KINESIS SQUAD EXPANDS FOR 2009

It is all change at Kinesis next season as seven new riders come in to form an expanded eight-man squad, including two Canadians.

The small-budget team ? to be known as KUK Kinesis ? impressed many in 2008 and featured in most Premier Calendar races mixing it with the big-name squads. Highlights included Kit Gilham wearing the pink King of the Mountains jersey at the eight-day FBD Insurance Ras in Ireland and Tom Last finishing second in the under-23 category at the Tour Of Serbia.

Last also managed one of the comedy moments of the year at the Chas Messenger two-day, raising his arms in celebration approaching the line on the final stage, only for Russell Downing to nip through and take the win.

Four of Kinesis? top riders move on to new teams, with Matt Cronshaw going to Rapha-Condor, James Sampson to CandiTV-Pinarello and both Kit Gilham and Tom Last signing for Sigma Sport.

Team manager Chris Truett remains upbeat for the upcoming season despite the losses. ?We have lost most our riders to pro teams, but this has been a good thing for them and the team has moved on,? he said. ?It?s disappointing for me as manager that we couldn?t keep them, or have them grow with the team, but we simply couldn?t afford to keep hold of the riders because of our limited budget.?

Kinesis has already received invites for the Ras and Tour of Serbia. Truett met Canadians Alex Bhogal and Vincent Veilleux at last year?s the Tour of Tobago after the bankruptcy of Zoom Airlines left the riders stranded in the UK and Truett on the island with no team to manage, so he volunteered for team car driving duties with the Canadians.

KUK Kinesis riders 2009

Steve Lampier

Matthew Kipling

James Stewart

Rab Wardell

James Moss

Jack Pullar

Alex Bhogal

Vincent Veilleux.

PREMIER CALENDAR 2008

2008 Premier Calendar index

PREMIER CALENDAR 2008: CYCLING WEEKLY'S COVERAGE

Click on the links to find our more about each race.

RICHMOND GP

Report: Downing takes his seventh Premier Calendar of the year

Preview

TOUR OF PENDLE

Report: Hayles takes Tour of Pendle

Preview

EAST YORKSHIRE CLASSIC

Report: Russell Downing yet again

Preview

TOUR OF BLACKPOOL

Report: Russell Downing wins again

Preview

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROAD RACE

Report: Hayles is the national champion

News: Gossip from the National Champs

Preview: Who's going to win?

Preview: Ask the textperts

Preview: The riders' verdicts

Cycling Weekly Classic: From the Archives, Robert Millar's Island Magic 1995

The Big Preview

British National Championships roll of honour

GP OF WALES

Report: Russell Downing wins in Wales

Preview

BEAUMONT TROPHY

Report: Hayles wins his first of the season

Preview

LINCOLN GP

Analysis: Battle of the Brothers

Analysis: Should they rename Michaelgate Downing Street?

Report: Russell Downing wins

Preview

CHAS MESSENGER

Analysis: Battle of the Brothers

Report day two: Russell Downing wins

Report day one

Preview

EAST MIDLANDS CICLE CLASSIC

How the Irish pulled off a coup

Reaction and analysis

Report: Ciaran Power wins

Preview

TOUR OF THE RESERVOIR

Analysis: Battle of the Brothers

Report: Russell Downing wins Tour of the Reservoir

Preview

GIRVAN

Analysis: Battle of the Brothers

Report: Russell Downing wins the Girvan overall

Report: Partridge wins stage three

Report: Downing makes it two in a row

Report: Russell Downing wins stage one

Preview: Can Oliphant end 21 years of hurt?

BIKELINE

Analysis

Report: Dean Downing wins overall

Report: Oliphant takes stage two

Report: Wilkinson wins stage one time trial

Preview