PRE-SEASON PREPARATIONS FOR BRITISH TEAMS
The winter transfer merry-go-round is finally over and the British teams can settle down and focus on the serious business of winning bike races.
This year?s Premier Calendar series kicks off on March 14 with the Bikeline Two Day in Flintshire, North Wales, and ends at the Richmond GP in August, with a healthy total of 13 events in all.
Throw in three separate circuit race series and a smattering of foreign stage races some of the bigger teams are riding and you have a very busy summer for the home-based bunch.
CandiTV-Pinarello |
RIDERS
Russell Downing
Malcolm Elliott
Graham Briggs
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Peter Williams
Andy Roche
Lee Davis
Dale Appleby
James Sampson
MANAGER
Phil Griffiths
BIKES
Pinarello
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
A ten-day training camp in Lanzarote for the squad, followed by seven days back home before a 10-day stint in Majorca.
FIRST RACES
Russell Downing, Malcolm Elliott and two other (as yet) unnamed riders head to Singapore in February.
Rapha-Condor |
RIDERS
Dean Downing
Chris Newton
Kristian House
Ben Greenwood
Rhys Lloyd
Tom Southam
Simon Richardson
Matt Cronshaw
Liam Holohan
Darren Lapthorne
Mike Rudling
Dan Craven
MANAGER
John Herety
BIKES
Condor
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
The bulk of the 12-man outfit has just completed a training camp in Gascony, South-West France, with manager John Herety, while four of the team train in Australia and Chris Newton hooks up with the national squad. The team launch takes place this week (January 23) in London, after which the luxurious surroundings of Reads Hotel in Majorca becomes base for another week of training
FIRST RACES
Two South African stage races, the Tour of Boland and the Giro del Capo, kick-start the season starting February 21. Those riders not making the long haul trip will fly the Rapha flag at the Eddie Soens on March 9.
Plowman Craven-Madison |
RIDERS
Tony Gibb
Jeroen Janssen
Jon Mozley
Stephen Adams
Tom Barras
Evan Oliphant
Tom Murray
Jon Tiernan-Locke
Ross Creber
MANAGER
Eddie White
BIKES
Cervélo
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Evan Oliphant, third overall finisher in the 2008 Premier Calendar, returns from his usual winter of racing and training in Australia. The remaining nine riders are currently training together at weekends before flying out to Majorca.
FIRST RACES
Plowmans kick off with the Tour of Majorca, starting on February 4. The five-stage season-opener attracts plenty of top teams ? Rabobank, Caisse D?Epargne and Quick Step rode in 2008 ? so the boys in pink will have their work cut out. The squad stay on the island for another 10 days for some (hopefully) warm weather training, with an invite to the Giro del Capo stage race in South Africa in early March currently being considered.
Halfords Bikehut |
RIDERS
Rob Hayles
Ed Clancy
Andy Tennant
Mark McNally
Ian Wilkinson
Rob Partridge
Ian Bibby
David Fletcher
MANAGER
Keith Lambert
BIKES
Boardman
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Training camp in Majorca
FIRST RACES
The Eddie Soens at Aintree racecourse on March 7 followed a week later by the opening Premier Calendar round of the season, the Bikeline Two Day in North Wales.
Kinesis |
RIDERS
Steve Lampier
Matthew Kipling
James Stewart
Rab Wardell
James Moss
Jack Pullar
Alex Bhogal
Vincent Veilleux
MANAGER
Chris Truett
BIKES
Kinesis
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
The all-new line up had a team get-together in Southport recently and head to Playa la Carmen in Lanzarote for a 12-day training camp in early February.
FIRST RACES
The Eddie Soens on March 7.
Sigma Sport-Specialized-Sportful |
RIDERS
Matt Stephens
Robin Sharman
Kit Gilham
Wouter Sybrandy
Andrew Bye
Neil Swithenbank
James Williamson
Dan Duguid
Tom Last
MANAGER
Matt Stephens
BIKES
Specialized
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Three-day training camp in Cheshire.
FIRST RACES
The Circuit of Ashurst on March 1.
Sports Beans-Wilier |
RIDERS
Ben Luckwell
Grant Bayton
Marcin Bialoblocki
Will Bjergfelt
Richard Wilkinson
Mark Perry
Billy Jo Whenman
MANAGER
Clive Richardson
BIKES
Wilier
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Training on home roads before a week long camp in Granada, Spain, starting February 21.
FIRST RACES
Severn Bridge Road Race on March 1.
Team Corley Cycles |
RIDERS
Roy Chamberlain
Matt Higgins
Simon Gaywood
Chris McNamara
Richard Cartland
Mark Wordsworth
Martin Freeman
Karl Freeman
Tom Kirk
Nick Jones
MANAGER
Dick Hooper
BIKES
Trek
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Most of the team work full-time, so no training camps, but plenty of training over the next few weeks.
FIRST RACES
The Perfs Pedal Race and Eddie Soens, followed by the Bikeline Two Day in Wales.
BMC |
RIDERS
Steven Charles
Ian Franklin
Steven Griffiths
James Jackson
Daniel Kogan
Andy Lyons
Adam Norris
Nino Piccoli
Dean Shannon
Joe Skipper
Ben Thompson
James Whatling
MANAGER
Alan Rosner
BIKES
BMC
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
The team head to Majorca for a week?s training camp in the hills. The new squad will hold its official launch at the Redbridge Cycling Centre on February 1.
FIRST RACES
Local race, Jock Wadley Memorial in Essex, followed by the Premier Calendar event, the Bikeline Two Day.
Endura Racing |
RIDERS
Gary Hand
David Smith
James McCallum
Duncan Urquhart
Scott Macrae
Gordon Murdoch
David Lines
Callum Wilkinson
Kevin Barclay
Josh James
Alistair Robinson
MANAGER
Jonathan McBain
BIKES
Giant
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Two mini training camps in Scotland already with most of the UCI-registered team aiming to get some miles in on the Continent during February.
FIRST RACES
No details of opening races but looking for a strong ride on home roads in the Girvan in April.
RELATED LINKS
Rapha-Condor head south for season start
Plowman Craven_and_Pearl Izumi join forces
Plowman team to race Tour of Mallorca
Kinesis squad expands for 2009
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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
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