After adding one major transfer in Chris Barton, who moves back to the American continental racing scene after two years at BMC Racing, the Bissell Pro Cycling team has completed its roster for the 2012 season. Glen Mitchell returns as team manager, and Omer Kem continues as team director.
Barton moves to Bissell after making his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d’Italia with BMC Racing this season. The 23-year-old American crashed early in the race and was forced to abandon during stage five, but he brings a taste of European racing to the young Americans on the Bissell squad.
One of those young riders is Carter Jones, who finished fourth in the American time trial championships earlier in the season. Jones transfers to Bissell Pro Cycling after spending 2011 with the Trek-Livestrong U-23 squad.
Carter and fellow young riders Chase Pinkham, Andrew Dahlheim, Patrick Bevin, and Andy Baker join up with Bissell captains Chris Baldwin (pictured), Frank Pipp, Ben Jacques-Maynes and Jeremy Vennell. The squad of sixteen in 2011 is expected to be a bit smaller in 2012, but team director Kem expects to maintain the standards the team set this season.
“With a smaller and deeper roster, Bissell will be capable of really gelling as a team in 2012,” Kem stated. “Captains Pipp, Vennell, Baldwin and BJM will be capable of leading the team at any kind of race.”
Bissell Pro Cycling finished the 2011 season as the champions of the National Racing Calendar, and Pipp was the fifth ranked individual in the NRC, behind winner Francisco Mancebo (RealCyclist.com). Pipp also won the Joe Martin Stage Race, and finished second at the Univest Grand Prix.
The team said it will continue to target all races on the National Racing Calendar, as well at the UCI races that take place in the States, including the Tour of California and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.