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Well kept secret, 2007 A&F Pro Development Cycling Team uniform unveiled! Take a look.
2007 A&F Pro Development Cycling Team Sponsors and Contributors released!
With many returning and several new supporters for 2007, the A&F Team look forward to exciting season.
A special thank you to the following companies:
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- A2 Coaching
- Bruce Thompson, LLC
- Canari Cyclewear
- Crank Brothers
- First Endurance
- Hed Cycling
- Horizons ISG
- Inno Advanced Car Racks
- Jagwire Cables
- Kenda Tire USA
- Kestrel USA
- LH Thomson Company
- Masi Bicycles
- Matteo Studios
- Mazza Vineyards
- Paceline Products
- ProNet
- Rudy Project
- Selle Italia
- Sigma Sport Germany
- Slipstreamz
- Spinergy
- SRAM
- SRM Training
- Wippermann Chains
- Wobble-Naught Precision Fitting
A&F Pro Development Cycling Team announces 2007 roster. 16 members will compose
the
Pro
and Elite Men's rosters.
- Andy Applegate (USA)
- Bennet van der Genugten (Ned)
- Brandon Gavic (USA)
- Chad Thompson (USA)
- Frankie Dierking (USA)
- Ian Stanford (USA)
- Jim Baldesare (USA)
- Jimmy MacDonald (USA)
- Marco Aledia (USA)
- Mark Hekman (USA)
- Neil Coleman (GBr)
- Rich Harper (USA)
- Ryan Gamm (USA)
- Ryan Rish (USA)
- Shawn Willard (USA)
- Tim Swain (USA)
A&F Pro Development Cycling Team will make the leap in 2007. The A&F team will
be riding on SRAM products for the 2007 NRC series season on both road and Time
Trial bicycles. The team and its riders are very excited to have an opportunity
to ride such a new product and will give it some real race testing throughout
the winter and summer months. Stay tuned for both Force and Rival race-tested testimonials!
Special thanks to Masi Bikes and ROAD
Magazine for the full page ad/tribute in the November/December issue of ROAD
Magazine. Get
a copy and turn to page 85
for the real life size of the below Masi ad!
Mark Hekman is awarded annual rider award by A&F Elite Cycling Team. While
at Interbike, Mark Hekman was presented with a poster-sized metal plaque (compliments
of Horizons ISG in
Cleveland, Ohio), a bottle of wine with a very special Mark Hekman victory salute
label (compliments
of Mazza Vineyards)
and a year-end performance
award.
"Mark was not only the highest ranked criterium rider in the U.S. until
his injury,
but a true staple and natural leader of the team", states team GM, Chad
Thompson. "In fact, most of the guys planned their schedules around races
Mark attended, just to race and hang out with him. We put this award to vote
and he won it unanimously!" Thank you, Mark, for your selfless dedication
and unbelievable race record.
Be sure to check back frequently to check on Mark's status and results, as he
has signed on for another year of competition with the A&F Pro Development
Cycling
Team in 2007!
Congratulations, Mark.
Interbike was a huge success for the A&F Cycling Team. With the team's
new name, A&F Pro Development Cycling Team, and attendees, Inferno's top
program left the show feeling good about themselves, their gracious sponsors
and the new 2007 racing season that lies ahead.
Members in attendance were Chad Thompson (GM), Bruce Thompson (Co-founder),
Matt Olson (Creative Director) and Mark Hekman (Team athlete). The guys hit
the show with a purpose and still found time to chat with everyone. A&F's
outstanding 2006 campaign was evident as some companies were actually asking
for us to meet and form new relationships.
While at the convention, the team found time to hang with team sponsor and
backer, Masi Bikes and their front man, MasiGuy (Tim Jackson. See below photo),
who is largely responsible for the teams 2006 success and exposure, as well
as many other current and new company representatives. The team could not be
more thankful or excited for the year to come. Stay tuned for a news release
containing all our new and returning supporters. Thank you to all at Interbike,
and here's to a very successful 2007 campaign with you
ABERCROMBIE'S
TEAM STILL NO. 1!
The team has held on to many impressive individual rankings as well as maintaining
the top team honors in the country for 2006.
Andy Applegate still sits atop the US rankings as the fastest man against the
clock in the Individual Time Trial by many points and will retire the season
in the coveted ranking for the second year in a row.
Rich Harper has managed to keep himself placed among the top 5 men in the country
at Stage Racing by sitting in fourth.
Mark Hekman held down the No. 1 Mens Criterium ranking until his unfortunate
injury took place (see September 7 and September 11, 2006 news blurbs). Mark
held this ranking throughout the season and must now relinquish the throne to
those still racing. He vows to return in 2007 with a heavy and full Criterium
calendar to
grab the spot he has worked so hard for.
Here is to a job well done by the Abercrombie & Fitch Cycling Team presented
by Inferno in 2006. Stay tuned for an even better campaign in 2007!
Graham Howard ends up as top youth at Univest Grand Prix! With his spectacular
Stage 1 ride, Graham was the youngest finisher in the top 20 and wound up with
the highest youngster honors overall while proudly wearing Team A&F's colors.
Good job and thank you, Graham.
HECKMAN OUT FOR
REST OF SEASON!
A&F Elite Cycling Team's Captain, Mark
Hekman, has unfortunately received some bad
news. After his follow-up visit for a wrist
injury received last week
(see September 7, 2006 news blurb), doctors have discovered a serious set of
fractures to both the Radius and Ulna bones in his right wrist. The fractures
are such that movement is inhibiting proper blood flow and causing bone degeneration.
As a result, Mark has been placed in a full cast up to his shoulder for a minimum
of 12 weeks!
Hekman is not only losing the last few weeks of his road season, but has to sit
by and watch his No. 1 Mens Criterium ranking vanish and must also sit out most
of the cycle-cross season, too. Always the optimist, Mark sees this as a time
to rest and prepare for a more successful and prosperous 2007 racing season.
This is exactly why Mark has been re-signed to the program for 2007. Get well
soon, Mark!
Graham Howard was the highest U23 finisher on Univest
Grand Prix's challenging day 1 Road Race. While arriving
in 12th place on the day, Graham was the first
rider under 23 years of age (U23) to cross the line, setting himself up nicely
for A&F to potentially grab the best young rider award. With A&F's hard
working crew, it just might happen. Good luck, Graham!
HURRICANE FLORENCE
CUTS BERMUDA GRAND PRIX IN HALF - A&F NABS
4TH OVERALL!
Hurricane Florence was bound to cause trouble
for the CD&P Bermuda Grand
Prix at some point, and that point came on Friday afternoon when race organizers
announced
the remaining 2 of 4 events would be cancelled and the GC would be determined
by the first 2 events. Race organizers also urged teams and staff to evacuate
the beautiful island on Saturday if possible.
Scottie Weiss had an amazing ride on stage 1 - Hamilton Downtown Criterium
by placing 4th in the stage and setting himself to move up with the remaining
stages.
Due to Hurricane Florence, he would only have one chance to do just that. Stage
2 was a short but grueling 1.5 Km hill climb sprint that saw Scottie with an
11th place on the day and a 4th place overall. The team was confident that
if the remaining stages were to be held, that Scottie and A&F could have
furthered their successes. Excellent effort and a great result in one of the
best closing
races of the year.
Up and comer, Graham Howard, of the Priority Health Elite Cycling Team will
fill Mark Hekman's shoes at Univest Grand Prix. While the team was not planning
on any guest riders for the event, crashes and illness has put the team in
a pinch. We thank Graham for helping us out and are honored to have him aboard
for what will prove to be the year's toughest event. Good luck, Graham.
Crashes, crashes and more crashes. Team leader, Mark Hekman, has unfortunately
had a training accident just prior to the start of Univest Grand Prix. Mark
hit a dog during a training ride yesterday and as a result has damaged his
right wrist - the dog is okay. As a result, Mark will not be able to race the
long awaited Univest event. Get well soon, Mark!
One of cycling's best athletes to join Team A&F's
Bermuda Grand Prix roster. Scottie Weiss (Hincapie -
Bianchi) is set to ride with A&F in hopes of a
high GC result for the team. While a large portion
of the
team will be splitting race duties at Univest Grand
Prix in Pennsylvania on the very same weekend, the
team
is going into Bermuda with a victory in mind. Stay
tuned for the results!
ANDY APPLEGATE 5TH IN
THE WORLD, DESPITE SOME BAD LUCK!
A spot of bad luck continued for A&F's team when
Andy Applegate awoke in Austria on the A.M. of his scheduled
World Championship Time Trial start. Andy was ready
to beat the world, only to find out that all of his
equipment was stolen, including his time trial bike
and wheel sets!
With very few hours to spare, Andy managed to borrow
a bike and defiantly show to his slated start. Needles
to say, an improper fit on the machine did not bode
well for his comfort and the bike's shifting mechanisms
did not function at all. While most athletes would have
called it quits, Andy persevered and rode his way to
5th place and a podium placing. He only lost the victory
by a narrow margin of 32 seconds! We all feel for Andy
and believe he was robbed of more than just an expensive
machine, but the World Championship Rainbow Jersey as
well. A job well done nonetheless, Andy!
Abercrombie & Fitch Elite Cycling Team presented
by Inferno accepts invitation to the 2nd annual Tour
De Leelanau and adds the event to its late race calendar.
See you there.
A disaster riddled weekend for Abercrombie's team
at the 2006 US Elite National Criterium Championships
still places 3 riders in the top 15!
Day 1 saw many crashes including a final lap crash involving
rider/director Chad Thompson, Abe McNutt and Todd Shaker.
Chad was lining up for the win when a crash on the descent
took 12 riders to the pavement. Chad received 2 fractured
vertebrae and a bruised ego and was on the start line
for day 2 and the Elite National Championship event.
The second day's Elite Men's National field was riddled
with crashes as well, seeing Chad involved in yet 4
more blunders and Tim Swain found himself off the bike
twice as well. Despite the bad luck, A&F's top riders
Mark Hekman, Marco Aledia and Rich Harper were set up
perfectly and lead into the final turns. Unfortunately,
some crafty riders snuck inside the final turn and spoiled
the hard fought battle. The determined A&F riders
still sprinted it out and placed all 3 in the top 15
placings - more than any other team!
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
CONTINUES INVOLVEMENT WITH INFERNO RACING!
Our current title sponsor signed on for another year
of support today as the 2007 Presenting Sponsor. While
the team will still be searching for an official Title
Sponsor for 2007, be assured the current program will
only continue its successes in 07 with A&F. Thank
you Abercrombie!
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