Sakonnet Rider Turns Professional – New York, NY (October 20th)
@##=#<1,L>@##=#Twenty three old Sakonnet rider David Wiswell has signed a contract with the NERAC.com Professional Cycling Team for the 2007 season. It was a string of high profile results with Sakonnet both on the road and on the track including the Green Mountain Stage Race’s Burlington Criterium (2nd Place), Elite Criterium Nationals (18th Place), Detroit 3-Day Track Event (1st Place) and his performance in the Madison with Guy East at Elite Track Nationals (6th Place) that attracted the attention of NERAC.com’s management.
The NERAC.com Professional Cycling Team is in its third season on the U.S Domestic circuit and is based in New England. For 2007 NERAC.com is launching a UCI Professional Track team along with their road program, Wiswell’s versatility in both disciplines made him a highly attractive candidate for their squad. “Our season keeps getting better and better with the graduation of David to the professional ranks†said Sakonnet Director Basil Moutsopoulos. “The team traveled to many races across the country this year, the guys raced their hearts out and delivered some very good results at the NRC level. People know us now at the big races, we’ve earned respect, To have three riders from our program go Pro at the end of this year is icing on the cake†commented Moutsopoulos.
The New York City based CRCA/Sakonnet Technology U25 Cycling Team supports top amateurs ages 19 to 24 years old with a National racing schedule so that these riders have the opportunity to shine at the biggest events the U.S has to offer.
For More Information Visit: www.skntcycling.com
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SKNT question: You folks cover the American NRC calender. Can you apply for a Continental UCI license and ride against the likes of Rabobank jr. development and such? Not sure how the whole thing works.
Good question lee3.
In 2004 we raced on the continent with success (the Tour of Ireland to be exact) and you can do many pro/am races without having a Continental License just like you can here in the U.S.
At the right event you could certainly come across not only small euro proteams but also the development programs of ProTour teams as well. We can technically also petition to ride in U23 World Cup events but to do that we’d have to be based in Europe which is not anything we have in the plans for right now.
Cheers,