Colorado Springs, Colo. (September 22, 2006)--USA Cycling and VMG Racing announced today that they have entered into a formal joint venture for 2007, creating one of the most innovative partnerships in American cycling.

In the United States, U23 road cyclists identified by USA Cycling will ride for VMG Racing in a mix of USA Cycling National Racing Calendar and Central and South American UCI events. In Europe, USA Cycling will continue to focus its attention on its National Development Team. Top performers from VMG will be made available to USA Cycling for UCI U23 World Cup events and additional European National Development Team events in Europe.

The partnership creates a solid structure for the best and brightest U23 American cyclists to bridge seamlessly from their developmental years into the competitive racing scene in Europe, and ultimately into UCI Pro Tour competition. VMG and USA Cycling believe that their partnership bodes well for the development of the sport in the United States and a more competitive future for up-and-coming American riders.

The joint venture evolved over the last few months after a successful season of cooperation between the two groups in 2006. During the year, VMG and USA Cycling realized they had much in common.

“As we worked together this year, it became obvious that the design and purpose of each program complimented the other,” commented Jim Miller, USA Cycling’s Director of Endurance Programs. “We did not have to search very hard for synergies. They existed naturally in our collective goals and mission.”

Both organizations recognized that the sport of professional cycling in the U.S. has lacked a certain level of vertical support necessary to prepare talented young riders for professional competition. Independently of each other, VMG Racing and USA Cycling set out to make improvements. In 1999, USA Cycling developed the U23 National Team in Belgium to increase opportunities for young American cyclists in order to gain the necessary experience to be successful at the highest level of competition. VMG Racing was established in 2004 by Mark Holowesko, an Olympian and world-class sailor as well as an accomplished elite amateur cyclist and Ironman Triathlon competitor. VMG’s mission is to provide a head start for aspiring, young athletes by providing the necessary tools and support to improve individual and team performances while also teaching and mentoring the highest ethical standards of sportsmanship.

The new VMG-USA Cycling partnership directly targets the vertical support issue that hopes to strengthen in the U.S. VMG will become the nurturing ground for U23 cyclists. USA Cycling will now have the freedom to focus on its National Development Team knowing that U23 riders, primarily first and second year athletes, are in a program that USA Cycling is co-mentoring.

VMG Racing will retain ownership, autonomy and branding of its U23 team. USA Cycling will be a prominent advisor, assisting with roster selection, development of the race calendar and coordinating the U23 program in the U.S. with the National Development Team in Europe. USA Cycling will also work directly with VMG to monitor athlete progress through performances and field and laboratory testing. Additionally, VMG will become a sponsor of USA Cycling’s National Development Team.
USA Cycling and VMG have stated that the goal for their joint venture is based more on execution than results.

“Measurable benchmarks include developing a pool of riders capable of moving up the competition ladder from VMG to the National Development Team,” said Holowesko, “The long-term vision and direction for this joint venture is to develop a program that is sustainable and one that is rooted in the belief that proper development of U23 riders is critical to competitive success.”

With only one year of competition to its name, VMG Racing has garnered attention and respect from the cycling and triathlon communities. VMG’s U23 UCI Continental Cycling team members Alex Boyd and Todd Henriksen took third and fifth respectively at the 2006 USA Cycling National Festival at Seven Springs. Both also claimed Best Young Rider titles in National Racing Calendar Events this season – Boyd at the Nature Valley Grand Prix and Henriksen at the International Tour de ‘Toona.

VMG is both owner and title sponsor of VMG Racing. Banking giant ABN AMRO, a well-known major athletic sponsor of yacht racing, professional soccer and marathons, became a contributing sponsor to VMG in 2006 and has pledged increased support for 2007. VMG Racing will release details on its 2007 team roster and additional sponsors in the near future.