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Team Profile: Kenda Pro Cycling p/b Spinergy – Part One
What do Kenda Tires, Spinergy Wheels, Traveler’s Insurance, and Masi Bicycles all have in common? Sponsorship of one of the United States’ most successful and hard-working Continental cycling teams—Kenda Pro Cycling presented by Spinergy. Haven’t heard of them? Don’t worry….you will! But, to familiarize you with the Macedonia, Ohio-based team, here is a profile, just in time for their appearance in the Tour of the Battenkill this weekend.
The team to whom the moniker “Kenda Pro Cycling” applies is not a new team. Rather, this collection of riders and management has been together for years. Chad Thompson and Ryan Rish were each managing elite amateur cycling programs (Honey Stinger/Spinergy and Savage Hill) when, in 2006, they combined their effort to create the Abercrombie and Fitch Elite Cycling Team (managed by Inferno Racing LLC, a company owned by Thompson, and created to operate top tier cycling teams). Today, Thompson remains the motivating force and the general manager of the team, and Rish, as well as Remi McManus, are the assistant managers. Initially, the team focused on regional races throughout Ohio. With an eye towards advancement, however, the next year they became known as the Abercrombie and Fitch Pro Development Team. With Mark Hekman’s wins in the Athens Twilight, Tour of Ohio, and the overall in the USA Crits Series, the team began to attract international attention.
In 2008, the team, now known as Team Inferno, included riders from New Zealand, Australia, and Mexico. These riders, including past and present World and National Champions, were professional cyclists in their respective countries. This important distinction allowed Inferno to compete in the National Pro and Elite Criterium Championships. Additionally, last year the team raked in a number of impressive wins, including: various state criterium and road championships (Matt Winstead in Alabama, Jaime Gandara in New Mexico, Rich Harper in North Carolina); the Rome Georgia Cup Omnium (Matt Winstead); The Tour of Ohio (winning all classifications with Matt Winstead overall; Bennet van der Genugten, Best Young Rider; Marco Aledia, Points Competition; and Joe Cooper, KOM Competition); the Tour of Gettysburg Road Race (Josh England); and the Tour de Tuscaloosa (Matt Winstead) just to name a few.
The fall of 2008 was also busy for this young team. Beginning on the heels of Interbike, numerous sponsors jumped at the opportunity to help take the team to the next level. First, on September 26, Inferno announced that Kenda, longtime sponsor for the team, would become the title sponsor, using the team for product testing and development. Since Kenda is also based out of Ohio, this symbiotic relationship was intuitive. Less than a week later, Spinergy became the team’s presenting sponsor. Also in October, Travelers Insurance joined the all-American team, and Hincapie Sportswear became the team’s official clothing supplier. Hincapie Development Cycling Team also became the “feeder” program for Kenda for the next two years. Finally, the biggest news of 2008 was that Kenda Pro Cycling p/b Spinergy was officially elevated to UCI Continental status for 2009. This makes Kenda one of only 13 UCI Continental teams from the United States.Ultimately, Kenda Pro Cycling states that their mission is to “fill the void between the upper echelon of professional sports and the elite amateur ranks. The program hopes to establish a balance for experienced and developing talent through mentoring, coaching, monetary support and quality competition.” Towards this end, the team commenced the 2009 season with its Travelers Insurance Training Camp presented by LH Thomson Co. from February 25-March 1, 2009. The camp focused on team-building instead of miles—learning how each rider fits into the team dynamic.
This is surely important as the team has quite a busy schedule this year. In addition to riding the Tour of the Battenkill April 18-19, the team will be active in the important USA Crits Series, Joe Martin Stage Race, the US Open of Cycling, CSC Invitational, the US Air Force Cycling Classic, the Philadelphia Championships, the Tour of Elk Grove, the Tour of New York, and, ultimately, the Tour of Missouri. The team is active in numerous other criteriums and one-day races all across the nation as well.
This year already, Kenda Pro Cycling has achieved victories in numerous races at various levels of competition. Rich Harper brought the team its first victory of the year with his February 14th win in the Belize DigiCell Valentine Classic. Jaime Gandara won Mexico’s Premio Ciclista Chamizal on March 8th, just one day after Marco Aledia won the Gambier Road Race. A few weeks later, Chad Burdzilauskas won the Hueston Woods Road Race. On April 5th, Remi McManus won the Birds of Prey Road Race in Boise, ID, while Ben Renkema won the Hueston Woods Circuit Race. The riders have also brought the team eleven podiums already.
With strong, professional, and experienced leadership, the support of leading industry manufactures, and incredibly dedicated and hardworking riders, Kenda Pro Cycling p/b Spinergy is certain to be a team to watch for this season and beyond! Stay up-to-date on all happenings with the team at: www.kendaprocycling.com.
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