High Road Launches in Palo Alto

The 2008 Team High Road squad

Bob Stapleton's High Road cycling team was officially introduced to the public yesterday in Palo Alto, California. Both the women's and men's team were presented, in three seperate waves. The event, held in the cozy Cubberly Theater in Palo Alto, was well attended by media and fans alike. Hosted by Phil Ligget, the event provided Stapleton with a chance to introduce his new team of 42 riders and his newly designed uniforms to an eager cycling public. Ligget began the afternoon with the fresh off the press anouncement that RCS, the organizers of the Giro d'Italia and other cycling monuments, had rescinded their decision to block team High Road for the 2008 Giro. After intense lobbying from Bob Stapleton over the past week, RCS changed their minds, to the delight of the partisan crowd.

Stapleton (left) and Ligget (right), the emcees for the High Road launch

Following the good news regarding the Giro invite, the High Road women were presented. After a brief introduction by Ligget, Stapleton and women's team manager Kristy Scrymgeour took turns introducing the female riders. Last year's number one ranked women's team hasn't lost any firepower heading into 2008, as was evident as all but one member of the women's team was introduced. As Stapleton himself said about the new High Road lineup, "This team is really all about representing the best values of sport to society."

The women of 2008 team High Road

Significant names of the women's squad for 2008 include Ina Yoko Tuetenberg, the big German sprinter, as well as tiny German national road race champion Luise Keller, 22 year old US Champion Mara Abbott, and powerhouse Australian national champion Oenone Wood. Also back for 2008 are mainstays Judith Arndt and Kim Anderson.

German national road race champion Luise Keller, is only 24

Next up were the men, lead out in two waves. The first group were those riders designated as "Young Guns," while the second group was comprised of the "Veterans" of the team. This time, race director Rofl Aldag, himself a former rider, introduced the riders.

The "Young Guns" are presented

The "Young Guns" group was comprised of a line-up of riders that in many cases, in all liklihood, could be team leaders on any other team. In Mark Cavendish, who had eleven wins last year in his rookie campaign, Gerald Ciolek, former winner of the German national championship, Andre Greipel, current Pro Tour leader, John Devine, the all-arounder from Illinois, German Linus Gerdemen, holder of the 2007 Tour de France yellow jersey, Australian time trial champion Adam Hanson, Craig Lewis, the young climber out of South Carolina and Thomas Lofkvist, the Grand Tour hope out of Sweden, Team High Road boasts a line-up of young talent that will make other teams turn green with envy---or white with fear.

High Road's dynamic sprinting duo of 21 year old Ciolek (far left) and 22 year old Cavendish (center).

The "Veterans" were next up, and although a bit older than the "Young Guns," they were equally as talented. Bernhard Eisel, the winner of the 2007 Triple Crown series in America was presented, as well as pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins, former Luxembourg national champion Kim Kirchin, Grand Tour hope Mick Rogers, and team patriarch Marco Pinotti. But the last rider anounced onto the stage brought down the house, as Big George Hincapie rode the team bicycle into the stage.

2007 Maglia Rosa Marco Pinotti, the patriarch of the team

Hincapie stole the show, as he described what he envisioned as the perfect season. The legendary American explained he hoped the team would begin the season by "winning the Tour of California, keeping the Pro Tour leader's jersey, winning stages in the Giro, winning stages in the Tour de France, uh . . . possibly (win) a couple of Olympic medals, then I'd be happy." Raucous applause greeted the end of his speech, as the crowd obviously hoped for the same. Come Sunday, team High Road will embark on attaining Hincapie's lofty goals, with the full support of America's cycling fans.

Hincapie was all smiles in his new team kit


Hincapie's 2008 Giant is a masterpiece of carbon efficiency

All photos by Tracey Heaney