California Giant Berry Farm/Specialized Team 2012
Manager Anthony Gallino adds four young guns to California Giant Roster for the
2012 Road Season
California Giant Berry Farm’s/Specialized announced today, Wednesday November
2, 2011 that brothers Yannick and Robin Eckmann, Stephen Leece and Sam Bassetti
have signed onto the 2012 road team.
Ranging in age from 17 to 20 years old, the four espoir riders bolster the
existing squad for the upcoming season. “We're excited to bring in four more
young up-and-coming riders.” Team Manager and VP os Sales for California Giant,
Anthony Gallino commented. “We feel that
each one has individual strength which is going to help us in the long run
with our stage racing focus and our mission of developing kids into the
professional circuit.”
The Eckmann brothers, who reside in Boulder, Colorado, hope to tackle the
American stage races .“I'm looking forwards towards the bigger races like
Redlands Bicycle Classic, Tour of the Gila, Cascade Classic.” Commented
19-year old Robin Eckmann who finished
fourth overall as a cat 2 at the 2009 Tour of the Gila.
Skilled as a time-trialist and breakaway rider, the older
brother, Robin Eckmann just finished a one-year stint
with the Trek-Livestrong team. He placed second at the 2011 UCI World Amateur
Qualifier-Time Trial in Fort Collins, Colorado. He added, “I had a choice
between a couple of teams and I think California Giant was the best fit for me
because they support the racing and that's what I love at the end of the day to
just race a lot.”
As a member of the Hot Tubes Junior Development Team, 17-year old
Yannick Eckmann raced both in Europe and the
United States this road season. He claimed the overall at the Green Mountain
Stage Race and also represented Germany at the World Cyclocross Championships as
a junior. “California Giant has a great program, they race a lot in the United
States and provide a lot of support including great equipment.” Yannick Eckmann
said. “It's going to be exciting definitely and I'm looking forward to racing
with new teammates.” he added. “We need a lot of racing and California Giant was
offering everything that we needed.”
In his second year as a chemistry student at UC San Diego, 19-year old
Stephen Leece is excited to be part of the
program. “It means a lot to me because California Giant has a really great
reputation as a development team and has produced some great pros. Also, I think
it will be a really great fit for me because I'm hoping to take the next step in
cycling and try to continue to improve my racing abilities.”
Leece commented. Enjoying stage racing and the endurance of racing multiple
days, he considers himself an all-rounder. “I can hold my own in a crit and I
also really enjoy really long days on a bike, races of attrition where it
sometimes the last man standing.”
Leece's results in 2011 included a win at Patterson Pass Road Race and UCLA
Collegiate Men's road race. “I hope to continue to improve my results at the
national level and hopefully win a few races. I also want to contribute to the
success of the team overall throughout the season.”
A junior at UC Davis studying exercise biology, 20-year
Sam Bassetti is joining the Berries after “a
good year” in 2011. “The year before I had mono and I didn't get to do a lot of
racing.” Bassetti explained.
“So I worked really hard over the off season and raced well to get decent
results. Third at Cherry Pie, Fifth at Collegiate Nationals, second at Snelling
Road Race. I was on the podium a lot.” He concluded, “It's a huge opportunity
for me to be able to race with some of the strongest guys in the country and to
be on a team that has great support like this is really good for me. I jumped
around on several different teams the last couple of years so to have a well run
team like this is a big deal for me.”
About Californis Giant Strawberries -
As a grower-shipper of fresh California strawberries, California Giant
contributes to the health of American consumers by providing an abundant,
healthy and delicious product. The company is committed to supporting
organizations and alliances that send positive messages about the importance of
combining diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle to consumers.
http://www.calgiant.com/
California Giant Berry Farm/Specialized Team
- The California Giant sponsored Cycling Team trains and races all year
supporting fitness and exercise as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.
Members include an elite road team and cylcocross team as well as a masters and
club team. We strongly support cycling as a sport and lifestyle for every age.
The cycling team has success on and off the bike by winning races and projecting
a healthy image for cycling fans throughout the country.
The elite athletes compete extensively on the west coast and travel to select
high profile races across the country. We compete in over 50 Olympic caliber
events that draw hundreds of thousands of spectators. The team competes in the
spring, summer, and fall on the road, and in the winter months, in Cyclocross
races. California Giant Cycling, supported by Specialized operates a 12-month
program, beginning in January with the road-racing season and ending in December
with the Cyclocross season. A combined road and Cyclocross team allows the team
members to benefit from 12 months of exposure reaching over 400,000 spectators
throughout the year and riders gain experience and education in a year round
program.
California Giant Berry
Farm/Specialized Team Website
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