Michelin North America Inc.has partnered with the Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team, a team populated by racers "striving to be the future of road racing globally," according to the company.
The partnership will provide the race team with the Michelin Pro4 line of race tires and product support throughout the season. The lightweight Michelin Pro4 tire is available in both 23- and 25-mm sizes and sports a smooth center tread and slightly textured edges for safe and confident cornering.
“Michelin’s heritage started with performance bicycle tires,” says Yohann Leblanc, Michelin's bicycle marketing and sales manager. “Globally, we support a variety of competitive teams and this year, we are expanding that important strategy in North America."
"The Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team is registered with USA Cycling as a UCI Continental Team and includes Ty Magner, a two-time U23 National Criterium Champion, and Joey Rosskopf, who finished second in the 2013 NRC standings. Other members are returning racers Alder Martz, Joe Lewis, Oscar Clark, Robin Carpenter and Thomas Wrona; and newcomers Chris Butler, Charlie Hough, Jake King, Toms Skujins, Alexander Ray, Dion Smith, Miguel Bryon and Joe Schmalz.
“We have worked with the (Michelin) corporate headquarters based in our hometown of Greenville, S.C., for the last 20 years through various team and cycling events," says Rich Hincapie, president, Hincapie Sportswear. "The Hincapie/Michelin partnership started during the Michelin Cycling Classic, which we began promoting in 1994 in downtown Greenville.”
The team will begin the 2014 season at the team’s Greenville training camp in February. The first competition of the season will commence at the Redlands Cycling Classic in California April 3-6.
