Atlanta — Ukranian Valeriy Kobzarenko, who was one of Team Type 1’s most dependable riders in 2008, will return to the squad in 2009. At the same time, the second-year team announced the signing of promising young Slovenian sprinter Aldo Ino Ilesic.The two join eight other riders already announced for Team Type 1, a team striving to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. Co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge are two of four riders on the men’s professional roster who have Type 1 diabetes.
Kobzarenko is a three-time Olympian and past Ukranian national road race champion (1997). His season highlights include winning the Frank “Nap” Torpey Memorial Hills of Somerset County Road Race and finishing second on Stage 6 of the Tour de Taiwan and second on Stage 4a of the Tour de Beauce.
Team Type 1 Sport Director Ed Beamon said the 31-year-old has been the “rock” of the team that won 45 races as well as the team titles at the Vuelta Mexico and the Tour de Beauce.
“I honestly believe we would not have had the success that we enjoyed in 2008 without his undying, consistent, and selfless work and commitment,” Beamon said. “In every situation that I can remember this year where our leader may have been under fire, Kobza was always there to put out the flame. Valeriy can win when in the situation, but his experience and competitiveness make him one of the hardest workers on the team.”
Ino Ilesic, 23, was a late-season revelation on the U.S. racing scene, winning two races (Dylan Mitchell Memorial Criterium and the Vista Grand Prix) while finishing second in a third (USA Crits Finals) – all in a five-day period in September.
Beamon said Ino IIlesic’s tremendous finishing speed will be showcased in hard, one-day events and stages, as well as criteriums. In 2008 – his first season as a professional – he won 16 races and scored 23 podium finishes.
“He has extensive European experience coming from one of the top programs in central Europe,” Beamon said. “This was another move to improve our strength in the sprints and at the finish, especially in the harder internationally competitive finishes.”
Photo: Courtesy TT1
I really like what this team stands for. Thanks for keeping us informed about it. It is refreshing at a time when most teams are mired in doping cases.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Imagine that, a team that rides for more than victories and actually does well...who would've thunk it??
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