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Commerce Bank Triple Crown
USA, June 3-8, 2008
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Race 1 - June 3: Lehigh Valley Classic (Men), 136.8km/85mi
Metlushenko wins Philly opener
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Amore & Vita-McDonald's lands crucial sponsor win
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'Unknown' was the norm for the day, with a new race course in the Lehigh Valley opening the Commerce Bank Triple Crown series. No rider seemed to know just how the race was going to turn out on the blank canvas of a course, and a swirling wind made officials even question their pre-race predictions. And in the end, it was most of the domestic peloton regulars asking 'Who was that?' in regards to Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonald's) flashing by them. Metlushenko shot past inside the final 300 metres to take out the field sprint ahead Karl Menzies (Health Net-Maxxis) and Brad Huff (Jelly Belly.)
Even the final result was unknown for about five minutes as the Ukrainian Criterium Champion had posted-up for the photographers as Menzies threw his bike across the line. The situation prompted officials to go to the photo finish for the final result.
"I was a little bit scared but I wanted to make a good picture for the sponsor, but the next time I will wait until after the line," Metlushenko chuckled.
A pro since 2002, Metlushenko has ridden in the U.S. and in Philly before while on the Landbouwkrediet-Colnago team. He said his biggest wins to date had been the G.P. Costa degli Etruschi in 2002 and 2004.
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The final two kilometres of the race consisted of a tough 500 metre uphill then a slight downhill for the final 1.5 kilometres to the finish. A late break combined with the hill put some disorganization into the sprint. Over the top of the hill it was Health Net-Maxxis driving the train up the left, but Metlushenko went off on his own on the far right side to get the drop on everyone.
"I did every lap with a 39-18 [up the hill] but the last lap with a 53-17," he said. "I waited for my team-mates Miguel Martinez and [Michael] Stevenon to bring me to the front. We were on the back of the Toyota-Untied train, but in the last 300 metres when everyone started sprinting on the left I just went alone on the right."
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"It was any man's race going up to the hill at two kilometres," said Huff. "But the speed was so high you can't hold it. Slipstream and CSC had controlled it up until there and then Rory with Health Net hit it up the climb. They got swarmed a couple of times but were able to hold off the group but then [Metlushenko] just threw a hail mary pass from behind."
"I'm not sure where [Metlushenko] came from but we had to wait because if we went too early I knew Huff would have come over me," said Menzies. "When I jumped I was coming to the line and I saw he was posting-up so I just threw it on the line. I thought I might have had it, but it's good for the crowd, we gotta keep it exciting."
The entire management staff of the Amore & Vita-McDonald's team was gathered around Metlushenko as he rolled back to the line, clearly elated at the win. Director sportif Ivano Fanini explained that this win was important for two of the team's sponsors.
"It's even more important than normal because our bike sponsor and McDonald's are American," he said, explaining that the team is trying to capitalize on a limited number of races on this side of the Atlantic. "We will race the Triple Crown, Tour de Beauce and then the Las Vegas criterium in September."
How it unfolded
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An impressive crowd for a first-year race was out to enjoy the sunshine and 80 degree weather as the riders rolled off the line. Almost immediately they were given their first taste of the wind as they crossed the 8th Street bridge, spanning the Lehigh Valley. The course itself was mostly rolling terrain with short, power climbs and technical turns. And as is customary for American racing, the speed was high from the gun - also attributable to the short 136 km distance.
Breakaways were never given a chance due to the course and wind conditions, though Tyler Wren (Colavita-Sutter Home) tried in earnest, going a whole lap by himself. The Jefferson Elementary School on the far side of the 8th Street bridge must have been visited by the team because their schools signs were all in support of the team, with the assembled kids going nuts at the sight of Wren. As he was being caught in front of the school he gave the kids a nice wave.
The Colavita-Sutter Home team was quite active in the breaks, with Luis Amaran Romero making the next move - which turned out to be the biggest of the day gaining a maximum of 1:15. With him were Jeffrey Louder (BMC Racing), Frank Pipp (Health Net - Maxxis), (Colavita-Sutter Home), Svein Tuft (Symmetrics Professional Cycling Team).
"Everyone was committed, you can't go out there and screw around on a course like this," said Tuft. "It was going really fast with so many guys just hitting it. The guys we had were all good with Louder and Amaran...it was a good break to roll. We got out to a minute and I was hoping we would at least last until the final lap."
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But the field led by High Road, Slipstream and Team CSC were keeping the gap in check, and with the help of other teams chipped away at the lead. With the gap to less than 10 seconds on the bridge only Tuft and Pipp were left with the others sitting up. But a chase group off the front of the field joined up and reformulated the break, including big guns like last year's Triple Crown overall winner Bernhard Eisel (High Road) and fourth place at this year's Paris-Roubaix Martijn Maaskant (Slipstream-Chipotle-H3O).
However, motivation was fleeting with the pack at just 20 seconds and only two laps remaining.
"When the other guys came up like Eisel and Maskaraant they tried to roll it, but at that point no one was committing," said Tuft. In addition, the variable wind direction made life tough in a small group. "Wind was a factor, every way you went there was a crosswind, so even when you are sitting on you are still pushing. You could never find the sweet spot."
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Tuft's Symmetrics team-mate Christian Meier tried a solo move on the final lap, but was countered by Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing) on the back side of the course. He was joined by two Toyota-United riders in Dominque Rollin and Caleb Manion, Kevin Lacombe (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast), Matthew Wilson (Team Type 1), Derek Burke (Pezula Racing), Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) and Kirk O'Bee (Health Net-Maxxis).
Out of that only three - Rollin, O'Bee and Rodriguez - survived coming into the final three kilometres.
"The Health Net guy was sitting on," said Rollin. "I think we would have stayed but he was soft pedaling, so it broke down to three guys on the climb."
The remainder of the field was setting up for the field sprint, with O'Bee likely thinking of his sprinter Menzies.
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"We couldn't have done any more," said Menzies about his team's efforts. "We had everyone from the start of the day going to plan - Frank and Murphy killing it in the break, then Kirk was a way over the top of the climb... Murphy took over and then Rory, catching each guy in the break."
But it was the 32 year-old Metlushenko who spoiled the Health Net-Maxxis plan, coming alone on the outside of the lead-out to sneak ahead of Menzies. However, for both Huff and Menzies, today's result combined with last Sunday's CSC Invitational podium give each renewed confidence in a slow first-half of the seaon.
"I've been a little disappointed with my season up until now, and a win would have been nice but second is still good," said Menzies. "But as I said on Sunday [at CSC] we are going to try to win one of those because everyone is riding so awesome."
The Triple Crown moves back to Reading for the third year in-a-row, with three ascents up Mt. Penn for the men. Cyclingnews will have live coverage and full reports from the race.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Jonathan Devich/
- Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds Pro Cycling Team) outguns Karl Menzies (Health Net) for the win.
- The men get on the line in Allentown for the Lehigh Valley Classic.
- Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream/Chipotie p/b H3O) concentrates at the start.
- Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United) looked happy to get things underway.
- The men roll out of downtown for the first of the 132 kilometres.
- Heading into the scenic part of Allentown.
- Please keep those pedals out of the spokes.
- The peloton passes under the huge trees of Hamilton St.
- Checking the gap on the field.
- Tyler Wren (Colavita-Sutter Home) goes solo early.
- The Colavita team got some special support from an elementary school along the route.
- Things slow up on the 8th street bridge.
- Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) leads the mid-race break.
- The break gets organized as it attempts to hold off the peloton.
- Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) keeping the pace high.
- Jackson Stewart (BMC) sitting in the pack.
- Bissell played its cards by sitting in.
- Jackie Simes (TIME Pro Cycling) rolling through the park.
- The Kelly Benefits team will be looking for big things week.
- The windy turns heading up through the park.
- Local boys from the Rite Aid team hope to sneak in for a win this week.
- Ivan Stevic (Toyota United) launched an attack to bridge to the break.
- Luis Amaran (Colavita-Sutter Home) leading the break.
- Jeff Louder (BMC) gets on the front of the break.
- The field starts to get strung out in search of the break.
- Another group tried to get away late in the race.
- Jason McCartney (Team CSC) picks it up at the front.
- Riders start to have a hard time on the little rollers heading in towards the finish.
- Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) looked really happy with his third place today.
- Today's winner Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita/McDonalds) could hardly contain himself on the podium.
Images by Kurt Jambretz /www.actionimages.cc
- Karl Menzies (Health Net) signs in prior to the race.
- Luca Damiani (Colavita/Sutter Home) is called to the line.
- There were several enthusiastic fans out this afternoon.
- The riders roll out down Hamilton Street.
- The time board says it all...
- Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly) flies through the park.
- Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Home) leads the peloton down the hill into the park.
- Frank Pipp (Health Net) descends into the park.
- Ben Jaques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) attempts to stay in the top half of the field.
- The field stretches out across the bridge on the way out of town.
- There was no shortage of attacks today.
- Tyler Wren (Colavita/Sutter Home) has a go in the opening laps.
- Team Tecos covers the move.
- The pace was amazingly fast throughout today's race.
- Mike Friedman (Slipstream/Chipotle) screams down the hill into the park.
- Ivan Stevic (Toyota-United) was active in a few breaks this afternoon.
- Dan Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) was wondering when the pace was going to subside.
- The peloton winds its way through the park at speed.
- Luis Amaran (Colavita/Sutter Home) climbs the final hill on Hamilton Street.
- Henk Vogels (Toyota-United) powers his way up the hill.
- Will Frischkorn (Slipstream/Chipotle) gets a push after a wheel change.
- Will Frischkorn (Slipstream/Chipotle) makes his way back to the peloton after a mechanical.
- Frank Pipp (Health Net) leads the break through the line with two laps to go.
- Tim Johnson (Health Net) focuses on the riders up the road as he crosses the line.
- Glen Chadwick (Team Type 1) drives the small breakaway as it dangles 30 seconds off the front.
- Daniel Ramsey (Successful Living) moves up as he crosses the start/finish line.
- Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) sprints out of the charging field for the win.
- Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) receives a congratulatory hug from his director.
- An elated Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) celebrates on the top step of the podium.
- The men's podium (l-r): Karl Menzies (Health Net), Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) and Brad Huff (Jelly Belly).
Results - provisional
1 Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Amore & Vita - McDonald's 3.05.35 (44.292 km/h) 2 Kari Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 3 Bradley Huff (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 4 Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 5 Eric Baumann (Ger) Team Sparkasse 6 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Rock Racing 7 Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 8 Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 9 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team High Road 10 Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 11 Anibal Andres Borrajo (Arg) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight 12 Yasvany Falcon (Cub) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife 13 Luis Fernando Macias Hernandez (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 14 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Team Type 1 15 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Liquigas 16 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Team Type 1 17 Mark Walters (Can) Team R.A.C.E. Pro 18 Curtis Gunn (USA) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre 19 Carlos Oyarzun (Chi) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 20 Neil Shirley (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 21 Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 22 Shawn Milne (USA) Team Type 1 23 John Fredy Parra (Col) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife 24 Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team 25 Moises Aldape Chavez (Mex) Team Type 1 26 Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse 27 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC 28 Christian Meier (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 29 Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team 30 Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 31 Andrew Talansky (USA) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife 32 Miguel Martinez (Fra) Amore & Vita - McDonald's 33 Jake Rytlewski (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell 34 Christopher Jones (USA) Team Type 1 35 Michael Grabinger (USA) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre 36 Mark Hekman (USA) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife 37 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight 38 Ryan Roth (Can) Team R.A.C.E. Pro 39 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Rock Racing 40 Jared Barrilleaux (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 41 Ciarán Power (Irl) Pezula Racing 42 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 43 Kyle Wamsley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight 44 Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 45 Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team 46 Gregorio Ladino (Col) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 47 Francisco Matamoros (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 48 Chad Hartley (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 49 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team High Road 50 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Team Type 1 51 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 52 Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Rock Racing 53 Fabio Calabria (Aus) Team Type 1 54 Brian Jensen (USA) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre 55 Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Team High Road 56 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Rock Racing 57 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 58 Bernardo Colex Tepoz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 59 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC 60 Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 61 Cameron Jennings (Aus) Pezula Racing 62 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team CSC 63 Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling 64 Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Sparkasse 65 Tilo Schüler (Ger) Team Sparkasse 66 Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 67 Andy Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 68 Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Team Sparkasse 69 John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 0.38 70 Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 0.40 71 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing 0.42 72 John Durango (Col) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife 73 Jeremy Vennell (NZl) Bissell Pro Cycling 0.45 74 Taylor Tolleson (USA) BMC Racing Team 0.48 75 Frank Travieso (Cub) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife 76 Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 1.03 77 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Pezula Racing 1.06 78 Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse 1.15 79 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight 1.28 80 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Team Type 1 81 Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 82 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas 1.35 83 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 1.42 84 Evan Elken (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 85 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Liquigas 86 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas 87 Erik Barlevav (USA) Time Pro Cycling 1.52 88 Jason Donald (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 89 Reid Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 1.57 90 Adam Myerson (USA) Time Pro Cycling 2.05 91 Michael Friedman (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 2.10 92 William Frischkorn (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 93 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 94 Ivan Stevic (Srb) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 95 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 96 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 97 Blake Caldwell (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 98 Thomas Soladay (USA) Time Pro Cycling 2.16 99 Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 100 Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 101 Richard Geng (Ger) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell 2.40 102 Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 103 John Devine (USA) Team High Road 104 Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 105 Benjamin King (Aus) Southaustralia.com - AIS 106 David Guttenplan (USA) Time Pro Cycling 107 Rahsaan Bahati (USA) Rock Racing 108 Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 109 Timothy Henry (USA) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 110 Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife 111 Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 112 Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 113 Francois Parisien (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 114 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Slipstream Chipotle p/b H30 115 Scott Jackson (USA) DLP Racing 116 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 117 Martin Gilbert (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 118 Kevin Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 119 Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 4.54 120 Kyle Gritters (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 121 Aaron Olson (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 5.26 122 Aaron Tuckerman (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 123 Jackie Simes (USA) Time Pro Cycling 124 Cody Stevenson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 125 Michael Stevenson (Swe) Amore & Vita - McDonald's DNF Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team High Road DNF Gregory Henderson (NZl) Team High Road DNF Servais Knaven (Ned) Team High Road DNF Tony Martin (Ger) Team High Road DNF Lasse Bøchman (Den) Glud & Marstrand Horsens DNF André Steensen (Den) Team CSC DNF Jason McCartney (USA) Team CSC DNF Alberto Curtolo (Ita) Liquigas DNF Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team DNF Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Racing Team DNF Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team DNF Phil Cortes (Can) Amore & Vita - McDonald's DNF Sören Nissen (Den) Amore & Vita - McDonald's DNF Joao Correia (Por) Bissell Pro Cycling DNF Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight DNF Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight DNF Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight DNF Luis Amaran (Cub) Colavita Sutter Home p/b CookingLight DNF Spencer Beamer (USA) DLP Racing DNF Joey Coddington (USA) DLP Racing DNF Charles Pendry (USA) DLP Racing DNF Matthew Howe (USA) DLP Racing DNF Boyd Johnson (USA) DLP Racing DNF Christopher Judy (USA) DLP Racing DNF Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis DNF Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis DNF Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team DNF Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team DNF Michael Lange (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team DNF Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team DNF Trent Wilson (Aus) Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team DNF Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast DNF Morgan Fox (Irl) Pezula Racing DNF Martyn Irvine (Irl) Pezula Racing DNF William Connolly (Irl) Pezula Racing DNF William Elliston (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell DNF Robbie King (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell DNF Stephen Kincaid (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell DNF Clayton Barrows (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell DNF Guido Palma (Arg) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell DNF Miles Watson (NZl) Rite Aid Pro Cycling p/b Shebell & Shebell DNF Michael Creed (USA) Rock Racing DNF Doug Ollerenshaw (USA) Rock Racing DNF Dan Timmerman (USA) Team R.A.C.E. Pro DNF Kevin Miller (Can) Team R.A.C.E. Pro DNF Dustin MacBurnie (Can) Team R.A.C.E. Pro DNF Mark Batty (Can) Team R.A.C.E. Pro DNF Eric Robertson (Can) Team R.A.C.E. Pro DNF Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Team Sparkasse DNF Charles Dionne (Can) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre DNF Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre DNF Bradley White (USA) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre DNF Ricardo Escuela (Arg) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre DNF Cody O'Reilly (USA) Successfulliving.com p/b Parkpre DNF Omar Cervantes Diaz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara DNF Lui Alfredo Gutierrez Colunga (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara DNF Florencio Ramos (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara DNF Daniel Ramsey (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF David Duncan (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF Michael Stoop (USA) Time Pro Cycling DNF Robert Sweeting (USA) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife DNF Predrag Prokic (Srb) Toshiba - Santo Pro Cycling p/b Herbalife DNF Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team
