Scott McGill (Human Powered Health) and Sam Boardman (L39ION of Los Angeles) are among an influx of five new North American riders on the 2024 roster for Project Echelon Racing.
The US-based Continental squad will include a roster of 13 and change up racing goals to include events like Unbound Gravel and SBT GRVL among their growing calendar of European road races to develop fitness and reach new audiences.
Last season Project Echelon Racing notched 14 podiums on the road, with all six stage victories coming from Cade Bickmore and Tyler Stites. Both riders reprise roles as GC leaders for 2024 and continue alongside Trofeo Calvia KOM winner Matt Zimmer and five other returning teammates.
“I think on paper, it’s the best road team that a US continental program has put forth since the Hincapie-Holowesko days. That’s the calibre that I see on the roster,” said Eric Hill, director for Project Echelon Racing.
A novel approach for 2024 will be the inclusion of gravel races on the calendar along with select criteriums and stages races in North America and approximately 40 days of road racing in Europe, which he said was more than double last year. For gravel races, he said they’d approach them as “North America’s Classics”.
“You have to go where people are and gravel is a great space for us to have a shared experience with people and still get to compete at a really high level that prepares us for our key focus of racing, which is on the road and in our growing calendar in Europe. We view these events as North America’s Classics,” he told Cyclingnews, adding they could be the first UCI road team committed to sending squads of four to five riders to gravel races.
“It’s an exciting new challenge, and keeps guys, you know, motivated and sharp when they’re home, and hone in on some racing dynamics that will help us to achieve success in Europe.
“We’re stepping back a little bit from the criterium scene. We’ll be at the big four stage races in North America. Our hope is that we go and race these races in Europe and we bring that excitement and experience back to the US and help to grow that scene again.”
Project Echelon Racing will again open their road season in Spain at Challenge Mallorca, where last year Matt Zimmer won the KOM classification at the opening stop at Trofeo Calvia. They are scheduled to race Tour de la Provence and are hoping to confirm another European stop in February before turning to the US for the Tucson Bicycle Classic…
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