Liquid Fitness Team Enters Pro Ranks as Adageo Energy Team for 2010
11/9/10 - The new Adageo Energy Pro Cycling Team aims to build on the foundation of its highly successful grassroots programs, the Southern California-based Liquid Fitness/Adageo Energy Elite Team and the 400-member Liquid Cycling Club.
Adageo Energy, an Austin, Texas-based investment firm that capitalizes on high-growth, high-return opportunities in the energy sector, will sponsor the U.S.-registered, UCI continental professional team.
Team Director Josh Horowitz said Adageo Energy Founder and Managing Director Clay Womack has a long-term vision of success, as well as a firm commitment to run a clean program.
“A lot of the growth of this team to date – and moving forward – stems from his passion to promote the sport of cycling,” Horowitz said. “Clay and I have been developing this program for several years now and we have a long term plan to see it grow into 2011 and beyond.”
Horowitz said the squad continues to pursue a co-title sponsor. Ideally, it would be one that will benefit from the program’s long-standing reputation in Southern California.
“For the past 10 years, the Liquid Cycling program has attracted a diverse, international community of cyclists,” Horowitz said. “So we already have a built-in demographic of recreational riders, triathletes, commuters and beginning riders that any sponsor would love to get their hands on.”
Adageo Energy's Matt Landen launches an attack on Levi
Leipheimer (Astana) during the Sea Otter Classic in 2009.
photo © Greg Epperson
Supporting sponsors of the team include Wonderful Pistachios and the law firm of Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack (geklaw.com), as well as Exustar, Skins, American Classic, Twinlab, Dr. Richard Hyman, Ultimate Sports Psychology and Liquid Fitness Coaching. The team will ride Leopard Cycles and wear Pactimo clothing.
The Adageo Energy roster for 2010 comprises a mix of American and international talent that includes Australian Cody Stevenson (winner of Stage 1 of the 2009 Tour of Wellington), American Tommy Nelson (stage winner at the Southern Nevada Stage Race), Swiss national (Under 23) team member Tobias Eggli and accomplished American track talents Bennet van der Genugten and Danny Finneran.
Horowitz said the team also continues to negotiate with several riders who were contenders on the National Racing Calendar (NRC) circuit in 2009.
“Our roster is being carefully put together with team synergy in mind,” Horowitz said. “Some of the young guys are riders I have been scouting for several years. Pairing them with some of our more experienced racers will set a good tone and help them reach and exceed their potential.”
Horowitz, 34, will serve a dual role as director and racer. He has been racing competitively since 1989 and is a 10-time California state champion.
The team’s preliminary race calendar includes a mix of regional and national-level events, including the San Dimas and Redlands Classic stage races in March, the Ventura County Stage Race in May, the International Championship in Philadelphia in June, the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic in July and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah in August.
“While we will be racing all over the country, it’s important that we also have a strong presence in the Southern California cycling community in local races and rides,” Horowitz said. “Most of the riders on this team are based in SoCal and we don’t want to forget our roots.”
Team Roster (Nationality), Age:
Eric Bennett (USA), 23
Tobias Eggli (SWI), 23
Tim Farnham (USA), 27
Danny Finneran (USA), 19
Josh Horowitz (USA), 34
Matt Landen (USA), 28
Alexi Martinez (USA), 23
Tommy Nelson (USA), 29
Cody Stevenson (AUS), 29
Bennet van der Genugten (USA), 25
