WF: How was the winter for you?
DM: Great. Far more relaxed than usual, lots of riding with Michael Barry. I’m healthy and happy.

WF: How’s the form?
DM: It’s hard to tell at this point; at the first races sometimes you feel good, but then suffer like a bastard. Sometimes you feel terrible and yey you are flying! I’m not going to announce where I am right now as even I don’t really know.

WF: How are the now goodies?
DM: Great. I’m loving the new glasses. Transitions is a fantastic new sponsor to compliment Garmin. Exciting stuff!

WF: How about the new crew of guys?
DM: They’re a quiet bunch of new guys. Probably good with so many loud guys already! I’m looking forward to getting the Aussies up and meeting the new kids.

WF: Where are you starting out?
DM: Like last year, Algarve. After that up to Het Volk, a new addition to the calendar, along with many of the northern classics. It’s exciting – I feel a bit like a neo-pro again doing those.

WF: Do you have any early season targets?
DM: Honestly, to be going well from Algarve on with no particular peak in mind. I’d like to be pretty good in all; some for myself, others for the team.

WF: How ya liking Calpe?
DM: I used to train here a lot in the old days with Cofidis, only now we’re in a much nicer hotel with a much better team. Needless to say it’s much more enjoyable.

WF: What’s the training been like, pretty easy to start?
DM: The training has been surprisingly hard, we jumped right in feet first. It’s only day four and I’m quite tired already. Hopefully I’ll recover after the easy day and be ready to hit it hard tomorrow.

More team items will be added soon, so keep checking back with: shopslipstreamsports.com

Team Garmin-Transitions, the leading professional cycling team dedicated to ethical sporting and developing the next generation of cycling champions, today unveiled its much-anticipated roster for the Tour Down Under. The roster features four Australians including Jack Bobridge, world U-23 time trial champion and Cameron Meyer, the newly crowned national time trial champion. Team Garmin-Transitions will be directed by Sport Director Matt White, also of Australia.

Jack Bobridge, AUS
Julian Dean, NZ
Robbie Hunter, SA
Trent Lowe, AUS
Christian Meier, CAN
Cameron Meyer, AUS
Matt Wilson, AUS

“We have an incredible group of riders lined up for this race,” said Sport Director Matt White. “We’ll be on the hunt for stage wins and potentially, the overall. We’ll give fans the world over many reasons to cheer for these young guys – especially Cameron Meyer who, back from double shoulder surgery, won two track world cups and recently won the national time trial championship. And I am sure that Adelaide will be behind hometown hero Jack Bobridge, who will take the road in his first pro race with Garmin-Transitions.”

Race report from Travis Meyer:

I awoke upon the morning of the Australian Open Road Race Championships with mixed emotions — I was nervous as I wanted to make sure I did my job well for the team, excited as it was my first ever race in the Elite Men’s Open Road Championship and honored to be representing Garmin-Transitions for the very first time.

It was going to be an extremely hot and long day in the saddle. The team plan was to get myself into the main break of the day, which would allow Jack Bobridge, Matt Wilson and my brother Cam to get the free ride until the crunch in the final two or three laps. A break of 10 riders got away in the first kilometer of the race which included myself. As the race was a war of attrition it suited me down to the ground and slowly the breakaway started to diminish. The biggest gap the peloton allowed the break was around about 7 minutes with approximately 8 laps to go. My teammates were doing a fantastic job back in the bunch waiting anxiously for the finale.

It was never in my wildest dreams that I would be in a winning position in the Australian Road Championships but when our break still had over 3 minutes with 2 laps to go I knew that we were going to stay away. I had looked after myself well during the race, taking on a bottle every lap due to the 38c degree temperatures. Coming into the final lap of the race I knew it was time to lay the hammer down as I was confident that I was the best climber and in the best condition out of the guys left of the breakaway. I attacked at the bottom of the first climb and never looked back. I knew if I could get to the top of the climb with at least 15 seconds gap I would win the bike race. I had over 20 seconds advantage at the top of the climb.

Coming into the finish line was the most amazing feeling of my life. It was something I had only dreamed about but never truly thought as a reality. I crossed the line after over four-and-a-half hours on the bike as the new Australian Road Champion. Our director Matt White was just past the finish line to congratulate me and I was so happy to finish off the job for such a great director and great team. Matt was giving me advice and encouragement every lap and it was good to know he had faith in me to follow through for the win. I also had my dad there to share this great moment with. A big thank you also to my teammates who did a perfect job to help me take my first victory as a professional.

I look forward to the season ahead with Garmin-Transitions and the honor of wearing the green and gold in my first year on the ProTour.

January 11, 2010 – Boulder, CO – Team Holowesko Partners, the under-23 development squad for Team Garmin-Transitions, both owned and managed by management company Slipstream Sports, has been developing the next generation of top US cycling champions since its inception. It swept the U23 national championships in 2009, won the team classification at the Redlands Bicycle Classic and the best young jerseys – climber, points and rider – at the Cascade Cycling Classic. Today, the best U23 team in America unveiled its 2010 team roster:

Andrew Barker
Elliot Craddock
Blake Caldwell
Max Durtschi
Caleb Fairly
Alex Howes
Andrei Krasilnikau
Raymond Kreder
Lachlan Morton
Thacker Reeves
Peter Salon
Walker Savidge
Taylor Sheldon
Robbie Squire
Danny Summerhill
Nick Walker

“Holowesko Partners is incredibly proud to help foster the next generation of cycling champions,” said Mark Holowesko. “We couldn’t think of a better partner than Slipstream Sports, a company that has dedicated itself to this mission, and we look forward to another exciting season.”

Team Holowesko Partners featuring Alex Howes, national U23 Road Race Champion, Danny Summerhill, national U23 CycloCross Champion and Max Durtschi junior National Road and Criterium Champion, will again be directed by former pro Chann McRae. Additionally, Blake Caldwell has made the decision to step down from the Garmin-Transitions pro tour team to continue to recover from injury and will race with the junior team in 2010. Team Holowesko Partners grew out of the team that Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, created in 2005 with the goal of developing young riders and promoting ethical sport. Several young riders have already graduated to the pro tour team, including Peter Stetina and Kirk Carlsen for 2010.

“We are coming off an incredible 2009 season and we have a lot to be proud of,” said director Chann McRae. “Building the next generation of cycling champions is something we set out to do from the start, and to see that in action is hugely exciting not just for us, but for cycling as a whole. We look forward to another great season in 2010.”

Slipstream sponsors USA Cycling’s U23 team in the United States, in which several of its riders participate.

“When I started this team as TIAA-CREF in 2005, my dream was to foster an environment where young riders could flourish and to show the world that ethical sporting was not only possible but a reality,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports. “Today I believe that dream has come to life. Holowesko Partners is a great sponsor that fully supports our mission and amazing group of talented young riders climbing the professional ranks. Together we have created the right dynamic for these young athletes to flourish. I’m incredibly proud of what all of our riders continue to achieve.”

Contact:

Marya Pongrace
Marya.pongrace@slipstreamsports.com
347-698-3412

Well two wins from two (brothers) is a very nice way to start the season!

Saxo bank have the Shleck brothers and now we have the Meyer boys. Travis Meyer in his first race as a professional is crowned national champion. With three debut performances for Garmin-Transitions riders on the start line today along with the newly crowned TT champ Cam Meyer, the mission was to win the coveted national championships green and gold jersey for the road.

With a record 170 entries the first attack of the day saw more than ten riders slip off the front. Travis Meyer was in the split as the group quickly developed a nice lead despite the stifling heat. With a natural selection on a very demanding circuit the bunch was shrinking lap by lap. When the big push came in the business end of the race our other three riders had every move covered from behind.

In the end the heat and speed took its toll on the break and only four riders remained as they approached the bell lap. Travis attacked at the bottom of the last climb and never looked back. It didn’t look like getting he was going to get reeled in and went on to claim his first professional, very sweet victory.

Jack Bobridge cleaned up the chase group sprint for fifth place, followed by a very happy brother Cam and Matt Wilson — with hands raised knowing they had just played a crucial part in a very big win for the team.

Photos: Shane Goss www.licoricegallery.com

I am very happy to have won my first elite championship. For the past six weeks it was my goal to win the green and gold jersey. I prepared well through December and am looking to continue some good form into the road race on Sunday, as well as the Tour Down Under coming up. Yesterday’s race went all to plan and at half way I was in the lead, but by only a small margin over Milram rider Luke Roberts. I had a strong second half and ended the race 30 seconds ahead of the second place getter. It will be a huge honour to compete in Europe this season wearing the Australian champion’s colours and one that I am very much looking forward too!

This Sunday is the road race championship and our team has a very good shot at taking the title. With Jack Bobridge, Matt Wilson, my brother Travis and I all having good early season form we will for sure go in as one of the strongest and favourable teams for the race. We each have great strengths for this course and hopefully can put in a great team performance for a gold medal.

Cam Meyer started where the team left off in October. Winning.

After a roller-coaster year last year — starting with the highs of becoming world champion at 21 years of age on the track and competing in the Giro as a neo-pro, followed with the lows of missing the second part of the season with two shoulder operations — Cam’s returns back to competition has been very successful.

Cam won two gold medals at the track world cup In November and the national Madison tittle only weeks ago, Cam showed his versatility by going on better than last year in claiming his first professional road TT title.

He was challenged for the majority of the race, only having a five second lead at the half-way mark. He was being pushed by Milram’s Olympic track champ Luke Roberts .

In the final 10km Cam pushed on to victory on a challenging run to the finish in blustery conditions, with Roberts fading to third. Cam’s younger brother Travis had a very credible ride coming in fifth in his first outing for Garmin-Transitions.

The next goal for us is to take the double on Sunday. Coming to join the Meyer brothers will be world U23 TT champ Jack Bobridge and former Australian champion on this course, Matt Wilson.

Keep posted for the Garmin-Transitions Aussie assault this Sunday!

Photos: Shane Goss www.licoricegallery.com

Christian Vande Velde, Dan Martin and David Zabriskie Extend Contracts with Top American Team

Boulder, CO – December 24, 2009 – Slipstream Sports LLC and its chief venture, Team Garmin-Transitions, is once again poised for a big year. Coming off the 2009 Tour de France, where the team placed second overall with two riders in the top 10, along with three stage victories at the Vuelta and success at the Tour of Britain and the Sun Tour, the team has officially unveiled its 2010 roster. Team Garmin-Transitions features 10 Americans among a total of 27 riders from eight different countries. Christian Vande Velde, 8th overall in the 2009 Tour de France, David Zabriskie, U.S. Time Trial Champion and sprint sensation Tyler Farrar will return to the squad along with stars Dan Martin, Ryder Hesjedal and David Millar.

New additions include Jack Bobridge, Australia’s U23 Road Race and Time Trial Champion, Johan Van Summeren, two-time top ten finisher of Paris-Roubaix, and expert lead-out man Robbie Hunter.

Vande Velde, Martin and Zabriskie have all renewed contracts with the team that will extend through 2012, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

“I’ve come an long way with Team Garmin-Transitions in a short time,” said Vande Velde. “I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve done as part of this team and I’m excited to see what the next three years have to hold.”

“The progress we have made together in the past two seasons shows what a perfect environment Garmin-Transitions is for a young rider,” said Martin. “I’m really excited to have the chance to continue to improve, grow and have fun in what is the perfect team for me.”

“It’s a beautiful thing,” added Zabriskie. “To commit for four years myself, and to have the team commit to me is something really special.”

A complete roster follows:

Jack Bobridge, AUS
Kirk Carlsen, USA
Steven Cozza, USA
Tom Danielson, USA
Julian Dean, NZ
Timmy Duggan, USA
Tyler Farrar, USA
Ryder Hesjedal, CAN
Robbie Hunter, SA
Fredrik Kessiakoff, SWE
Michel Kreder, NED
Trent Lowe, AUS
Dan Martin, IRL
Maartijn Maaskant, NED
Christian Meier, CAN
Cameron Meyer, AUS
Travis Meyer, AUS
David Millar, GB
Danny Pate, USA
Thomas Peterson, USA
Peter Stetina, USA
Svein Tuft, CAN
Johan Van Summeren, BEL
Ricardo van der Velde, NED
Christian Vande Velde, USA
Matt Wilson, AUS
David Zabriskie, USA

“We’re poised well for 2010. Our roster is strong and versatile with some of the world’s best riders returning to us, and the addition of others,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports management company. “This year we will look to build on Tyler’s success by adding lead-out guys, we’ve added climbers to help Christian in the mountains and we’ve rounded out our Classics team. With Christian, Dan and David signing on for the next few years, we’ve built a foundation that we will be able to enhance in years to come. Looking ahead to 2010, we expect to be competitive throughout the year.”

Team Garmin-Transitions will compete in a full slate of international races throughout the spring and summer, kicking off with the Tour Down Under in January 2010.

For more information contact:

Marya Pongrace
Team Garmin-Transitions
marya.pongrace@slipstreamsports.com
347-698-3412