OCTOBER 13, 2010
Oakland, CA – The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team has added more European depth as well as strength in the mountains with the signing of Briton Charles Wegelius for the 2011 season. The 32-year-old climber comes to the Team from Belgian Pro Tour squad Omega Pharma-Lotto. His resume also includes stints with the powerhouse Mapei squad, with whom he turned pro in 2000, and the Liquigas team.
“Much like Robert Förster will be for our sprinters, Charly brings a wealth of experience and confidence to our stage race squad,” said Team Director Mike Tamayo. “He’s raced most of his career at the Pro Tour level, and he’s done pretty much every race that we expect to do in Europe. Plus he’s started over a dozen grand tours, including all three in 2009.”
Wegelius has twice been part of the team time trial stage winning teams at the Giro d’Italia, and has been a key teammate in mountain stages of the Giro in particular.
“When we get to the high mountains, we expect him to be able to lead by example, whether it’s in European races, or big races in the U.S. like the Amgen Tour of California, the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah or the new Quiznos Challenge in Colorado,” Tamayo added. “His experience with positioning for climbs and initiating or following moves will be particularly beneficial for our younger climbers like Max Jenkins and Chris Jones.”
Wegelius has spent much of his career in the domestique role, but Tamayo notes that, “on a Team like ours, we expect him to get plenty of opportunities to get results of his own next year.”
Wegelius sees the move to Team UnitedHealthcare as an opportunity in its own right.
“I’m looking forward to being part of a new project and hoping to help the younger riders in the team develop and improve,” he said. “I’m also hoping that the experience will be something new and exciting for me after many years racing a very traditional calendar of events. I hope to be a part of the team growing and expanding over the coming years, and that is big motivation for me.”
The Briton provides an additional fit for the Team as it moves onto UK-based Boardman Bikes for the 2011 season.
“When I was still at college and just starting out as a cyclist, Chris Boardman was at the height of his career and was an example and inspiration to all British cyclists of my age,” Wegelius said. “This was a time when there were few British riders competitive on a world level, and he proved to us that it was possible. With that in mind, a Boardman bike is more than just a tool for me. It’s a reminder of where I started out, and the dreams I had as a teenager.”
Wegelius is the fourth Pro Tour rider to move to Team UnitedHealthcare as it makes the step up to the Professional Continental level for 2011. He joins the aforementioned German sprinter Robert Förster, who comes over from Milram, and Canadian all-arounder Christian Meier, who transfers to the Team from Garmin-Transitions. The Team has also added young Dutchman Boy Van Poppel from Rabobank.
New Riders for 2011
Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Robert Förster (Milram)
Christian Meier (Garmin-Transitions)
Boy Van Poppel (Rabobank)
Davide Frattini (Team Type 1)
Chris Jones (Team Type 1)
Scott Zwizanski (Kelley Benefit Strategies)
Returning Riders for 2011
Rory Sutherland
Karl Menzies
Hilton Clarke
Jonny Clarke
Adrian Hegyvary
Max Jenkins
Jake Keough
Andrew Pinfold
Morgan Schmitt
Brad White
Photo: Provided by UnitedHealthcare
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