2016-2017 EVOL DevoElite Cyclocross Team And Sponsors Announced

BOULDER, CO – August 22, 2016 – The EVOL DevoElite Cyclocross Team is excited to announce the return of its Elite cyclocross team for the 2016-2017 season along with the launch of a new Under-23 development cyclocross team. Launched initially in 2011 to support Elite level racing, and most recently having focused on supporting a women's elite team, the program expands this coming season to provide a home to up and coming Under-23 riders Maxx Chance, Ian McPherson and Eric Brunner.

"I am super excited for this coming 'cross season with the new team! I'm really excited to challenge myself in some of the biggest nationals races this year while representing numerous local brands. I am confident that we will have a super fun and fast season. And who doesn't love street tacos after a hard ride?!" said Maxx Chance.

Racing for The Pro's Closet CX Team last year, Maxx and Ian took second and third in the D1 collegiate field at the 2016 USA Cyclocross Nationals races in Asheville, NC, following a stand-out season of racing throughout the US, including placing 6th and 7th respectively at the U23 Pan American Championships. 

Ian said, "I am very excited and honored to be racing for such quality sponsors with such great teammates. My goal this year is to be fast enough to get selected to go to Christmas Cross camp in Europe, and then hopefully be selected to go to Worlds. Also, I'm having a ton of fun with Maxx making a Vlog and we to continue making these through the season."  

Racing for the Boulder Junior Cycling team in his last year as a Junior, Eric Brunner had a stellar 2015 season including a third place finish at Cyclocross Nationals and a win at the US Open of CX in Boulder, CO in the 17-18 Junior category. Eric was also selected to Team USA and travelled twice to race in Europe last season which included the World Cup's at Koksijde, Zolder, and Namur where he finished 24th. 

"I’m excited to represent a local team and be reunited with some teammates I’ve been riding with since I started cycling as I move into the U23 category", notes Eric, who is currently in Europe this summer training. "I want to help bring EVOL's presence across the U.S. and even into Europe, where there seems to be a distinct lack of good burritos!"

“We have been building towards this developmental focus for some time now, following the Elite team's success within Colorado where we have won the Best-Team-Overall in both the men's and women's open for the last 3 years in a row,“ said Team Manager and Elite rider Josh Whitney. “The timing worked out perfectly when we spoke with Mitch Hoke, who successfully ran The Pro's Closet CX team, as he was looking for a place for Maxx and Ian for the upcoming season. And with our collective sponsors fully backing the team's expanded focus, we were able to bring both of these talent's on board, along with Eric to form a fantastic U23 program." Mitch added, ""Building this development team has been my baby for the last couple of years and I am really excited to see it keep going with the EVOL Racing program. Working with Maxx and Ian has been awesome and we are gaining a great new member of the team with Eric. I could not be more excited to see where these guys go this year."

Grant Holicky, Director Sportif, coach and Elite rider echoed Mitch's comments with the program's emphasis on providing a transition platform for these up and coming athletes, "We are excited to help these young racers bridge the gap from the junior ranks to success on the national and international Elite level."

The U23 team will travel to all of the domestic UCI U23 Category races, as well as a variety of additional races across the country while the Elite team will focus primarily on regional races from Colorado and select national UCI races. 

Returning riders to the Elite team include, Melissa Barker-Tamplin, the reigning 40-44 Master's US CX Champ and Women's Open CX Colorado State Champ, Breeze Holicky, Jess D'Amato, Kristen Legan and Christa Ghent on the women's side. Josh Whitney and Grant Holicky, who share team management duties, will be joined by two seasoned Colorado riders, Chris Case and Michael Friedberg. 

EVOL Foods returns for its fifth season as the team’s title sponsor. Based in Boulder, Colorado, EVOL Foods manufactures and markets premium frozen convenience foods with a focus on pure and simple ingredients, including those that are antibiotic- and hormone-free, and are free of artificial preservatives or flavors and made with organic ingredients. The EVOL DevoElite team sponsors also include: Velo Saddles, Todd Plymale-Mallory Massage & Acupuncture, Ska Brewing, GoodBelly, Apex Coaching, Boulder Cycle Sport, Giant Bicycles, Panache Cyclewear, Shimano, Clement Tires, CLIF Bar, Kappius Components, Stages Cycling, The Coffee Ride and Mad Alchemy.

For more information on the team visit: www.evolracing.blogspot.com.

For media or sponsorship opportunities email: joshcwhitney@gmail.com.