Orbea (USA) – 2017 began with a broad agreement with UHC, a professional continental team that will compete in the American calendar and in numerous European classics. With riders from all over the world and both a men’s and women’s team, the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team will be one of the leading teams this new year. It is a project that, in addition to competition, seeks to promote the benefits of exercise, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, and to promote cycling and safety among young people.

Youth and experience:
The men’s team for the new season will consist of Janier Acevedo, Carlos Alzate, Alex Cataford, Jonny Clarke, Daniel Eaton, Sebastian Haedo, Adrian Hegyvary, Greg Henderson, Daniel Jaramillo, Chris Jones, Luke Keough, Gavin Mannion, Travis McCabe, Lachlan Norris, Tanner Putt and Danny Summerhill.



Veteran New Zealander Greg Henderson comes from the World Tour and is expected to contribute his tactical wisdom in the most important races. American sprinter Travis McCabe, a regular on the podiums in recent years, also has a substantial track record, which alongside Henderson will make for a very successful pair.

American Tanner Putt, in turn, returns to the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team after his first professional victory in the Tour of Alberta. We should also highlight the skillful Colombian rider Daniel Jaramillo, who earned a victory at the 2016Tour of the Gila, while fellow countryman Janier Acevedo also saw what it was like to climb to the top of the podium at the end of a stage of the Tour of California, in addition to coming away with a third place overall finish in the same race.



It is a squad that joins seniority and youth and whose goal is, in the words of Mike Tamayo, the team’s general manager, “to fight to become the best team in the USA, combining the enthusiasm of the youngest members with the experience of the more established riders.” This will be essential in races lasting several days, where each effort and movement must be carefully planned, and that will be one of the strong points on a calendar in which the main objectives are the Tour of the Gila, Tour of California and Tour of Utah.



Regarding the women’s team, it will be made up of a large number of American cyclists (the young rider Janelle Cole and Tayler Wiles, two of the new additions this season; Katie Hall, last year’s winner of the Women’s Tour of Saint Louis; Lauren Hall, who gave a good performance at the Green Mountain Stage Race; the Paralympic athlete Shawn Morelli; Kate Sherwin and Ruth Winder, who competed in the Olympic Games in Rio). Pedaling alongside them will be veteran New Zealander Rushlee Buchanan, Australian Lauretta Hanson and Colombian Diana Penuela, who finished 2016 with a victory in the Circuito de la Feria de Cali.

A triumphant 2016:
Last year, the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team climbed to the top of the podium on numerous occasions. Lauren Tamayo earned victory in two races of the famous Tour of America’s Dairyland, while Coryn Rivera also won one. In the men’s category, Ty Magner and John Murphy also held the first position in two stages. In the Joe Martin Stage Race, Linda Villumsen and Carlos Alzate came away with the victory in one of the stages.

Likewise, Daniel Jaramillo climbed to the top of the podium after one stage of the Tour of the Gila, and another of the Tour of Japan. In the Women’s Tour of Saint Louis, Katie Hall earned two stage victories, while in the Sun Tour John Murphy came away with one. Tanner Putt was the fastest in one of the stages of the Tour of Alberta, while another great moment of the season was the first place finish by Lauren Tamayo at the US Crit Nationals.