Riders to act as a test team for title sponsor’s clothing
Two days before the calendar ticks into 2012, the Champion System team has unveiled the jersey and shorts that it will be wearing during its first season as a Pro Continental outfit.
Riders such as the Americans Craig Lewis (previously HTC Highroad) and Chris Butler (BMC Racing Team), plus the Australian Will Clarke (Leopard Trek), quadruple Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirspuu, seven-time Asian BMX Champion Steven Wong and Belgian sprinter Gorik Gardeyn are amongst those who will compete in the orange, blue and white kit this coming season.
According to the team, they will use both the standard Tech jersey plus the tighter-fitting Elite model, and will have Champion System apparel both on and off the bike.
The title sponsor is a sports clothing manufacturer based in Hong Kong and, according to its Vice President of Sales and Marketing Charlie Issendorf, the squad is a way to display the company’s products in action.
“As the only cycling clothing manufacturer to be the title sponsor of a Professional Continental team, we wanted to showcase our state-of-the-art printing and design expertise to offer technical garments that elite riders demand to perform at their best,” he said.
Issendorf added that the squad would be a ‘rolling R&D department’ and would have a major role in developing new products.
In addition to unveiling the team kit today, the squad has also provided a list of the companies it will partner with in 2012. It includes SRAM groupsets, OSEOUS-Edco wheels, Speedplay pedals, Giro helmets, Oakley eyewear, Selle Italia saddles, Vittoria tires, Oval Concepts bars and stems, Cat Eye computers and Super B Tools tools.
Last week it announced that Fuji bicycles would supply carbon fibre Altamira’s and SST frames to its riders. The first of those was used by Juan Jose Cobo in winning the 2011 Vuelta a España.
The Champion System team will have its presentation in Beijing on January 11th, then make its competitive debut in the Tours of Qatar and Oman in February. It will also ride the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia.
It has the stated aim of being a UCI ProTeam within four to five years, and thus riding the Tour de France.