So here we are, a new year, a new season and a new team, Orbea-For Goodness Shakes! In 3 weeks time we’ll be hard at work at training camp in Mallorca, and then shortly after that we’ll be lining up alongside some of France’s finest in Paris-Evreux. The last few months have flown by in a whirlwind of organisation, logisitics, planning, sponsor liason and riders meetings and now we’re officially launching the team in front of the media, sponsors, friends and family.
It’s been hard work, and there’s been a lot of late nights putting this together, but when I see the group of riders we’ve got, i’m proud of what we’ve achieved. Both the Men’s and Women’s team have fantastic line ups, and the prospect of an Olympic Champion riding in team colours in the National Time Trial Championships is mind blowing.
With some very strong teams and a tough race programme ahead of us, 2010 isn’t going to be an easy season and they’ll be many challenges, but this is a strong team and we’re ready for them. With regards to our Men’s squad, i’m really looking forward to seeing Dan Kogan make the breakthrough in the Premier Calendar. Sometimes I forget that he is only just 21 years old and his whole career lies ahead of him. I don’t know if many more professional and dedicated young riders exist, all he needs is the right break and he’ll be up there.
Marcel Six is another exciting prospect and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the racing in the UK after living and racing in sunny Spain for most of his life.
Lewis Atkins and Kristian Downs are also interesting additions to the team. After numerous injury problems, Lewis comes to the team after his first full season without incident in years and we’ll be looking for him to do the business in circuit races. Kristian has spent a couple of years “in the wilderness” and his passion and motivation for racing is sky high. He is a class act on the bike, and I think he’ll surprise a few people this season.
Young Steve Griffiths is another rider with a lot of potential and I know he’ll be making good on his talent in 2010. A new signing for 2010 is quite possibly the tallest and leanest man on the planet, and a very charming man to boot (so he tells me!), Matt Ewings. He’s clicked with the team from day one and is a good training partner....although he’s not yet learnt to love the onshore breeze we get in these parts!
Then we have Dean Shannon who’s super strong and super motivated after a hard winter’s training, Ben Thompson who’s always a rampaging bull of a rider and the old war horse himself, Andy Lyons. Underestimate the old boy at your peril....as Wiley says, “Anyone who thinks he can’t do it anymore, best step right back and take that”!
It’s been a tough few months bringing it all together but we’re there now and we can look forward to what’s shaping up to be an epic season, a season of big things for Orbea-For Goodness Shakes!
