Published August 12, 2014 03:36PM
Domestic cyclocross pros form new teams ahead of 2014/2015 season
Meredith Miller and Allen Krughoff team up to form new 'cross squad; Cody Kaiser will race as a one-man team
Meredith Miller and Allen Krughoff have started their own team for the 2014/2015 cyclocross season. Several other domestic pros are taking this approach, organizing and managing their own teams. Photo: Allen Krughoff
Familiar faces will be wearing new kits when the 2014/2015 cyclocross season kicks off next month.
Jeremy Powers recently announced the formation of Aspire Racing.
Also, several domestic professionals have taken it upon themselves to start their own teams for the coming season, resulting in new squads with small but focused rosters.
Former national champion Meredith Miller leaves the California Giant Cycling Team to form the Noosa Professional Cyclocross team. She will be co-owner and co-manager of the team alongside fellow Boulder, Colorado pro Allen Krughoff, who placed fifth at 2014 cyclocross national championships and represented the U.S. at world championships that year. Krughoff leaves Raleigh-Clement after a two-year stint with that team.
Miller is proving to be in good form, with a podium finish at the Tour of Utah Women’s Edition, despite a new approach to her cyclocross preparation.
“For the last six years, I’ve gone straight from the ‘cross season into the road season and from the road season right into the ‘cross season,” said Miller. “It’s been different this year. I didn’t touch a bike for nearly the entire month of February, and I’ve been riding a ton since March but without a training plan. This has been my first big break in seven years.”
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Cody Kaiser is also leaving California Giant for greener pastures. The 2009 junior national cyclocross champion is forming the LangeTwins/Specialized team, combining some of his longtime sponsors with a local Northern California vintner, LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards. He will be the sole rider on the new team.
“The LangeTwins family has been a staple in the ‘cross community since 2009,” said Kaiser. “Watching what Joe [Lange] had done with their masters road program, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to help grow the brand in both the California scene and on the national level. I’ve always loved racing on their property, even having my hand at course design each year out there. Now being able to fully represent the brand, I couldn’t be happier.”
Check back for more updates on new 2014/2015 cyclocross teams.