November 19/14 10:24 am - Optum Announces 2015 Mens Roster with 5 Canadians

Posted by Editor on 11/19/14
 

Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies has announced its complete roster for the 2015 men's team. The team retains the core of its UCI stage-winning leadout train from 2014 while adding five talented new riders, including two World Tour standouts.

Cannondale Pro Cycling's Guillaume Boivin (CAN), and Garmin-Sharp's Phil Gaimon (USA) highlight the new signings, returning to race primarily in North America with Optum p/b KBS after spending last season at the World Tour. Pierrick Naud (CAN), Michael Woods (CAN), and Curtis White (USA) round out the final selection for the team's 14-man roster.

Guillaume Boivin

Michael Woods

Nine riders return from last season's record-setting team, including Ryan Anderson (CAN), Jesse Anthony (USA), Brad Huff (USA), 2014 Tour of California stage winner Will Routley (CAN), Bjorn Selander (USA), Tom Soladay (USA), 2014 Tour of Utah stage winner Eric Young (USA), 2013 US Time Trial Champion Tom Zirbel (USA), and Scott Zwizanski (USA).

Will Routley

Ryan Anderson

"On paper this should be our strongest and most well balanced team yet. We will have more depth on the climbing side thanks to some of our new signings, and we'll maintain a great core of time trialists, sprinters, and leadout guys," said Performance Director Jonas Carney. "That being said, there are very high expectations for this group based on our results in 2014. Our goal is to exceed those expectations."

Boivin, Naud, Woods, and Gaimon arrive with a long list of individual palmarés, while White's professional career is just beginning to take shape.

"White is a 'cross specialist and just a few weeks ago claimed the biggest victory of his young career at the U23 Pan Am Continental Cyclocross Championships" said Carney. "He also excels on the road, and we believe he will bring a lot to the table with our already competitive team."

As has become tradition, the team will begin its 2015 season with a block of international racing, undertaking a multi-race campaign in Portugal following its Southern California training camp in late January. The campaign will feature the Volta ao Alentejo / Liberty Seguros stage race, as well as the Volta a Costa Vicentina, Cycling Portugal - Classica de Loulé, and the Grande Premio do Guadiana.

"Racing in Europe during the early portion of the season is critical to our yearlong success," said Carney. "The racing is hard and intense, it helps us quickly build chemistry as a team, and it prepares us well for difficult blocks of racing later in the year."

The team again lists stage wins and overall standing in the UCI America's Tour as primary goals. UCI stage races like the Tour of California, Tour of Utah, USA Pro Challenge, and the Tour of Alberta will feature prominently in the team's preparations, as will defending its National Racing Calendar team title.

The 2015 men's team consists of entirely American and Canadian athletes - for the eighth consecutive season - a direct result of Carney's focus on the development and support of North America's significant talent pool. The uniquely domestic roster will again make the US and Canadian national championships a primary goal, with former national champions in the time trial, road race, and criterium disciplines hailing from both countries.

The historic 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, VA could feature prominently in the team's late season. With high standing in the UCI America's Tour bringing with it an automatic bid in the world championship team time trial, another chance at the TTT on American soil is a highly enticing proposition for Carney's new look 2015 roster.

"Having the world championships here in America is a rare opportunity for a North American team like ours," said Carney. "We have competed in two world championship TTT events with the men's team, and having another shot at it with some "home advantage" could be very exciting for the program."

2015 Men's Road Roster

Ryan Anderson (CAN)
Jesse Anthony (USA)
Guillaume Boivin (CAN)
Phil Gaimon (USA)
Brad Huff (USA)
Pierrick Naud (CAN)
Will Routley (CAN)
Bjorn Selander (USA)
Tom Soladay (USA)
Curtis White (USA)
Michael Woods (CAN)
Eric Young (USA)
Tom Zirbel (USA)
Scott Zwizanski (USA)