Mancebo to captain new American pro team

RealCyclist.com announced that Spanish professional Francisco Mancebo will captain their new U.S. Continental squad for the 2011 racing season.


Francisco Mancebo

Mancebo is a two-time third-place finisher of the Vuelta a Espana (2004, 2005) and finished in the top-10 of the Tour de France four times. Mancebo was named the Best Young Rider of the Tour in 2000. Mancebo, racing for Rock Racing, won the first stage of the 2009 Tour of California and wore the green KOM jersey before he crashed out and suffered a concussion in Stage 7. Mancebo likes racing in America and he has an established American fan base. He’s a suspected doper who was banned from racing in the 2006 Tour de France, but he’s such a nice suspected doper and I’m among his cadre of American fans.

“About the new team, RealCyclist.com, I’m very excited about this new project. I’m very attracted to the idea of racing in the USA, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” says Mancebo, 34. “I hope to have good results in 2011, especially in California and Utah, to repay the team for placing confidence in me.”

One man raceFrancisco Mancebo racing in Davis CA, 2009.

RealCyclist.com Pro Cycling Team will be led by Gord Fraser as the directeur sportif. This UCI Continental pro cycling team will compete in National Racing Calendar events in North America. RealCyclist.com — a part of Backcountry.com — is an online retailer of premium road bikes and parts.

Others’ on the RealCyclist.com Pro Team roster:

Cesar Grajales, 37, from Manizales, Caldas, Colombia. Resides in Atlanta, Ga. Pro since 1997. Career Highlights: Winner, King of the Mountain classification, TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Classic; 3rd, stage 1, Tour of the Gila (2010); 2nd, San Dimas Road Race (2010); 9th overall Tour of Utah (2010); Brasstown Bald Mountain winner, stage 6, Tour de Georgia (2004).

Matt Crane, 25, from Hong Kong. Resides in Old Greenwich, Conn. Pro since 2007. Career Highlights: 2nd, stage 4 Joe Martin Stage Race (2010); 3rd Foothills Road Race (2010); winner, Most Courageous Rider classification, stage 5 Tour of California (2009); 6th, Under-23 National Time Trial Championship (2007).

Frank Travieso, 30, from Havana, Cuba. Resides in Winterville, Ga. Pro since 2006. Career Highlights: 1st, Tour de Tuscaloosa, road race (2010); 1st, Rosewood Series Criterium (2010); 1st The US 10K Classic (2009); 1st, Tour of Elk Grove Criterium (2009).

Evan Hyde, 26, from Anchorage, Alaska. Resides in Park City, Utah. Pro since 2010. Career Highlights: 1st, Tour of Anchorage (2010); 3rd, stage 3 Callville Bay Classic (2010).

Ian Burnett, 24, from Durango, Colo. Resides in Durango, Colo. Pro since 2010. Career Highlights: 6th, International Cycling Classic (2010); 6th, USA Cycling Elite Track Nationals (2010); 2nd, USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championship (2009).

Oscar Clark, 21, from Atlanta, Ga. Resides in Atlanta, Ga. Pro since 2009. Career Highlights: 2nd U.S. U-23 National Criterium Championships (2010); 2nd USA Cycling Collegiate Track Nationals, points race (2010); 25th USA Cycling Pro Championships road race (2010).

Josh Berry, 20, from Sun Valley, Idaho. Resides in Portland, Ore. Pro since 2010. Career Highlights: 1st Jason Broome Time Trial (2010); 10th Sea Otter Classic Road Race (2010); 21st U23 Elite Road National Championship (2010); 4th, USA Cycling National Mtn Bike Championships – Juniors (2006).

Thomas Rabou, 27, from Schijndel, Netherlands. Resides in Loosbroek, Netherlands. Pro since 2006. Career Highlights: winner, King of the Mountain classification, Amgen Tour of California (2010); 4th, stage 6 Tour of Qinghai Lake; 2nd, stage 5, Mountains Classification, Circuito Montanes (2009), 3rd, stage 3, Tour d’Alsace (2009).

Mike Midlarsky, 21, from New York, N.Y. Resides in Delray Beach, Fla. Pro since 2010. Career Highlights: 4th, Webster-Roubaix, Winter Springs FL (2010); 12th, Tour of America’s Dairyland Road Race (2009).

Yosvany Falcon, 31, from Pinar De Rio, Cuba. Resides in Miami, Fla. Pro since 2004. Career Highlights: 1st, Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix (2010); 1st, Tour Of America’s Dairyland Greenbush road race (2010 & 2009); 1st, Overall USA CRITS Championship Series (2009); 1st, stage 3 Vuelta a la Cuidad de Mexico (2009).

Cole House, 22, from Oneida, Wis. Resides in Oneida, Wis. Pro since 2009. Career Highlights: 1st, Valley of the Sun Criterium (2010); 1st, Witnall Park road race , Superweek (2010); 4th, Merced Criterium (2010); 1st, Grand Prix Waregem (2009 & 1st American to win Belgium race); 7th U-23 Tour of Flanders (2008).

Tommy Nankervis, 27, from Melbourne, Australia. Resides Melbourne, Australia. Pro since 2005. Career Highlights: 1st, Esplechin Kermesse in Belgium (2010); 1st, Kemmel Kermesse in Belgium (2010); 1st, La Pitgamoise GP in France (2010); Oceania Road Race Champion (2009); Best Young Rider classification winner for stage 1 of Tour de Georgia (2007).

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