November 16/02 6:28 am - Andrew Randall to Schroeder Iron Pro Cycling Team for 2003

Posted by Editoress on 11/16/02
 

Schroeder Iron Pro Cycling Team for 2003 to Include Andrew Randall
Courtesy Jaime Nichols, Team Schroeder Iron

The Schroeder Iron Pro Cycling Team moves into the 2003 cycling season full steam ahead on Litespeed bikes, and with a roster highlighted by two North American Champions: USPro Road Race Champion Chann McRae and Canadian National Road Race Champion Andrew Randall.

Chann McRae has been a competitive athlete since middle school, where he competed as a triathalete, achieving high placings in National Championships by the age of 17. Since then he has raced extensively in Europe with the Mapei team, and his career highlights include top ten placing in the Worlds Road Race Championship and strong rides in both the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d'Italia. In 2001, he joined the US Postal Service team just in time to ride the Vuelta, and in 2002, became the USPRO Road Racing Champion. A strong and well-tested all-rounder, he brings experience and big race confidence to Schroeder Iron. "It's a great opportunity for me to join the Schroeder Iron Team, and race on Litespeed," says McRae, "coming in as the team leader for Schroeder Iron for 2003 will give me the opportunity to defend my title as USPro champion, and at the same time give me an arsenal of very strong riders; so that we can work together in bringing Schroeder Iron to the top of domestic cycling."

Andrew Randall, Canada's current National Road Race Champion has had a string of impressive results in 2002, including stage victories in Norway's GP Ringerike and Ireland's Milk Ras, in addition to his National Title. He, too, is a strong all-rounder; good in the sprint, strong in a time trial, and with the ability to hang in for a tough day on the climbs.

"This is an exciting opportunity for our team," says owner and manager Frank Schroeder, "but also for the sport in general, to have so many strong riders spread out to balance the power between the competing teams. We're excited to have Chann and Andrew, and hope they will help bring us, along with our current and future sponsors, the attention we deserve."

"We at Litespeed had seen how well the team performed as a first year pro outfit," says Herbert Krable, Director of Marketing for the American Bicycle Group, the maker of Litespeed Bicycles. "We are proud to be working with Frank Schroeder and really trust his leadership." Litespeed's Sirius model will be the team's main competition bike.

While the rest of the Schroeder roster remains to be finalized, last year's team captain, Jamie Paolinetti, is retiring from racing due to injuries sustained in the USPro Criterium Championship in Downer's Grove this year. He will continue work on his film that documents the NetZero team's first and only season, and follow his passion for filmmaking. The remainder of the 2003 roster will be finalized in the coming weeks.