September 10/15 8:48 am - Giant Langley / SmartSavvy+ Announces 2016 Squad - Spots Available

Posted by Editoress on 09/10/15
 

The Giant Langley / SmartSavvy+ Cycling Team has secured some of the top U23 talent in Canada for the 2016 season. Coming off an encouraging 2015 season, both Mason Burtnik (Edmonton, Alberta) and Joshua Kropf (Regina, Saskatchewan) will be providing a strong team base for the second year team in 2016, alongside new signings of Derek Gee (Ottawa, Ontario) and Connor Toppings (Calgary, Alberta).

Gee is the National Junior TT Champion, who was recently announced as a member of Team Canada for the upcoming World Championships in September, and will bring his strong Time Trial talents to the team. While Toppings, who had a fantastic 2015 season racing for Synergy Racing out of Calgary, will be counted on to be a consistent GC contender each week.

"Having the opportunity to add Derek and Connor to the team for next season, gives us a great base of young talent for years to come," states team Marketing Director Rob Thomson. "We want to build one of the top U23 programs in the country and so adding this kind of talent gives us a great jump start to reaching our goals as a team."

As a neo team in 2015, the SmartSavvy+ p/b IRIS Cycling Team, had a race calendar that focused on Western Canada events. The team had various results throughout the year that helped them establish a footprint in the racing scene in Canada, and set the table for the team to take on a National Trade Team license in 2016.

In July, the team announced a new three year partnership with Giant Langley, the newest bicycle shop in the lower mainland; giving the team a strong partnership base to build an expanded team upon. As such, the 2016 calendar will stretch out across Canada and USA, and allow the young riders that are being gathered to be able to showcase their talents.

The team will begin to accept race resumes from U23 racers over the next two weeks. "Team management will be adding several more athletes to the roster over the next month, and we look forward to seeing race resumes from athletes who desire to have a first class race experience, one which strives to develop them as leaders on and off the bike," adds Thomson.

Race resumes will be accepted until Sept 15, 2015. Please send them to barret@raceyourbikes.com.

Giant Langley / SmartSavvy+ Cycling Team is proud to have a core partnership group that allows the team to chase after excellence in every area. Giant Langley, SmartSavvy+ Associates, IRIS Visual Group, Adidas, Coca Cola, Big Box Outlet, Canadian Car & Truck Rental, and Rob Blakemore; form this core partnership group heading into 2016!