November 1/10 19:36 pm - Bissell Pro Cycling Announces 2011 Team

Posted by Editoress on 11/1/10
 

The Bissell Pro Cycling Team announces today that it will continue as a continental team in 2011, with three new and ten returning riders, in addition to former riders joining the team's management. Bissell Homecare, Inc. will return as the team's owner and title sponsor, extending its eight-year relationship with professional cycling and emphasizing its commitment to promoting healthy living through athletic competition.

Glen Mitchell will continue in his role as team manager for 2011.Two familiar, but new, additions join the management group: Omer Kem and Burke Swindlehurst, members of the 2009 Bissell Pro Cycling Team. After assisting as director for Bissell during 2010, Kem will assume the role of team director and Swindlehurst will act as assistant team director.

Bissell continues its commitment to the development of talented cyclists with the signing of three outstanding U23 riders to the 2011 team. Andrew Dahlheim from Dallas, Texas joins the team as a promising all-around asset, having finished third at this year's U23 U.S. National Road Race Championships. Dahlheim has proven his strength as a sprinter and recently attracted the attention of Bissell's criterium specialist, Kyle Wamsley, at the Texas Tough Grand Prix.

Chase Pinkham also joins the 2011 team, as a climbing and time trial specialist who rode for Trek-Livestrong in 2010. A native of Utah, Pinkham is a born high-altitude climber and will attack the multitude of additional climbing stages on the team's 2011 race calendar. " I've had the opportunity to watch Chase develop as a rider and am excited about this young rider's potential," says assistant director Swindlehurst.

Andrew Baker rounds out Bissell's 2011 additions and brings all-around support to the team. In 2010, he showed his range of talents at the French Broad Cycle Classic where he stood on the podium for both the road race and time trial. Baker also finished 12th at the 2010 U23 U.S. National Road Race Championships.

Team veterans Ben Jacques-Maynes and Frank Pipp will again be guiding the team with their leadership and expertise. Returning fastman Wamsley leads the team's criterium squad and will be building on his sprinting successes. After his excellent transition to the pros, Patrick Bevin will again complement Wamsley's speed to create a powerful duo at the finish. The team will rely on the all-around support of returning rider, Andy Jacques-Maynes, along with time trialing and climbing power from Jeremy Vennell. Paul Mach, Rob Britton, Shane Kline, and David Williams will be building on the great foundation that they set in 2010.

The team is planning for an aggressive schedule in 2011 consisting of NRC and UCI races throughout the United States, and hopes to round out the calendar with end-of-the-season racing in Australia and New Zealand.