Team Type 1 will be one of the domestic teams to bring some power to this year’s peloton, although the roster for the American-based team only features three Americans. The team added a wealth of international talent to its roster this year, and will surely call some of their international experience in this year at the Tour of California.
First off, Valery Kobzarenko, who was routinely Team Type 1’s strongest stage finisher at last year’s Tour of California, returns to the roster this year . He ended up 39th in last year’s Tour of California GC standings, and is usually a strong, consistent support rider, but his dedication and power have shown that he has a potential for decent results. He is one of those guys will all the guts, but gets little of the glory.
Team Type 1 adds Italian Davide Frattini to its roster this year, a self described climber who has traditionally excelled in cyclocross racing. Frattini spent the last five years with the Colavita p/b Cooking Light team, where he established himself as a strong international rider on the American racing scene. Now, Frattini returns to the international stage for Team Type 1, and will be a valuable addition to the squad this year.
Ken Hanson and Chris Jones also found their way onto the Tour of California roster this year, and could be animators in the race. Jones raced for Team Type 1 in last year’s tour, and Hanson is an accomplished domestic and international criterium racer, but will have to transfer his skills to the road. The two Americans join Scott Stewart as the only Americans on the Team Type 1 roster.
While they may find themselves playing David among a field of Goliaths, the team will at least have the opportunity to shake up the tour a bit. If one of the team’s riders can get into a breakaway with other strong riders, they have the strength to at least get a top ten stage result. Watch for the team to be active during the mid-sections of the race, keeping a close eye on the front of the field. If they are in the right place at the right time, Team Type 1 could catch a lot of people off guard at this year’s Tour of California.
Team Type 1 Roster:
Davide Frattini (ITA)
Ken Hanson (USA)
Aldo Ino Ilesic (SLO)
Christopher Jones (USA)
Valery Kobzarenko (UKR)
Javier Megias Leal (ESP) –
Thomas Rabou (NED)
Scott Stewart (USA)
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