Rally Cycling, the team formerly known as Optum and Kelly Benefit Strategies, is entering its 10th season in the US peloton this year. In terms of domestic cycling, a notoriously fragile eco-system where teams seem to rise and fall faster than presidential primary contenders, the team owned and operated by the Circuit Sport management company has been able to grow every year. This season is no exception, as the new multi-year deal with the California-based healthcare company will allow the team to expand its men's program to include a bigger presence domestically and an expanded overseas calendar.
Cyclingnews caught up with Rally Cycling Performance Director Jonas Carney last week at the men's team training camp along the Southern California coast in Oxnard, where we discussed new signings and where the men will head from here.
Cyclingnews: You've got to be excited about the team this year, with the new guys and the mix of young talent along with the returning veterans?
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Carney: We've got six new guys and they're all really good bike racers and guys that I'm pretty familiar with. I'm really excited to work with Danny Pate. We've been friends since Prime Alliance back in 2001. It's going to be super cool working with him. We've been on the goal line of working with Rob Britton for four or five years now, it just never worked out until this year. So that will also be cool to finally get a chance to work with him. And we kept some of our best guys, too, and the new additions are kind of exciting.
CN: Britton really had a breakout year last year. He's always been up there, but last year was another notch up. Do you see him continuing with that progress?
Carney: It was definitely his best year ever. But the year before I think he didn't get as much credit for what he had done, so it was just slightly better than what he had done the year before. It wasn't a huge jump for him. The year before he actually had some huge results but they just went under the radar a little bit more. The guy was like one final time bonus away from winning Gila. He had a stage that he was on the podium at the USA Pro Challenge. There were some things that he did that were super impressive the previous year, and we tried to get Rob to come ride with us at the end of 2014 as well.
- Tom Zirbel to retire after 2016 season
- Rob Britton: I have a special eye on the Tour of California
- Danny Pate: Move to Rally Cycling changes everything
- Optum Pro Cycling signs new title sponsor, will race 10th season as Rally Cycling
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