GRAND RAPIDS, MI., February 12, 2008 – BISSELL Pro Cycling (BPC) has finalized its
eight-man Amgen Tour of California roster. While team leader Ben Jacques-Maynes and Tom Zirbel were ascertained spots in early January, the 14-member squad weathered Northern California winter storms during their Santa Rosa, California-based two-week team training camp, scouting several key stages of the ATOC to determine the final roster.
Joining 2007 NRC number two ranked Jacques-Maynes and time trail specialist Zirbel are Aaron Olson and Burke Swindlehurst. Stage race specialist Olson makes his third ATOC appearance after two years in the European pro peloton bringing experience from the mountainous 2007 Giro d’Italia and a third place overall at the Tour of Ireland. Ten-year pro and underrated climbing and stage specialist Swindlehurst makes his ATOC debut and will be looking toward the mountains to make his mark.
Battling with the bunch at likely sprint finishes in Santa Rosa (Stage 1), Sacramento (Stage 2) and Pasadena (Stage 7) will be 2006 Australian Criterium Champion Richard England. Supporting England’s lead-out train and also making his third ATOC appearance is Scott Zwinanski. Recently relocated to Marin County, Califorina, Zwinanski has spent the off-season training on the Tour’s routes and comes fresh off a Stage 7 Tour of Southland victory.
Rounding out the roster are strong all-rounders Garrett Peltonen and Teddy King. Peltonen was the winner of the 2007 Tour of Leelanau while King was crowned Best Young Rider at the 2006 Univest Grand Prix.
“While selection is always a tough process, the depth and determination of this squad made that process all the more difficult,” said Bissell’s Pro Cycling Director Sportiff Glen Mitchell. “We have a unique and talented group that work incredibly well together who are all able to contribute to a race of this caliber, but we have some specific riders whose peak form is targeted down the road.”
Added team manager Mark Olson, “The most consistent message I heard during team training camp came from the sponsors. All left camp saying the exact same thing, that ‘there’s a special vibe and sense of unity on this team.’” He added, “That unity carries over in race situations. There will always be competition when vying for a roster spot, but despite that, these guys seem to work cohesively and naturally for an end goal, to deliver results for the team and its sponsors.”
BISSELL Pro Cycling’s Sponsors fuel the team with passion for healthy living and a love of cycling. Longtime cycling sponsor BISSELL Inc, the 132-year old floor care innovator and international marketer of home cleaning products, takes on the title sponsor of the 2008 squad. CEO Mark Bissell joined the team in Santa Rosa to support the team and thank the attending equipment sponsors. He explained, “I have an obligation to my family to carry on the name and integrity of this company and it is an obligation that I take very seriously. Our involvement in cycling is a reflection of our passion for healthy living.”
Supporting BISSELL Inc. as primary sponsors are Advantage Benefits Group, an employee benefits specialist; and Priority Health, a leading Michigan health insurance company. Both Michigan-based companies share in Mark Bissell’s passion toward healthy living.
The BISSELL Pro Cycling team will be racing on Pinarello’s top of the line carbon fiber Prince road bikes and their all-carbon Montello FP8 and FM1 TT bikes. SRAM, who worked closely with the team in 2007 to debut and field test its Force road group, returns for its second year with their high-end RED group. Completing the bike specification are Easton carbon bars and stems; Speedplay’s white hot pedals; Vredestein tires; and new saddle and tape sponsor, fi’zi:k. Girordana returns as the clothing sponsor as does DMT shoes. The team will use Bell Helmets and Giro eyewear; Merrell provides after-sport clothing; Skins provides compression equipment. The team will be supported nutritionally with 1st Endurance and will roll with Yakima racks.
BISSELL Inc. is a corporate sponsor of Amgen Tour of California including the ATOC broom-wagon, the BISSELL Clean Sweep Wagon.
About BISSELL Inc.
A 132-year-old company, Grand Rapids-based BISSELL Inc. is a floor care innovator and international marketer of home cleaning products, including sweepers, vacuums, deep cleaning machines and cleaning formulas sold at retail locations worldwide. The company, in its fourth generation of family leadership, is the seventh oldest privately held manufacturing company in the United States. For more info, visit www.bissell.com.
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