14 August 2015

List of pro racers for USA Pro Challenge 2015

Startlists announced today (Friday)

Big news this morning: three days before the stage race begins, we know who will be racing in Colorado. This race has started out exciting from the get-go as rider rosters were released just this morning. I am informed by Heather Krug, of the USA Pro Challenge that these very international lists of riders are preliminary and might change prior to Monday's start in Steamboats Springs.

Final roster list: print it out 2015 Mens Roster

Taylor Phinney is back! I am so excited for him, and for us. Peter Stetina is back as well. Both Stetina and Phinney raced last week at Tour of Utah. Michael Schär returns once again and is guaranteed to light up the race as he has done in past years along with his teammate Brent Bookwalter, another racer often seen on podiums in Colorado.

I have my favorites that I like to see at the race every year, always wishing them well during the race:  Matthew Busche (current USA National Champion Road), Eric Marcotte (former USA National Champion Road), Lachlan Norris, Lachlan David Morton, Kiel Reijnen, Danny Summerhill, Tanner Putt, Ted King, Phil Gaimon, Tom Zirbel, James Oram, Logan Owen, Robin Carpenter and many more

There are some teams that both deserve, and will get, much attention at the race this year, they are: The Cycling Academy out of Israel; Team SmartStop, for their smart racing and animated team directors; BMC racing for their attempt to win a third year in a row; United Healthcare, a team name we will hear very often in the coming week; Axeon, with it's squad of pure talent and it's Team Director Axel Merckx and of course the talented crew at Hincapie Racing.

The press release this morning announcing the teams, reported, Both Hincapie and Axeon teams are predominantly 19 to 23 year-olds and have become feeders to the big World Tour teams like BMC, Trek, Cannondale-Garmin and Tinkoff-Saxo, which are all in the race. “We have a lot of good up and coming guys, for sure,” said Axeon General Manager Axel Merckx, a master at recruiting young talent. “These guys aren’t afraid of anyone.”

Here is my tip - keep your eye on:
  • Kiel Reijnen of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team.
  • Brent Bookwalter of BMC
  • Lachlan Norris of Drapac Pro Cycling 
  • Lachlan David Morton of Jelly Belly
  • Tao Geoghegan Hart of Axeon
  • Robbie Squire of Hincapie, riding in support of his team leader Dion Smith
  • Janez Brajkovic of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team
Local Colorado announcer Larry Grossman is on his way to Steamboat Springs this morning - more good news for spectators. You will enjoy Larry's smooth tone and informed commentary very much. He knows many of these racers very well and should add much to race events. I know I will be listening for his inside scoop.

More from Pedal Dancer®: Men's Teams Announced | Women's Teams & Riders | General Guide Page: USA PRO CHALLENGE

Off to the races. See you in Steamboat Springs COLORADO! Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

WorldTeams

BMC Racing
1 – Rohan Dennis (Aus)
2 – Brent Bookwalter (USA)
3 – Damiano Caruso (I)
4 – Kilian Frankiny (Swi)
5 – Taylor Phinney (USA)
6 – Michael Schär (Swi)
7 – Manuel Senni (I)
8 – Peter Stetina (USA)
Directors: Jackson Stewart, Fabio Baldato

Tinkoff-Saxo
11 – Roman Kreuziger (Cz)
12 – Eduard Beltran Suarez (Col)
13 – Felix Grossscharther (A)
14 – Jesús Hernández Blazquez (Sp)
15 – Bruno Pires (P)
16 – Ivan Rovny (Rus)
17 – Chris Anker Sørensen (Dk)
Directors: Lars Michaelsen, Toni Gluseppe

Trek Factory Racing
21 – Matthew Busche (USA)
22 – Julian Arredondo (Col)
23 – Leonardo Basso (I)
24 – Julian Bernard (F)
25 – Laurent Didier (Lux)
26 – Jesse Sergent (NZ)
27 – Fabio Silvestre (P)
28 – Calvin Watson (Aus)
Directors: Kim Andersen

Cannondale-Garmin
31 – Davide Formolo (I)
32 – Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col)
33 – Jasper Bovenhuis (Nl)
34 – Nathan Brown (USA)
35 – Edward King (USA)
36 – Kristoffer Skjerping (N)
37 – Ruben Zepuntke (G)
Directors: Charly Wegelius, Eric Vanlancker

Pro Continental teams

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
41 – Heiner Parra Bustamante (Col)
42 – Hugh Carthy (GB)
43 – Fabricio Ferrari Barceló (Ur)
44 – Ángel Madrazo Ruiz (Sp)
45 – Antonio Molina (Sp)
46 – Kyle Murphy (USA)
47 – Jaime Rosón García (Sp)
Directors: Jose Miguel Fernandez Reviejo

UnitedHealthcare
51 – Janez Brajkovic (Slo)
52 – Marco Canola (I)
53 – Jonathan Clarke (Aus)
54 – Christopher Jones (USA)
55 – John Murphy (USA)
56 – Tanner Putt (USA)
57 – Kiel Reijnen (USA)
58 – Daniel Summerhill (USA)
Directors: Mike Tamayo, Hendrik Redant

Drapac
61 – Lachlan Norris (Aus)
62 – William Clarke (Aus)
63 – Dylan Girdlestone (SA)
64 – Jordan Kerby (Aus)
65 – Martin Kohler (Swi)
66 – Adam Phelan (Aus)
67 – Timothy Roe (Aus)
68 – Samuel Spokes (Aus)
Directors: Tom Southam, Jon Breekveldt

Novo Nordisk
71 – Javier Megias Leal (Sp)
72 – Corentin Cherhal (F)
73 – Kevin De Mesmaeker (B)
74 – Benjamin Dilley (USA)
75 – Nicolas Lefrancois (F)
76 – David Lozano Riba (Sp)
77 – Charles Planet (F)
78 – Martijn Verschoor (Nl)
Directors: Vassili Davidenko, P. Cherkasov

Continental teams

Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies
81 – Phillip Gaimon (USA)
82 – Ryan Anderson (Can)
83 – Guillaume Boivin (Can)
84 – Charles Bradley Huff (USA)
85 – Pierrick Naud (Can)
86 – Will Routley (Can)
87 – Eric Young (USA)
88 – Tom Zirbel (USA)
Directors: Jonas Carney, Eric Wohlberg

Hincapie Racing
91 – Dion Smith (NZ)
92 – Andzs Flaksis (Lat)
93 – Robin Carpenter (USA)
94 – Oscar Clark (USA)
95 – Joseph Lewis (Aus)
96 – Toms Skujins (Lat)
97 – Joseph Schmalz (USA)
98 – Robbie Squire (USA)
Directors: Thomas Craven, Chris Wherry

Team SmartStop
101 – Rob Britton (USA)
102 – Flavio De Luna (Mex)
103 – Evan Huffman (USA)
104 – Jure Kocjan (Slo)
105 – Julian Kyer (USA)
106 – Eric Marcotte (USA)
107 – Travis McCabe (USA)
108 – Emerson Oronte (USA)
Directors: Michael Creed, Nick Traggis

Jamis-Hagens Berman
111 – Daniel Jaramillo Diez (Col)
112 – Gregory Brenes Obando (CR)
113 – Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg)
114 – Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)
115 – Stephen Leece (USA)
116 – Carson Miller (USA)
117 – Luis Romero Amaran (Cub)
118 –David Williams USA
Directors: Sebastian Alexandre, Hugo Pratissoli

Jelly Belly-Maxxis
121 – Lachlan David Morton (Aus)
122 – Alexandr Braico (Mol)
123 – Steve Fisher (USA)
124 – Gavin Mannion (USA)
125 – Angus Morton (Aus)
126 – Taylor Sheldon (USA)
127 – Erik Slack (USA)
128 – Nicolae Tanovitchii (Mol)
Directors: Danny Van Haute, Matthew Rice

Axeon
131 – Gregory Daniel (USA)
132 – Daniel Eaton (USA)
133 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (GB)
134 – Ruben Guerreiro (P)
135 – James Oram (NZ)
136 – Logan Owen (USA)
137 – Chris Putt (USA)
138 – Keegan Swirbul (USA)
Director: Axel Merckx

Budget Forklifts
141 – Jack Bobridge (Aus)
142 – Jack Anderson (Aus)
143 – Daniel Barry (NZ)
144 – Josh Berry (Aus)
145 – Brendan Canty (Aus)
146 – Tommy Nankervis (Aus)
147 – Brodie Talbot (Aus)
148 – Michael Torckler (NZ)
Directors: Cameron Watt, Shaun McCarthy

Cycling Academy
151 – Yoav Bar (Isr)
152 – Antonio Angulo Sampedro (Sp)
153 – Guy Gabay (Isr)
154 – Lubos Malovec (Svk)
155 – Wojciech Migdal (Pl)
156 – Emanuel Piaskowy (Pl)
157 – Daniel Turek (Cz)
158 – Bartosz Warchol (Pl)
Directors: Ran Margaliot, Jan Valach