Tvetcov, Marcotte, Banks and Thomas Strengthen UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Men’s and Women’s Teams
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling has signed Serghei Tvetcov and Eric Marcotte to the team for the 2018 road season. UHC has also announced their preliminary UCI women’s team roster for the 2018 racing season.
The addition of Tvetcov and Marcotte build on the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team’s already strong overall roster, in an effort to strengthen the program futher for the 2018 season.
GC and time trial expert Serge Tvetkov comes to the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team fresh from a stage win and second overall at the inaugural Colorado Classic last month. The Romanian 28-year-old also claimed third overall at the 2014 USA Pro Challenge and is looking for the elusive win in one of these prestigious U.S. multi-day races. With USA Cycling Pro Road Tour winner Gavin Mannion returning for the 2018 season, Tvetkov’s addition will serve as a GC double threat for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team.
“This move is a huge step up in my career,” Tvetkov said. “My goal is to peak in May and after that focus on the Utah and Colorado races, in which I have been very close to the overall win. For now, I look forward to meeting my new team.”
Marcotte, a former U.S. road and criterium champion from Scottsdale, Arizona, will boost UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team’s firepower in tough one day races and sprint finishes.
“For me, this is a great opportunity to be with one of the top programs out there,” Marcotte said. “It’s very well run and organized, as well as competitive in all events. It will allow me to race in places I have yet to, test my limits and help the program in achieving their race and sponsor goals.”
A sprinting specialist, Marcotte will once again be joining former SmartStop teammate, Travis McCabe, at the start line. Only this time they’ll be wearing the same team jersey.
“I’m so excited about this,” 37-year-old Marcotte said. “Travis is like my brother. We are really close. It’s been great to be a part of his success in the beginning and see him continue to progress. Now we cross paths again, and I hope to contribute to more of the same kind of successes.”
The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling men’s team will be buoyed by a massively strong returning roster including national criterium champion and Tour of Utah stage winner Travis McCabe, Tour of Hongrie winner Daniel Jaramillo, and Luke Keough, who won multiple stages at the Tour du Maroc this year. Mannion will continue to focus on GC podiums after claiming second overall at both the Cascade Cycling Classic and Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.
“The two new additions for 2018 bolster our already strong roster. We see the addition of Tvetcov as a great way to strengthen our GC chances, where we have already seen some big results in 2017. The addition of Marcotte helps our sprinting and one-day race strength. Our returning roster is strong, and we are excited to see where our growth will take us in 2018,” said Seba Alexandre, Sporting Director.
After an impressive 2017 season with Gavin Mannion taking the overall individual win, and the team finishing second on Pro Road Tour points the squad will be taking aim at even higher hopes for 2018.
2018 Preliminary men’s roster:
Janier Acevedo
Carlos Alzate
Alex Cataford
Jonny Clarke
Daniel Eaton
Sebastian Haedo
Adrian Hegyvary
Daniel Jaramillo
Luke Keough
Gavin Mannion
Eric Marcotte
Travis McCabe
Lachlan Norris
Tanner Putt
Serghei Tvetcov
UHC Women’s Team Adds Lizzy Banks and Leah Thomas to 2018 Preliminary Roster
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling has also announced its preliminary UCI women’s team roster for the 2018 racing season. Proven time trial and GC rider Leah Thomas and emerging British talent Lizzy Banks are the newest additions to the team.
“Leah will make a great partnership with Katie (Hall) in the stage races,” said UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team director Rachel Heal. “The team really made their mark both in the U.S. and Europe this year and I’m looking for the same in 2018 with these two fantastic additions.”
Leah Thomas, a Cupertino native, has been racing professionally for two full seasons (2016, 2017). The 28-year-old’s 2017 highlights include second at the UCI Winston Salem Cycling Classic, fifth overall in the Amgen Tour of California and third at the Tour of the Gila and the Tour de L’Ardeche.
“The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling squad is built around teamwork,” Thomas said. “I am excited to integrate my strengths and be a contributing member. The combination of racing at home in the U.S. and abroad will provide ample opportunities to build upon last season’s success and gain vital international experience in the process.”
Banks, this year’s overall winner of the United Kingdom’s prestigious Women’s National Road Series, has quickly become a rising star in both the U.K and European circuits.
“We see a ton of potential in Lizzy,” said Heal, herself a former National Road Series champion. “The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team is excited to see her develop by giving her plenty of opportunities to excel and grow under the tutelage of some of the best riders in the world.”
A native of Sheffield, 26-year-old Banks looks forward to building on her proven consistency and all-around prowess to booster team and personal gains.
“The U.S. offers a great variety of challenging racing that will be different to what I have previously experienced in the UK and Europe,” Banks said. “With the support of an incredibly knowledgeable and experienced team it’s a wonderful place for me to continue my development and transition in to professional racing. I’m particularly looking forward to stage racing and using my strength as an all-rounder to contribute toward team victories. Personally, I hope to develop towards the goal of achieving a UCI podium placing and I can’t think of a better place to do it.”
Katie Hall will return to UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling as a GC leader. Some of her many achievements include: first overall at the Tour Femenino de San Luis, second in the Amgen Tour of California and Tour of the Gila and a stage win at the Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen. Also returning is multiple time New Zealand national road and time trial champion Rushlee Buchanan, Colombian Diana Peñuela and 2014 Gent-Wevelgem champion Lauren Hall. Australian powerhouse Lauretta Hanson and North Carolina resident Janelle Cole round out the roster thus far.
Preliminary Women’s Roster:
Lizzy Banks
Rushlee Buchanan
Janelle Cole
Katie Hall
Lauren Hall
Lauretta Hanson
Diana Peñuela
Leah Thomas
Above photo – Eric Marcotte leads the peloton at the 2017 Tour de Murrieta.
photo © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignTeam.com
