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By Jonathan Devich
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February 9 through 17 in Chandler, Arizona the Prime Alliance Cycling Team held its spring training camp. I caught up with the team on the last weekend of the camp at the Valley of the Sun Stage Race.
I first spoke with Kirk Willet, the team's Director Sportif. Willet was very excited about how this year's camp went and the races to come. The previous week provided time for all of the formalities to be taken care of, such as the new clothing being handed out, team photos and riders receiving their shiny new Pinarellos. New riders Chris Horner, John Peters, Matt Decanio, David McCook, Alex Candelario and Canadian Svein Tuft were also brought together and got some time for a little team bonding.
The team's goals this year will focus around being the number one ranked team or rider on the National Racing Calendar (NRC) and the Pro Cycling Tour PCT. Willet explained that a big boost to the team was the end of the 2001 season acquisition of Chris Horner.
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"Bringing on Horner really opened up the door for Jonas. When they go to these races they're like a two man hit squad… they are such experienced pros that they just know what to do."
Horner will play an important role as the teams G.C. rider. He brings vast experience in different types of racing with past wins at the Tour of Langkawi (2000 overall winner), Redlands Bicycle Classic (2000 overall winner), 2001 Solano Bicycle Classic, and a 3rd in stage 3 of the 2000 Criterium International, just to name a few. Equally exciting this year will be seeing the younger riders develop. Some of them will experience their first year on a pro team, explained Willet.
"I expect that all of our young guys will have the opportunity to be put in a position to win. I see those guys being major players by the middle of the season."
Retuning rider Danny Pate will also have more opportunities this season with the addition of the new riders. At many races last season Pate was part of, or created the winning break. In the end however, Pate was many times outnumbered by rival teams riders and was forced to rely on his own strength versus tactics employed by the team. Willet says that will change this year.
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"Danny was super strong last year but he was always isolated. He had to drive the break, he had to make the move... this year with he and Horner being such heavy hitters he won't always have to drive the break away or make the move; this year he'll be able to focus on parts of the race where he won't have to be the whole team. He and Horner fitting in together with the other guys, it just opens up the door for everybody to perform better."
Pate agreed with Willet's comments and is looking forward to having a stronger team this year. He doesn't have any exact goals set for the season but his eyes did light up when we talked about stage races such as Sea Otter and the Tour of Willamette in Oregon. I asked if wearing the rainbow stripes this year would add anything to his confidence for the season.
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"No not really, it was just another race. I looked at the course and decided that it was one that I could win on. There are a lot of fast guys in the US and others who I didn't race against that day."
Some goals of Pate's did come out however; returning to Europe is one, and this time going with his own team. The ultimate goal for Pate is to be based in Europe and ride the big races, races like the Tour.
"I can't wait to go back to Europe this year. Last year was OK with the national team and I had some all right races but it will be better going with Prime Alliance, everything will be more structured."
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Prime Alliance's General Manager Roy Knickman, who was once John Wordin's right hand man over at the now-restructured Mercury team, has played his cards cautiously. He has seen up close what over-extending your budget can do to the team and the riders. Knickman calculatingly laid the foundation and finished 2001 with a fresh young team that everyone took seriously, with a world championship jersey none the less.
Last year was a year to build on and that he has done with the help of returning title sponsor Prime Alliance, a supplier of plastics and resins. For 2002 the foundation is being built upon with seasoned riders and talented newcomers, the goals are in place. The first test will come in a few weeks at the Redlands Bicycle Classic; we'll see how Knickman and team play that hand.
Team Prime Alliance 2002 full roster
