UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis bringing deep squad to California

Posted on 12. May, 2010 by in news, race, releases

Two-time NRC points champion Rory Sutherland will lead the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis into the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, beginning Saturday, May 16th in Nevada City.

“This year we’re bringing a squad to the Amgen Tour of California that will be well balanced with climbers, sprinters and guys who can win out of breaks,” said team directeur sportif Mike Tamayo. “The previous two years, Rory has been close to stage wins. That’s definitely a goal this year.”

Sutherland will by no means be the sole rider the team looks to for results this year. Karl Menzies is showing great form after a pair of wins during the USA Crits Speed Week at the end of April, and the final stage of the Joe Martin Stage Race last weekend. Veteran Canadian sprinter Andrew Pinfold was key to all of those wins, and he posted a pair of podiums along the way, as well. Both riders are especially potent finishers out of breaks.

With the first ever mountain-top finish of the Tour of California coming in Stage 6, all-arounder Chris Baldwin and young climbing sensation Max Jenkins could both be in the mix at the finish. Jenkins, a resident of Davis, CA, recently finished 3rd on the vaunted Gila Monster stage of the SRAM Tour of the Gila.

Brad White returns to the race with an aggressive style that earned him Most Courageous Ride honors for Stage 4 of last year’s AToC. Dutch addition Marc de Maar, who comes to the Team from Rabobank, could also figure into breaks throughout the eight days of racing.

Matt Crane rounds out the UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis eight-man squad. He’ll add another potential rider for the breaks as well as a strong engine for riding tempo.

UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis roster for the Amgen Tour of California:

Rory Sutherland, AUS

Height/Weight: 6’2″, 172 lbs
Years as a Pro: 6
Strengths: Fitting into most races, one day classics
Career Highlights
• 1st NRC Individual Points Competition, 2008
• 2nd Stage 7, Amgen Tour of California, 2008
• 1st NRC Individual Points Competition, 2007
• 1st Young Riders classification, 3rd Overall, Tour of Denmark, 2005

Chris Baldwin, USA

Height/Weight: 6’1”; 150lbs
Years as a Pro: 10
Strengths: All-arounder, time trialing
Career Highlights:
• Two-time U.S. National Time Trial Champion
• 3rd Overall, NRC Individual Points Competition, 2007
• 1st Overall Tour of the Gila, 2006
• U.S. World Championship Team Member, 2004 & 2006

Matt Crane, USA

Height/ Weight: 6’ ; 148lb
Years as a Pro: 4
Strengths: Time trials, breakaways
Career Highlights:
• Member U23 World Championship team, 2004
• 1st Stage 1 TTT, International Tour de Toona, 2007

Marc de Maar, NED

Height/ Weight: 6′; 154 lbs
Years as a Pro: 5
Strengths: Versatility
Career Highlights:
• 1st Overall, Tour de Loir et Cher, 2005
1st Overall, Tryptique des Monts et Chateaux, 2005
• 2x finisher of la Vuelta e España

Max Jenkins, USA

Current Residence: Davis, CA
Height/Weight: 6’ 1”; 140 lbs
Years as a Pro: 2
Strengths: Climbing
Career Highlights:
• U23 National Road Race Champion, 2007
• U23 World Championship team member, 2007

Karl Menzies, TAS

Height/Weight: 6′ 1″; 182 lbs
Years as a Pro: 5
Strengths: Sprinter, classics/one-day, all-arounder
Career Highlights:
• 4th Overall, National Racing Calendar Individual Points Competition, 2009
• 4th Overall, National Racing Calendar Individual Points Competition, 2007
• 1st Stage 1 and three days in Leader’s jersey, Tour Down Under, 2007
• 2nd Overall, NRC Individual Points Competition, 2006
• 5th Overall, NRC Individual Points Competition, 2005

Andrew Pinfold, CAN

Height/ Weight: 5’10”; 150lbs
Years as a Pro: 3
Strengths: Opportunist
Career Highlights:
• 1st Stage 8, Vuelta Mexico, 2009
• 1st Overall, Tour de White Rock, 2009
• 2nd Stage 8, Tour of Missouri, 2009
• Canadian National Criterium Champion, 2000

Bradley White, USA

Height/ Weight: 5’11”/ 165lbs
Years as a Pro: 2
Strengths: Getting in the break and suffering
Career Highlights:
• Most Courageous Rider, Stage 4, Amgen Tour of California, 2009
• 1st Sprinters Competition, Tour of Utah, 2008

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