Seeking to continue its progress along the path towards an eventual WorldTour licence and participation in the Tour de France and other races, year two of the Champion System Pro Continental team project has been launched in California.
Taking place in the Home Depot Centre in Carson, the presentation saw the team introduce its new lineup to those present, with no less than five national champions amongst the 22 riders unveiled.
The quintet are the road race title holders Ryan Roth (Canada), Matt Brammeier (Ireland), Chan Jae Jang (South Korea) and Gang Xu (China) plus the Japanese TT gold medallist Ryota Nishizono.
They join the Americans Chad Beyer, Chris Butler and Craig Lewis, China’s Kun Jiang, Pengda Jiao and Biao Liu, Canada’s Ryan Roth, the Kiwi Clinton Avery, Chun Kai Feng (Chinese Taipei), Matthias Friedemann and Fabian Schnaidt (Germany), Gregor Gavozda (Slovenia), Mart Ojavee (Estonia), Adiq Othman (Malaysia), Wang Yip Tang and Kin San Wu (Hong Kong) and the Dutchman Bobbie Traksel.
It’s a very solid looking lineup and the team seems well positioned to build on its first year.
“In our inaugural season last year, we accomplished our goal of making the dream of having the first Asian-based pro cycling team a reality,” explained Champion System General Manager Ed Beamon. “Our 2013 team is more mature and we have raised the bar in terms of our expectations of the riders and our goals.
“Each rider has been hand-picked not only for his ability to perform on the bike, but also for his ability to adapt to our multi-cultural roster.”
Speaking at the launch (see video below), Beamon referred to his twenty years working in management and how he rated his 2012 with the team. “I think that this past season was one of the most exciting and intriguing and challenging of my career,” the American said.
“I think the big learning experience really was understanding how to bring all these different cultures, personalities and different languages together and build a team that is going to function as one.
“The world should learn from this,” he added, smiling.
Indeed, the team has riders from fourteen different countries, meaning that same cross border cooperation and collaboration will be needed in 2013.
A strong race programme is expected and the team has already announced it has secured places in the Tours of Qatar and Oman, which are run by Tour de France organisers ASO. They start February 3rd and 11th respectively. The team will seek to compete in other big events this season, and to collect as many victories and UCI calendar points as possible while doing so.
“Our passion for cycling is what started Champion System and that same passion led to the creation of the Champion System Pro Cycling Team,” said the clothing company’s co-founder Scott Kaylin. “From that first moment, we knew our team was creating history and there could only be one Asian pro cycling team that could lay claim to being the first.
“In a short time, the team has already showcased our company and brand to a worldwide audience. Now we're aiming for higher goals in 2013.”
Underlining its Asian registration and roots, the team launch was attended by dignitaries from the Los Angeles Asian community, as well as several representatives of consulates for Japan and Malaysia plus members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Business Association.
The Asian economy is faring well at a time when other global regions are experiencing difficulty; Champion System’s identity as the first Asian Pro Continental team could well pay off over time in terms of securing further backing, and help bring the WorldTour ambition to fruition.
In the meantime, its riders will strive to prove that the team is worthy of places in the sport's big events, both by riding aggressively and also by taking strong results.