February 22/07 6:59 am - 2007 Tam Announcements: Team Ultralink, Giant Bicycle Canada & Commencal/Dropmachine.com

Posted by Editoress on 02/22/07
 

Team Ultralink Announces 2007 roster
Courtesy Julia Farell

The CCA Registered Trade Team announces its blended roster of race hardened and proven riders with young promising riders focussed on reaching the highest levels of competitive cycling.

Ultralink Products, Inc. - the consumer electronics' industry's fastest growing manufacturer of audio/video cabling and connectivity products is proud to announce the 2007 roster for TEAM ULTRALINK, a Canadian Cycling Association Trade Team.

Team Roster

Team Ultralink consists of a group of experienced and race hardened Canadian and American riders who have already succeeded at the National level in North America. The roster includes both English and French speakers who balance elite level racing with professional careers and studies.

Kele Murdin - 2007 US National Track Team, powerful time trialist and pursuiter, proven podium finisher in National level Time trials, 5 years of National race experience, from Seattle WA, formerly with elite women's team Ford - Basis Team.

Jennifer Stephenson - 2006 Provincial Cyclo-cross Champion, strong all around rider, 4 years of National race experience, from Ottawa, Ontario, formerly with elite women's team Biovail.

Genevieve Gagnon - Bronze Medallist ITT, Canada Summer Games, Canadian National Development Team member, one of Quebec's most promising young riders, formerly with Team Elli cycle in Quebec.

Shontelle Gauthier - 4th Place 2006 US National Criterium Championships, 6th Place 2006 Liberty Classic, established powerful sprinter in only second year of National competition, from Austin Texas, former guest rider for team TRIA.

Denise Ramsden - Arguably Canada's best Junior rider most likely headed to the 2007Junior World Championships, Ontario carded athlete with a large physiological engine, coached by National Training centre coach Neil Ross, a future Olympic medallist hopeful for Canada

Julia Farell - Team Ultralink Captain, Silver and Bronze medal at the Canadian National Road Championships.

Team Staff - Part Time

Pierre Perrin - Soigneur
Amy Moore - Director Sportif
Anita Lagler - Assistant, Administration
Jan Safka - Assistant, Media and Photography

Team Ultralink will be competing on Canadian designed Cervelo Road and Time Trial Bicycles - Cervelo, is a Toronto based company who's bicycle engineering has won 50% of the Time Trials in the men's 2006 Pro Tour. Look for more team news about the Team's intense March training camp deep in the Blue Ridge mountains.


Giant Bicycle Canada Announces 2007 Professional Downhill Team
Courtesy Giant Bicycle Canada

Giant Bicycles looks to be staying at the forefront of the Canadian bike industry with the signing of an all-star downhill team. As we enter our ninth year of National level team sponsorship, Giant Bicycles still illustrates its' continued commitment to developing the sport of cycling even when other companies tighten the sponsorship reigns.

As Giant's Race Program Director, I am very impressed with the direction the company is moving, with the signing of a number of Canada's top downhill racers; which will undoubtedly increase brand name awareness, aid research and design as well as improve Giant's position in the competitive bicycle industry.

Our newest addition to the Giant Canada team for 2007 is seventh year pro rider and Quebec Champion Dominick Menard. Dominick finished up the 2006 season ranked fourth overall in the Canadian National series, won the Quebec Championships and on top of his racing Dom teaches bike camps at the Bromont, Quebec ski hill during the summer months. Dom admits, "2007 is very promising; new home base, new sponsors, new bikes and motivated like never before!" When asked about teaming up with Canada's top two National series riders, "they have been good friends of mine for a long time and we share the same motivation and attitude. It's nice to be on a well-organized and exciting team! It will definitely motivate me to push harder throughout the season."

Returning to the team again for 2007 is National team member and two-time Canadian National series Champion Luke Kitzanuk of Vancouver, B.C.

Luke's goals are simple for this year∑ repeat his 2006 success and add in a National Champion crown!

Giant is also pleased to announce the re-signing of Eric Goss - Canada's number two-ranked rider in the Canadian National series. Last years season long battle for number one supremacy alternated between Giant Canada teammates, Luke Kitzanuk and Eric Goss. "My goal for 2007 is to improve on my National ranking, podium at Nationals and have fun doing it!" Maybe with Eric's new move to the riding mecca of Rossland, B.C. Eric and Luke will be pushing each other again for the leaders jersey in 2007.

Managing the team and Giant's professional race program again for 2007 is Sean Jenkins. "This is my tenth year with Giant Bicycles, in the earlier days I raced for Giant and as the company and team developed my focus gradually changed over to the management side of the team." Although still not forgetting his roots, Sean still enters races if time on the business side permits.

Giant Canada's Factory team riders will be competing across Canada in Provincial series events, National series events and North American World Cups. With a powerhouse team, an award winning race bike and many great companies supporting our program, look out for Giant Canada's riders on a podium near you!

Giant Canada is proudly support by: Fox Racing, Maxxis Tires, Hayes Brakes, Sram drivetrain, Sun/Ringle wheels, Dainese body armor, Sidi, Crank Brothers pedals, Race Face components, Genuine Health products, Dakine, e.thirteen, Spy Optics, Skechers, NRG Enterprises, Vellend Tech Canada and Innovation Sports.


Commencal/Dropmachine.com National DH/4X/XC Team
Courtesy Peter Appleton

Commencal and Dropmachine.com are proud to announce their continued partnership into 2007. By supporting athletes and continuing our support of cycling, Commencal/Dropmachine.com are proving their dedication year after year with no end in sight.

"Commencal Bikes has a dedication to performance driven design and result oriented follow through so its natural for us to continue with this partnership into 2007 and beyond" said Peter Appleton Team Manager and National Sales Director for Commencal Canada.

Ranked as the # 3 Trade Team in Canada and the # 1 Trade Team in Ontario for 2006 was icing on the cake of great individual efforts all year. These accomplishments gave the team a lot of confidence to continue building into 2007.

"We were very happy with our season last year, not only did we have a riders on the podium at Nationals an Provincials but we also had the #1 Chris Dufault, #2 Brandon Cassell and #6 Peter Appleton ranked 4X riders in Canada." Said Peter Appleton.

Antoine Aubert Larose will return to the team hoping to catch the Canada Cup Podium some more this year, his new responsibilities as Cycling Camp Coordinator at the national Cycling Center in Bromont will also keep him busy helping develop our next top cyclists.

Matt Zdriluk hopes to continue his domination of Junior Ex DH and 4X, not to mention defending his "best trick" title at the Toronto International Bike Show, Overall Forest Jam title and many other dirt and street comp titles from 2006.

The Team will continue its XC program with Samuel Gazaille a Quebec provincial team member and Jason Duffy an elite XC cardio machine in Ontario. Both of these athletes have stars in their sites so we are proud to help them get to that top level of competition.

"Team Commencal Dropmachine has decided to increase its presence in the west by acquiring BC Provincial Team Member Adam McConaghy and Whistler ripper Tom Grzesik, watch out for Team White Commencal Supreme DH's coming up behind you on dirt merchant!"

The Commencal/Dropamchine.com Team will continue attending Canada Cup, Ontario Cup, US Open and Crankworx as its major events for 2007, so keep those camera's handy for a podium pic!

Remaining with the team is our All-Star cast of rippers:

Peter Appleton
Matt Zdriluk
Corey Shannon
Adam Mcconaghy
Chris Dufault
Tom Grzesik
Paul Meiklejohn
Doug Beattie
Brian Serneels
Josh De Cloet
John Summach

Team Commencal/Dropmachine.com is proudly supported by:
SRAM, Avid, Oakley, Sombrio, Hutchinson, Commencal, Impac Gloves, Axis Gear, Kempter Marketing Inc