Ivan "Cuban Missile" Dominguez Returns to Professional Racing
Read SoCalCycling.com's Interview with Ivan >
8/8/11 – Ivan Dominguez is retaking his place in the American peloton and has joined the Southern California based MRI Performance / Franco Bicycles presented by Win’s Wheels Racing Team through the remainder of 2011. The highly decorated and world-renowned sprinter will captain his new team and is confident of strong finishes through the rest of the year. The team is currently finalizing plans to field a UCI Continental team in 2012.
Dominguez had announced his retirement in late 2010, but after a brief break, he became excited about the prospect of racing again.
Ivan Dominguez returned to racing at the Brentwood Grand Prix.
photo © SoCalCycling.com
After the Brentwood Grand Prix Sunday, his first race since retiring, Ivan said, "I know a lot of people have no idea why I stopped racing. But after 20 years on the saddle, racing everywhere, and some really nice wins, I decided to take time off and retire. My wife and son had been there for me all that time and I wanted to spend more time with them, my family. But when the Tour of California came around, I texted Chris Horner to congratulate him on winning stage 4. He texted me back with a thank you, and told me that I should get back on the bike and be out there kicking butts too. It was really then that I started thinking that maybe I should start riding again. I figured that if nothing else, I would ride for fun.
“I didn't have a bike, so I went to see the guys from Franco Bicycles to buy one. I have known them for years; plus, they are just down the road from where I live. Julian and Hector wouldn’t let me buy one, but were kind enough to let me ride one of their Race geometry Balcoms. After I took it out for a few rides, it felt like the legs, the bike, and the road were calling me back!
“The guys at Franco have a team that is sponsored by MRI Performance and they mentioned that they were looking to move up to the Pro class for the rest of 2011 and asked me to be a part of it. I said let's do it! They are also currently looking to build a Pro team for 2012.
“I want to thank my family and close friends for all of their continued support, to all of the fans that have been so loyal over the years, and all of the people at MRI Performance, Louis Garneau, Oakley, Mad Fiber Wheels, and Franco Bikes who have put me back on the road.”
Dominguez, 35, was born in Havana, Cuba and now resides with his wife and son in Agoura Hills, California. Dominguez originally rode for the Cuban National Team on the track and was a Pan-American Gold Medalist in 1997. He defected in 1998 and became one of the best sprinters in America – taking 16 victories in 2007 alone, including Stages
1 and 6 at the Tour of Missouri where he wore the yellow jersey and won the sprint competition and Stage 7 at the Amgen Tour of California.
“We’re excited about the wealth of experience that Ivan brings to the team. He will have the opportunity to provide feedback and help in future product development. We’re also focused on trying to build a team around him,” said Franco Bicycles founder Julian Franco. “Ivan is a class act, and the type of person that we at Franco Bicycles are happy to support. He’s the consummate professional and arguably the fastest sprinter in America. We’re happy that he has decided to race again, and are absolutely thrilled to be working with him.”
"The addition of Ivan is our first step toward trying to build the best possible team for the future,” Franco said. “I think I can speak for a large contingent of the American cycling fan base in saying that we’re very excited to see Ivan racing again. He’s a tremendous talent. It’s going to be a very exciting finish to the year and we’re excited about the prospects for next season."
