PLOWMAN CRAVEN STEP UP A LEVEL

HAVING achieved most of their aims in the field of domestic track and criterium racing last season, the Plowman Craven Racing Team have stepped up a level for 2007, joining up with new co-sponsor Evans Cycles and registering as a UCI Continental trade team.

At their presentation in London?s Sports Café, the team revealed their new line-up, plans for the season and a new pink and blue strip. Retaining the services of national criterium champion James Taylor and his national Madison championship winning partner Tony Gibb, the team have bolstered their roster with the addition of former Premier Calendar winner Gordon McCauley, strong time triallist James Millard and accomplished road and track man Simon Gaywood.

Also new to the team for the upcoming season are Commonwealth Games Medalist James McCullum, his fellow Scot Kevin Barclay and McCauley?s fellow New Zealander Brian Briggs. These latter two riders will join Adam Norris and Swede Freddy Johansson as the under-23 riders on the team.

Although the team?s programme will remain similar to last year with a strong focus on track and circuit racing, there will also be a greater emphasis on domestic and continental road racing. No race programme has fully been decided yet but getting a ride in the Tour of Britain is big on the team?s agenda.

The team?s biggest signing for the new season is Gordon McCauley, who in 1999 became the first, and remains the only, non-British national to win the Premier Calendar. In many respects, McCauley will make up for the departure of National Circuit Race Series champion Malcolm Elliott, who is remaining loyal to the team?s former co-sponsor, Yellow Ltd, with their revamped Pinarello RT.

McCauley returns to the UK having spent the last few years based with teams in Belgium, the USA and back in his homeland. Last year he won a medal in the Commonwealth Games time trial.