Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Set to Kick Off Inaugural Season as a Pro Continental Team in Malaysia at the 2011 Le Tour de Langkawi

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Wednesday, 15 December 2010 10:25

Written by Luca Salvatelli

As the 2010 pro cycling off-season comes to an end and the sport's elite begin preparation for the 2011 campaign, the veteran team from UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling is slated to kick off its first season as a Pro Continential squad in Malaysia, at the 16th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi, January 23 - February 1, 2011.

Billed as the largest cycling event in Asia, Le Tour de Langkawi is a highly anticipated event by international cycling aficionados. The prestigious event expands this year from seven to 10 days and promises to provide a great early season challenge for the new-look team from UnitedHealthcare, which features several new riders, new team kits, and a race calendar that will cover four continents this season beginning in January with Le Tour de Langkawi.

Following a tremendously successful 2010 season which included 35 stage wins, nine GC victories and 138 podium appearances, Team Director and General Manager, Mike Tamayo is excited about the opportunities and challenges that await the Team in 2011. Tamayo, stated, "When it comes to quality events at the beginning of the season, The Tour de Langkawi is one of the most prominent and it sets the tone for the start of the season. The organizers produce an excellent event and Team UnitedHealthcare is excited to participate in its 2011 edition."

"One of our goals is to use this great tour in Malaysia as an opportunity to debut our international season," Tamayo continued. "As a new Pro Continental team, we have high expectations and the timing of Langkawi is perfect and gives us a great launching pad for 2011. There are a number of opportunities for bunch sprints, so we're aligning our roster selection to pursue stages. We're bringing a fast team to Langkawi along with two of our best climbers to bolster our Team's execution on the two GC deciding days."

Scheduled to race for the UnitedHealthcare Team at Langkawi are Robert Förster, Boy Van Poppel, Hilton Clarke, and Karl Menzies, along with climbers Chris Jones, and Max Jenkins.

With respect to the Team's new Pro Continental status, Momentum Sports Group, LLC (owner and operator of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) President, Thierry Attias, said, "It's no secret we have high objectives for our organization and we are putting all the elements in place that will give us the best chance to remain a consistent force in the sport. We have an outstanding group of riders, staff, management and sponsors, and we are excited about what this group will do this year."

Immediately following Langkawi, the Team will convene for training camp in Southern California (beginning February 4, 2011) before heading to Europe.

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Roster for Le Tour de Langkawi:

Robert Förster

Boy Van Poppel

Hilton Clarke

Karl Menzies

Chris Jones

Max Jenkins