Endura Racing bound for Tour of Med
The Rob Hayles-led Endura Racing team was presented in Silverstone last week, and should be an interesting one to watch this season.
Joining Rob Hayles as one of the team's top riders is 28 year-old Frenchman Alexandre Blain. Like Hayles, Blain has ProTour team experience with the French Cofidis squad. The 15 man team also contains a couple of New Zealand riders, current national champion Jack Bauer and Jason Christie, backed up by plenty of UK talent.
The team's racing programme will regularly take them beyond the UK's shores, with early season appointments at the Tour of Mediterranean (Feb 10-14), Tour du Haut Var (Feb 20) and Tour of Murcia (Mar 3-7). On the home front, they'll be competing in the Tours of Britain and Ireland, Tour Series criteriums and the Premier Calendar road races as part of a packed schedule.
"We are all looking forward to getting out there and riding," said Hayles at the launch. "We have the Tour of Mediterranean in early February, and then the whole of the squad convene in Nice on the 15th of Feb for our first full training camp."
The team is sponsored by Endura clothing and Fisher Outdoor Leisure, which means they'll be riding on LOOK bikes equipped with SRAM, MET helmets and Tacx trainers.
Team roster: Rob Hayles (GBr), James Moss (GBr), Jack Bauer (NZ), Evan Oliphant (GBr), Jason Christie (NZ), Rob Partridge (GBr), Ross Creber (GBr), Scott Thwaites (GBr), Gary Hand (GBr), Callum Wilkinson (GBr), David Lines (GBr), Ian Wilkinson (GBr), James McCallum (GBr), Alexander King (GBr) and Alexandre Blain (Fra). Management: Jim McFarlane (director), Garry Beckett (team manager), Jonathan MacBain and Brendan Milliken (mechanics), Ollie Fox (race/licence admin), Martin Steele (PR), and Pamela Barclay (product development director, Endura).
For more, visit www.enduraracing.com
Rapha Condor Sharp targeting Tour Series
Rapha Condor Sharp is about to commence its fourth season, and has established itself as one of the top teams on the UK circuit.
The squad has retained the impressive Kristian House, who beat some very well established pros to win the British road race championship in Wales last year. Alongside House is Dean Downing, who will spearhead the team's tilt at the Tour Series criteriums in this year.
Chris Newton and Tom Southam add experience to the squad while Australians Zak Dempster, Darren Lapthorne and Dean Windsor and South African Dan Craven give it some antipodean flavour.
Rapha Condor Sharp team director John Herety has had time over winter to set the objectives for the squad: "In 2009 we went into the winter with a lot of uncertainty over the UK calendar," he said. "We didn’t really know what the Tour Series was going to be and what effect that would have on the calendar - we had to hedge our bets a little to make sure we weren't left exposed.
"For 2010 the certainty that the Tour Series will continue and the growth of the national circuit series means we've been able to invest in a number of riders who can focus on that side of the sport whilst at the same time ensuring we’re well equipped for the bigger road and stage races.
"The squad splits into three really, guys for the crits, guys for the road and those who can do both. I think we'll perform well on all fronts this year."
The team will once again ride Condor bikes equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace componentry.
Team roster: Graham Briggs (GBr), Dan Craven (RSA), Matt Cronshaw (GBr), Zak Dempster (Aus), Dean Downing (GBr), Ben Greenwood (GBr), Kristian House (GBr), Darren Lapthorne (Aus), Chris Newton (GBr), Tom Southam (GBr), Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GBr), Dean Windsor (Aus). Management: John Herety (directeur sportif), Andy Verrall (mechanic), Phil West (assistant mechanic), Martyn Franks (masseur), Paul Rowlands (press and sponsorship).
More information: www.raphacondorsharp.cc
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