Stepping up to a higher level in 2011 via an increase in budget, the signing of some well known riders and via a new UCI Pro Continental licence, the Team Type 1 squad is chasing performance improvements for its riders.
The American team took six of its riders to A2 Wind Tunnel in North Carolina this week, including former world championship medallist Laszlo Bodrogi. The Hungarian born Frenchman is the most experienced and worked closely with the team to try to perfect his time trial position.
"Laszlo has deep experience in the time trial - he won the Hungarian national title ten times before he switched to French citizenship - and he knows what works for him against the clock. The wind tunnel gives us all a chance in a controlled, scientific environment to match his proven riding style to a new bike frame, a new handlebar and a new helmet," said team Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko.
Others spending time in the wind tunnel are multiple Russian track champion Alexey Shmidt (pictured) and the Spaniard Javier Megias. The latter was with the team in 2010 and wants to tweak things prior to the start of the new season.
“We have stage races this season with short prologues and longer time trials that change the general classification of the race. If I can find a way to produce more power with the same effort on the bike just by changing the positions of my elbows and head, then I can ride those stages more efficiently and faster,” he explained. “It means we have more strength and less fatigue as the days go on to race as a team.”
The American squad has made a large number of signings, with those coming on board including Bodrogi, Tour de France stage winner Rubens Bertogliati and Russian climber Alexander Efimkin. The team will be significantly stronger than before, and has a more ambitions race programme.
“With our sponsors, we have jumped up a level in the bike racing world for 2011,” said its CEO Phil Southerland. “We now have 21 riders from 11 different countries, speaking at least six languages, plus a staff of mechanics, soigneurs, sport directors, and medical personnel.”
They are currently all in Athens, Georgia, for a training camp running until next Wednesday. Southland said that it would be used to both tackle logistics and to boost fitness levels. “This first camp is as much about getting the organization together and acquainted as it is about physical training. We're sorting out the logistics of running a Professional Continental cycling team with an American and European headquarters, learning to communicate, sorting out our gear as well as our responsibilities,” he explained.
As stated yesterday on VeloNation, Team Type 1 is hoping to sign multiple African champion Daniel Teklehaymanot to the squad. He has been left without a team following the ending of the Cervélo Test Team, but it is uncertain if he will be able to move due to logistical issues between the team and the UCI in relation to signing a rider so late in the year.