Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk

Follow the new Rapha/Condor/Recycling.co.uk on ProTourNews, as the team embarks on a season of UK and Continental races in 2008.

The team was succesfully launched in London in January and they will target The UK Premier, National Criterium Series and a selected programme of International events.

2008 Launch

Matt Seaton writes; British cycle sport is going through something of a golden age. At the Athens Olympics, British track cyclists were responsible for the majority of Britain's overall medal haul. The 2007 Tour de France saw four British riders compete - more than for many years. Besides that, we have world champions in several disciplines. With this experience of success, a new generation of talent is rapidly making its way up the ranks.

Against this background of resurgence, two of the biggest names of recent seasons in the domestic racing scene, Rapha/Condor and Recycling.co.uk, announced that that are combining forces. The goal, under the direction of John Herety, one of the most respected team managers in the UK with several years' experience of running the GB squad, is to field a squad that will not only race in the national premier calendar series, but will make a serious impression on the international scene by competing in major UCI events (and as members of national Olympic and world championship teams). Signings include Ben Greenwood, Chris Newton a past winner of the FBD Insurance Ras in Ireland, the winner of the premier calendar races and a former world champion on the track), Kristian House, who has already won the premier calendar once with the former Recycling.co.uk team, Dean Downing winner of 11 major races last year.

"I am very pleased with the merger," says Herety. "We will be a new Continental team for 2008. We will have a bigger budget and bigger ambitions. For the 2007 season the Recycing team was all about giving a platform to younger riders and the merger will allow us to further their development whilst at the same time allow us to be completive both domestically and Internationally. We have always been about being a platform for young riders to give them an opportunity to race abroad in types of races that will allow them to develop. Rapha/Condor has been quite a revelation on the UK domestic scene this year and they wanted to tap into our experience on the continental side of things. There is complete synergy in our philosophies."

With such a strong squad, RaphaCondorRecycling.co.uk moves from being a predominantly domestic outfit to becoming an international player. The aim is to cultivate new talent and provide the right environment for young riders to gain experience in competition with the world’s best. The development plan would include fielding a team capable of riding in one of the Grand Tours. This will put the sponsors' brands in front of a global audience - alongside the biggest names in the sport, teams like Lampre, Cofidis and Credit Agricole.

"With two UCI races in England, 12 premier calendar events and two major tours for the 2008 season, more British riders are coming back to their homeland to compete on the national and international scene. RaphaCondorRecycling.co.uk will comprise 14 riders, divided in two squads, competing in all the premier calendar events, as well as an intensive programme abroad.

“Whereas most European countries are suffering from a substantial fall in the number of professional, sponsored riders, Great Britain is a fast-developing cycling nation.”

Riders	Staff
Chris Newton Dean Downing Kristian House Graham Briggs Ben Greenwood Rob Partridge Ryan Bonser Dale Appleby Matt Rowe Simon Holt Adam Bonser Tom Diggle Rhys Lloyd Luke Rowe (Junior)	John Herety Sports Manager. Charlie Jackson General manager. Dominique Gabellini Team Liason/Press. Mike Dawson Masseur. Sarah Heal Sports Therapist.