Slipstream Sports is poised for an exciting year. In late August, Slipstream and Cannondale announced that the organizations would join forces in 2015, creating a new, powerhouse team built for the future. The new team will be known as Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling – and as revealed today – features an impressive, young roster comprised of 27 athletes from 14 different countries. Cannondale will be the title sponsor and technical bicycle sponsor for the team, and has taken an ownership stake in the management organization of Slipstream Sports LLC. Garmin will remain co-title sponsor and has been a key partner of Slipstream Sports since 2008.
Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling will continue its mission of developing future champions with talented young rider additions including Joe Dombrowski, Alberto Bettiol, Davide Formolo, Matej Mohoric, Kristoffer Skjerping, Davide Villella and Ruben Zepuntke. The team will be anchored by more experienced riders including Dan Martin, winner of the 2014 Giro di Lombardia and 7th Overall in the 2014 Vuelta; Ryder Hesjedal, 2012 Giro Champion and 2014 Vuelta stage winner; Ramunas Navardauskas, 2014 Tour de France Stage winner and Lithuanian Time Trial Champion and Andrew Talansky, 2014 Dauphine winner and the top American in the 2013 Tour de France (where he was 10th Overall).
“I’m very excited about our 2015 team. We began as a small group with the mission of developing young riders and we have stayed true to that mission year after year, even as we have grown. 2015 is our youngest group of athletes yet, and it’s also young in that it’s a new team, and we have joined forces with Cannondale,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO, Slipstream Sports and Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling. “That gives us huge opportunities. What you can expect to see is an extremely talented group of young riders who will benefit greatly from the leadership and guidance of more experienced guys like Langeveld, Martin, Hesjedal and Talansky. This is a team that will come into racing with a lot of enthusiasm and spirit, and will rely on teamwork, tactics, perseverance and creativity to give great performances.”
Director Charly Wegelius added,“anytime you have the benefit of youth and experience, you are poised for growth and opportunity. Every rider on this team is capable of greatness, and together as a team, we have huge potential. Our goal will be to harness that potential, relying on our more experienced guys, to create a very exciting year.”
The riders of Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling will meet for the first time in Wilton, Connecticut, and will then travel to the British Virgin Islands where they will set sail for four days around the Island of Tortola. This ambitious undertaking, centered on team building and leadership, will also include off-boat activities such as hiking and swimming.
“Like cycling, sailing is a team sport,” said Vaughters. “The idea with sailing and living on the boats is to take these guys totally out of their comfort zone and get to know each other and work together under difficult circumstances. For many if not most, this will be a totally foreign activity – so they will need to support each other just as they will all season during races.”
Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling 2015
Janier Acevedo
Jack Bauer
Alberto Bettiol
Nathan Brown
André Cardoso
Tom Danielson
Joe Dombrowski
Davide Formolo
Nathan Haas
Lasse Hansen
Ryder Hesjedal
Alex Howes
Ben King
Ted King
Kristjian Koren
Sebastian Langeveld
Alan Marangoni
Dan Martin
Matej Mohoric
Moreno Moser
Ramunas Navardauskas
Kristoffer Skjerping
Tom Jelte Slagter
Andrew Talansky
Dylan Van Baarle
Davide Villella
Ruben Zepuntke
Photos © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignPhoto.com
