June 4/10 22:33 pm - Pinfold on UnitedHealthcare Squad for Philly

Posted by Editoress on 06/4/10
 

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis takes a deep, eight-rider squad to Philadelphia in its quest to return to the top step of the podium at the TB Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship.

The team will be led by a pair of Australians, Rory Sutherland and Karl Menzies, at the 156-mile race. Sutherland comes off a stellar Amgen Tour of California that saw him finish seventh overall, with three top-five stage finishes, including 2nd on the Tour's queen stage to Big Bear Lake.

Menzies comes in with some of his best form in several years, and was having a strong Tour of California until a crash late in Stage 4 slowed him down. But the big man from Tasmania is back up to speed, and both he and Sutherland will have strong support from their teammates.

That support includes Brad White, who rode through the effects of a stomach bug during the Tour of California and got progressively stronger as the race went along. If the race breaks apart on one of the 10 trips up the vaunted Manyunk Wall, or 13 trips up Lemon Hill, expect White to be near the front with Sutherland.

Menzies will have the support of the bulk of the crit squad with which he rode to great effectiveness in the Southeast Speed Week series in late April and early May. That group includes key lead-out man and sprinter Andrew Pinfold, Jake Keough, who also won two races during Speed Week, and Jonny Clarke, who was instrumental in all four of the Team's Speed Week wins.

Matt Crane is another rider who the Team will look for to stay near the front on the hillier sections, while Adrian Hegyvary adds a big engine to help drive breaks or ride tempo.

"We've had a lot of success at this race in the past, and we're highly motivated to do well again this year," said Team Director Mike Tamayo. "Top to bottom, we have one of the strongest teams in the race. By the end of Speed Week, Karl, Pinner, Jake and Jonny had the lead-outs for the sprint finishes dialed. And Rory is Rory. We know we can always count on him to be in the mix for the big races."

UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis roster for Philly:

Jonny Clarke, AUS
Matt Crane, USA
Adrian Hegyvary, USA
Jake Keough, USA
Karl Menzies, AUS
Andrew Pinfold, CAN
Rory Sutherland, AUS
Brad White, USA