The American sprinter signs a one year contract at Israel Cycling Academy.
McCabe: “ICA has an international team and I am extremely proud to represent the United States.”
Israel Cycling Academy has signed the American Sprinter Travis McCabe on a one year contract, betting that the Made in the USA man will be able to make an impact in the most challenging season it has ever faced.
McCabe is “going to live the dream” at ICA. The 30-year old sprinter says: “I have always dreamt of racing overseas and at the WorldTour level ever since I started riding a bike and watching the Danish movie “A Sunday in Hell”.
The American McCabe was born in a small town of Prescott (Arizona) and found cycling a little later in life right after high school. “I was a runner beforehand and after one year of running collegiately, I decided it was not for me and I wanted to pursue cycling instead. I moved down to Tucson in 2010 and decided to follow my dreams. Ten years later and I’m finally living them, with Israel Cycling Academy!”
WINS IN AMERICA, ASIA AND OCEANIA. NEXT? EUROPE!
During his cycling career, he always followed Academy’s performances. “ICA has always raced in the States and I feel like I have always competed against the guys in international races as well, so it is pretty cool to finally come aboard, especially now that Israel Cycling Academy has made the step up to WorldTour”, McCabe says.
The American rider mostly has experience on American roads, taking four wins in the Tour of Utah and getting close to winning the opening stage in the Tour of California last year. McCabe also knows how to sprint on Asian ground (three stage-wins in the Tour de Langkawi) and in Australia (one stage win in the Herald Sun Tour), however, the new strength of Israel Cycling Academy did not ride that much in Europe.
“CLASSICS ARE JUST 200+KM CRITERIUMS, RIGHT?”
McCabe knows there will be challenges ahead. “However, I feel like one of my goals has always been about progression, and this is another part of it. I want to prove to myself and others that I have always belonged in Europe racing at the top level and so I am really looking forward to what the future within the Academy holds.”
He thinks he will be able to adjust fairly quickly. “I know I’m physically capable of riding at WorldTour level, and for ICA I’m not afraid to bump bars or fight for the front. It is just like criterium-racing in the States except 200-kilometer longer right!?”
“ I WANT TO BE AN ICA-AMBASSADOR”
McCabe: “So my goals for 2020 are to first and foremost be a valuable teammate and ambassador for Israel Cycling Academy, but I also want to prove myself over in Europe.”
“I hope to do that by getting my first European victory in the colors of ICA and to hopefully race the classics and possibly a Grand Tour.”
LEAD-OUT AND OWN CHANCES
Kjell Carlström, pro manager at Israel Cycling Academy, says McCabe will “get his own chances in some races for sure.” Carlström: “Travis has gotten some wins every year and although he has not raced so much in Europe, he does have a lot of experience. Travis will therefore also play an important part of the lead-out.”
McCabe cannot hold back his enthusiasm thinking of joining Academy in 2020. “I must say that I am very, very excited to join and be part of Israel Cycling Academy! I believe that ICA is helping pave the way for future cyclists who might not have known about the sport otherwise. I think we truly have an international team and I’m extremely proud to represent the United States!”
Travis McCabe:
Prescott, United States, 12th May 1989 (30)
Teams:
2013–2015 SmartStop
2016 Holowesko-Citadel
2017 –2018 UnitedHealthcare
2019 Floyd’s Pro Cycling
2020 Israel Cycling Academy
Best results:
4x Stage winner The Larry H.Miller Tour of Utah (’18, ’17, ’16)
3x Stage winner Le Tour de Langkawi (’19, ’17)
Stage winner Colorado Classic (’18)
Stage winner Herald Sun Tour (’17)
2nd Stage Amgen Tour of California (’19)
