada was the right opportunity at the right time."

After beginning his cycling career at age 8 on the Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Pennsylvania, Carney went on to win eight national titles as a junior and 17 as an elite rider, culminating with his second USPRO criterium championship in 2004, his final year of racing.

In this next phase of his career, Carney's responsibilities will include developing Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada's race schedule, managing the team on the road and executing its race-day strategy. Having been a member of some of domestic cycling's legendary teams, Carney, 34, hopes to apply his vast experience to the young squad.

"I'm looking forward to challenging our riders to race like a team and collectively exceed their potential. I've been on teams that have raced that way and I know that this team has what it takes," Carney said.

Operations manager Kurt Stockton added: "The great advantage of Jonas as a team director is that he has competed not just against almost all of the current crop of riders, but also against the other directors. Jonas is an important piece of the puzzle for us and he'll help in the development of all our riders, especially our young sprinters."

Carney's unexpected arrival at last week’s "Beer Camp" at the Sierra Nevada brewery in Chico, California, was welcomed by team members like Ben Jacques-Maynes, who said, "We were surprised and excited to see Jonas Carney at our Beer Camp. He brings a wealth of experience to the team and we're looking forward to his leadership to help us win more races."

For more information, see www.KGSNCycling.com.

Targetraining goes UCI continental for 2006
The domestic road team Targetraining has announced that it will return to the U.S. professional peloton as a UCI Continental team for 2006. The team will focus on USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar circuit.

The team has brought in former USPRO national champion Tom Schuler as team manager. Schuler joins Targetraining from the Advantage Benefits-Endeavour team; prior to that he managed the Saturn Cycling program. Rick Crawford, director of the top-ranked Fort Lewis College cycling program, will serve as head coach. Crawford has groomed a list of cyclists that include Levi Leipheimer, Tom Danielson and Chris Wherry. The squad will be co-captained by Anthony Colby and Frank Pipp. Anthony has shown strong climbing ability, winning the Green Mountain Stage Race in Vermont, finishing second to Tyler Hamilton in the Mount Washington Hill Climb, and placing well in a number of NRC events. Pipp led the Advantage Benefits-Endeavour team in 2005 and won the 2005 Superweek sprinters title.

A promising squad joins the co-captains, including recently crowned national elite cyclo-cross champion Todd Wells, who will split his 2006 season, riding with Targetraining while continuing to pursue his professional mountain-biking career. Collegiate mountain-bike stars Matt Shriver (Fort Lewis) and Josh Bezecny (Colorado) will also spend their 2006 seasons on the road with Targetraining.

Other additions include Alejandro Acton, a podium finisher at the Athens Twilight Criterium and stage racers Ryan Blickem and Dustin MacBurnie. Rounding out the roster are Eneas Freyre, Dan Greenfield and Wes Hartman. "We are a company devoted to help our clients attain excellence in everyday fitness and in competition," said Rick Spear, CEO of Targetraining. "The team shows investment both in the sport as well as in athletes that we work with and develop. Tom Schuler and Rick Crawford bring patience, insight and the will to succeed. Together, Tom and Rick will give our racers the best chance to excel."

Sponsors include GT Bicycles, Champion System (clothing), American Classic (wheels), Full Speed Ahead (cranks), Profile Design (handlebars and stems), Speedplay (pedals), Michelin (tires) and Rudy Project (helmets and sunglasses).

For more, see www.targetraining.com.

Colavita-Cooking Light beefs up, adding Pic, Ourada
After signing 2005 NRC champion Tina Pic and other former members of the Quark squad, the Colavita-Cooking Light women’s cycling team will enter the 2006 racing season with its strongest lineup to date.

Returning to the team is Canadian time trial champion and Fitchburg-Longsjo winner Sue Palmer-Komar, as well as Dotsie Cowden, who distinguished herself with breakthrough rides at the Tour of Gila and Tour of Altoona. The team has also signed Victory Brewing’s top sprinter, Canadian Gina Grain.

"We are very excited about the upcoming season," said John Profaci, Jr., vice president of marketing for Colavita Olive Oil. "With a combined total of more than 50 domestic and international wins over the last two years, this foursome will be among the most formidable competitors in the North American peloton." New for 2006 are Pic, a four-time national criterium champion; Audrey Lemieux, the Canadian speed skater-turned-cyclist, also a member of last year’s Quark team; Brooke Ourada, formerly of T-Mobile; Sima Trapp, who has qualified for the USA track talent pool for 2006; Sarah Tillotson, in her first full year on the NRC; and Iona Wynter, who rode for Travel Girls and Quark last year. Team Sports will provide management for the team, under the leadership of former Quark director Jim Williams.

The team’s co-title sponsors are Colavita Olive Oil, a leading marketer of Italian specialty food products, and Cooking Light magazine, one of the world’s largest food magazines. Contributing sponsors include Blue Competition Cycles, which is equipping the team with RC-6 bicycles; Quark Footwear, makers of casual shoes and sandals; and Shimano, suppliers of bicycle components, pedals, wheels, and shoes. Additional sponsors include Giordana, Profile Design, Michelin Tires, Rudy Project, San Marco, Park Tools, Pedro’s, Trinchero Family Estates, Amino Vital and The Olive Garden Restaurants. Spike squad announces roster, sponsorship
The Spike professional cycling team has announced its 2006 roster and a bicycle sponsorship from Raleigh America.

The Spike Pro Track team, based in Colorado Springs, comprises nine of America’s top male and female track cyclists: Steven Alfred, Benjamin Barczewski, Michael Blatchford, Andrew Lakatosh, Ryan Luttrell, Giddeon Massie, Becky Quinn, Jennie Reed and Kevin Suhr. The team will target the USA/UCI national track series, USA Cycling’s national track championships, USA Cycling World Cup qualifier events and select World Cup track events beginning in January 2006.

Riders will train and compete on Raleigh Team road bikes and track framesets.

"We wanted to partner with a bike sponsor and industry leader that had a legitimate track-racing heritage to give the team the advantage we need to succeed," team director Bill Ramsay said.

Raleigh America marketing director Reed Pike added: "This sponsorship continues a long history and winning heritage for the Raleigh brand in track racing. Highlights include multiple British and world championships won by Reg Harris in the 1940s and 1950s as well as the successes of U.S. Olympians in the 1984 Olympic Games."

In addition to the pro track team, Raleigh America will sponsor the elite Spike masters team. The team will contest Colorado road, cyclo-cross and track events as well as USA Cycling road, track and cyclo-cross national championships in 2006. Raleigh America, Inc., based in Kent, Washington, supplies road, mountain, comfort, and recreational bicycles and accessories. Spike, a product of BioTest laboratories based in Colorado Springs, is a dietary supplement available nationwide at GNC stores. Other sponsors include Rudy Project USA, Zipp Speed Weaponry, Thule, VERMARC USA, Great Divide Brewing Company, Cody Design, Inc., Cody Racing Support, Inc., Sampson Sports, SOS Socks and Mike Shaw Buick Pontiac GMC.

Broadmark Capital-Hammer Nutrition names roster, sponsors
U.S. elite national road champ Carl Decker is among the riders returning to the Seattle-based Broadmark Capital-Hammer Nutrition cycling team for 2006.

Also returning to the quad are Andrew Fischer; Kiwi Adam Curry; fast finisher Owen Gue; and time-trial specialist Justin Morgan. New to the elite team will be Chad Nikolz, who joins the team from a local Seattle squad, The Benoroya Research Institute. Nikolz is another fast finisher and solid worker who plans to better his podium finishes from the 2005 BC Superweek and Mt. Hood Classic. Also racing select events with the elite team will be Washington State criterium champion, Anton Jackson, climbing specialist Solomon Woras and collegiate national champion Nick Clayville.

The amateur development team saw two riders "graduate" to pro teams for 2006. Canadian Dustin MacBurnie, winner of the Tour de White Rock, has signed with Targetraining, while Tom Peterson has joined TIAA-CREF. Fourteen Broadmark riders have obtained pro contracts in the past six years, including Tyler Farrar (Cofidis), Doug Ollerenshaw (Health Net-Maxxis) and Svein Tuft and Cam Evans (Symmetrics).

Broadmark Capital Corporation, a national investment bank, again supports the team. Hammer Nutrition has increased its support and will be co-title sponsor. Also new will be the addition of Ridley Bicycles as the official team bike supplier. Other sponsors include IRC Tires, Performance Bike, Private Lenders Group, Squadra Clothing, Smith Glasses, Giro Helmets, Easton Components and Wheels, TIME Pedals and Shoes, CapoForma socks and accessories, Velo saddles, Zoka’s Coffee, Thule, SKS, Real Rehab, Cateye Computers, Physical Therapy, Chef ‘n, Skyhawks and Dumonde Tech.

For more, see the team’s website at www.broadmarkcycling.com.

The 2006 Broadmark Capital Cycling Team
Carl Decker, Cat 1 (Bend, OR)
Andrew Fischer, Cat 1 (Bend, OR)
Owen Gue, Cat 1, U23 (Missoula, MT)
Adam Curry, Cat 1, U23 (Portland, OR)
Chad Nichols, Cat 1 (Seattle, WA)
Justin Morgan, Cat 1, U23 (Bainbridge Island, WA)
Solomon Woras, Cat 1 (Portland, OR)
Nick Clayville, Cat 1 (Bellingham, WA)
Anton Jackson, Cat 1 (Seattle, WA)
Ian Tubbs, Cat 1 (Bellevue, WA)
Morgan Schmitt, Cat 2, U23 (Seattle, WA)
Dan Neyens, Cat 2, U23 (Seattle, WA)
Sean Van Horn, Cat 2, U23 (Boulder, CO)
Taylor Kneuven, Cat 2 , U23 (Boulder, CO)
Noah Young, Cat 1, U23 (Boulder, CO)
Andrew McDermid, Cat 1 (Spokane, WA)
Sam Johnson, Cat 2 (Walla Walla, WA)
Alex Newport-Berra, Cat 2 (Corvallis OR)
Dan Watson, Cat 2 (Corvallis, OR)
Joseph King, Cat 2 (Eugene, OR)
Devin Bodony-Johnson, Cat 2, U23 (Bainbridge Island WA)
Russell Cree, Cat 1 (Bellevue, WA)
Mike Hone, Cat 1 (Seattle, WA)
Seth Davis, Cat 1 (Seattle, WA)
Evan Lawrence, Cat 1 (Seattle, WA)
Richard McClung, Cat 1 (Seattle, WA)
Team Inferno becomes Abercrombie & Fitch-Inferno
Abercrombie & Fitch, the fashion clothing company with retail stores in several countries and Web sales across the world, has partnered with Team Inferno to take over as title sponsor of the team. The professional/elite men’s team will now be known as Abercrombie & Fitch presented by Inferno Racing Cycling Team, or A&F-Inferno.

Joining forces with the Inferno Racing Cycling Team was seen as a way for Abercrombie & Fitch to further its youth-oriented market image and promote the healthy lifestyle associated with cycling. Abercrombie & Fitch was also attracted to the team for its charitable work with organizations like the Lance Armstrong Foundation and others.

"Who could ask for a cooler sponsor?" said Chad Thompson, president and CEO of Inferno Racing LLC. "I mean, really, cool clothes, youthful image and healthy people. It all goes hand in hand with what cycling is all about. We are so proud to bring such a great company into the mainstream of the cycling world and cycling into the mainstream of the public audience even further."

With its increased budget, the team will be able to support racing at multiple and concurrent events during the season, as well as fund the necessary support staff for a full season of racing premier events in the U.S. The team’s primary sponsors are Abercrombie & Fitch, Inferno Racing, LLC, MATTEO Studios, Masi Bicycles, Kenda Tire, Spinergy Wheels, Thomson stems and seatposts, Kestrel carbon fiber forks and handlebars, Crank Brothers pedals, Verge Sport team clothing, Paceline Products chamois crème, Vittoria shoes, Rudy Project helmets, glasses and bags, and Saris/Cycle-Ops bike racks, trainers and performance training products.

The 2006 A&F-Inferno 2006 team roster
David Adams
Andrew Applegate
Jim Baldesare (2002 national elite criterium champion)
Ryan Gamm
Jeremy Grimm (2005 Ohio state criterium champion)
Jered Gruber
Rich Harper (2005 Georgia Cup Champion)
Mark Hekman
Abe McNutt
Malachi Peacock
Ryan Rish
Todd Shaker
Tim Swain
Chad Thompson (team director/rider)