October 31/19 12:12 pm - New Road Team Launched - Hamilton United Pro Cycling

Posted by Editor on 10/31/19
 

A new Canadian road team is launching for 2020 - Hamilton United Pro Cycling. Former national team member Ed Veal is one of the founders of the team, and multi-time Canadian National Champion Ryan Roth will be collaborating with the team on and off the bike.

Ed Veal

Ryan Roth

The team will compete in local Ontario events, including gravel races, as well as select North American UCI and US Criterium series events.

"We are trying to build a different team model with Hamilton United Pro," explains Ed Veal. "One that is modelled after the North American professional sports franchise and not the UCI World Tour model. We are thinking more like the CFL model or the OHL to start. Built around the community with a sustainable business model."

"Ryan is going to be part of the management and race for the team. He is a big part of things, but more off the bike than he has ever been before with other programs. We want to build something around him that he hasn't been apart of before; where he and others like him can make a living and don't have to worry about being on shaky ground all the time. This is why the 4Health initiative is so important and covers financial health as well as mental, social and physical."

The 4Health initiative Veal refers to is a concept being developed, and will provide awareness and training in the four major areas to develop a complete person/athlete:

• Physical Health
• Mental Health
• Financial Health
• Social Health

"4Health is still being developed and in its infancy," explains Veal, "but it is something we want to embrace and teach as a way of life. A holistic approach to the team, staff and everyone involved. It isn't hard to get behind, as we are all battling something and almost all of us feel alone sometime to deal with life's struggles. This sport is hard enough as it is."

Ryan Roth says, "Sport has been a major part of my life over the past two decades, but I have also realized that financial, social and mental considerations can often be overlooked, this is an exciting opportunity to bring awareness and change. I look forward to contributing the best way I can to this exciting new project."

Hamilton United will have a elite male and female teams, they will all be ambassadors of 4Health. Male and Female elite riders are invited to e-mail their expression of interest as soon as possible to Hamiltonunitedpro@gmail.com.

www.hamiltonunitedpro.com