A new under-23 road cycling team designed to identify and develop British talent has been unveiled.
Madison Genesis will be managed by former British Pro Roger Hammond and is applying for UCI Continental status for the 2013 season. Much like the Madison Saracen downhill team, the team will focus its attention on young riders with the potential to forge successful careers in professional cycling. The team and its roster will be officially announced at the London Bike Show at the ExCel in January.
The team, with Genesis on-board as co-sponsor, will ride steel frames rather than the carbon bikes that dominate racing of today and have worked closely with Reynolds to produce a frame capable of contending for wins.
Madison CEO Dominic Langan said that while the project had been in the pipeline for several years, it was only now they felt confident to take it to the next level.
“Genesis and Madison are great brands close to my heart and just as we help develop UK talent with the Madison Saracen DH team, we want to achieve the same with UK road cycling talent,” he said. “This is a long-term commitment from Madison and we are making sure we do it properly. To have Roger as manager with his wealth of cycling experience both on the bike and from an engineering perspective is a real privilege.”
Hammond added that it was his desire to pass on knowledge to young British riders without them experiencing the hard lessons he went through which was a big motivation in joining the team.
“When Madison presented the idea of their new under-23 team, I knew I had to be part of it," he said. "From the conception of the project, through the design of the bikes and clothing, I have been able to get deeply involved in the preparations for the new season. It has been both interesting and absorbing and I believe with the backing of professionally run brands such as Madison and Genesis, we can create an environment where partners and riders alike can reach their full potential in the shortest possible time.”
