Team Specialized Racing Expands Junior Team with SoCal Additions
10/7/11 - Team Specialized Racing has announced the addition of new riders to the 2012 junior team. For 2012, the junior team has one member in Colorado, four in Southern California and seven in Northern California. The junior calendar of 2012 races will primarily be west coast based, all aiming towards the USA Cycling National Road Championships in Augusta, GA.
Team Specialized Racing's mission is to prepare juniors to compete and win national and international races. Long-time racer and 14-time UCI Masters Track World Champion Larry Nolan directs the junior program with a wealth of knowledge from the highest level of amateur cycling. These up-and-coming riders are also able to leverage the recourses within one of the best master's teams in America, which includes numerous current & past national and world champions. As a result, in 2011 Team Specialized Racing saw six riders named to race in Europe with the junior national team plus one named to represent the US at the junior worlds track championships in Moscow.
Team Specialized Racing has expanded their Junior Team for 2012.
Photo Courtesy Team Specialized Racing
New Team Members Include:
Sean McElroy, 13, Lancaster, CA
Sean heard of Team Specialized through his local Specialized shop, Block Bikes. Sean is the 2011 BMX, Road, Criterium and Mountain Bike National Champion, giving new meaning to “all-arounder.” He'll travel to Wisconsin in January looking for a cyclocross title.
Nick Castellano, 15, Upland, CA
Nick was referred to Team Specialized by teammate Diego Binatena. He has been racing with Southern California Velo and is a category 3 on the road. Nick won the 13-14 So Cal road race championships, just like Diego won the 15-16 event.
Jason Saltzman, 15, Menlo Park, CA
Jason asked to join Team Specialized and we quickly accepted. Jason has been racing since he was 10 years old. His father Eric has been racing for 20 years. Jason has been racing with San Jose Bicycle Club as a category 3.
Jon Christensen, 15, Clements, CA
Jon attended the USA Cycling West Coast Camp just like his two older brothers had in the past few years. Jon is also a category 3 on the road and has recently found success on the track too.
Oliver Barajas, 15, Hayward, CA
Oliver rides regularly with the Fremont Freewheelers and caught the eye of Junior Director Larry Nolan with his speed and desire to learn. Oliver is a category 4 and will develop rapidly with his new teammates.
These five new members will join seven returning riders to create one of the premiere junior cycling teams in the US:
Marcus Smith, 18, cat 2
Chris LaBerge, 18, cat 3
Dean Haas, 18, cat 2
Kyle Torres, 18, cat 2
Diego Binatena, 16, cat 3
Matt Valencia, 16, cat 2
Jack Maddux, 15, cat 2
Team Specialized Racing is sponsored by Specialized, Zipp, SRAM, Clif Bar, Squadra, Stifel, Nicholas and Weisel; Russell Hirsch and many individual supporters.
