GRAND RAPIDS, MI., – BISSELL Pro Cycling (BPC) has finalized its eight-man Amgen Tour of California roster. While team leader Ben Jacques-Maynes and Tom Zirbel were ascertained spots in early January, the 14-member squad weathered Northern California winter storms during their Santa Rosa, California-based two-week team training camp, scouting several key stages of the ATOC to determine the final roster.

Joining 2007 NRC number two ranked Jacques-Maynes and time trail specialist Zirbel are Aaron Olson and Burke Swindlehurst. Stage race specialist Olson makes his third ATOC appearance after two years in the European pro peloton bringing experience from the mountainous 2007 Giro d’Italia and a third place overall at the Tour of Ireland. Ten-year pro and underrated climbing and stage specialist Swindlehurst makes his ATOC debut and will be looking toward the mountains to make his mark.

Battling with the bunch at likely sprint finishes in Santa Rosa (Stage 1), Sacramento (Stage 2) and Pasadena (Stage 7) will be 2006 Australian Criterium Champion Richard England. Supporting England’s lead-out train and also making his third ATOC appearance is Scott Zwinanski. Recently relocated to Marin County, Califorina, Zwinanski has spent the off-season training on the Tour’s routes and comes fresh off a Stage 7 Tour of Southland victory.

Rounding out the roster are strong all-rounders Garrett Peltonen and Teddy King. Peltonen was the winner of the 2007 Tour of Leelanau while King was crowned Best Young Rider at the 2006 Univest Grand Prix.

“While selection is always a tough process, the depth and determination of this squad made that process all the more difficult,” said Bissell’s Pro Cycling Director Sportiff Glen Mitchell. “We have a unique and talented group that work incredibly well together who are all able to contribute to a race of this caliber, but we have some specific riders whose peak form is targeted down the road.”

Added team manager Mark Olson, “The most consistent message I heard during team training camp came from the sponsors. All left camp saying the exact same thing, that ‘there’s a special vibe and sense of unity on this team.’” He added, “That unity carries over in race situations. There will always be competition when vying for a roster spot, but despite that, these guys seem to work cohesively and naturally for an end goal, to deliver results for the team and its sponsors.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 2:03 pm and is filed under Bissell. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.