Los Gatos, CA - March 23, 2009 — The Black Dog Sports Professional Cycling Team unveiled its new UCI Track Trade Team today. The squad, consisting of Kacey Manderfield, Ryan Luttrell, and Ryan Sabga, is scheduled to compete in a variety of track events across the country as part of its build up to the US National Track Championships in October and the subsequent World Cup races.
Kacey Manderfield, also a member of the Lip Smackers women's cycling team on the road, will focus on the points and scratch race. Ryan Luttrell and Ryan Sabga will pair up for the madison and will compete in the points and scratch races as well as the pursuit. The pair started competing in the madison together last season, when Sabga returned to the sport after a 5 year hiatus after suffering a shattered pelvis. The pair are excited to build upon their successful 2008 season, which saw them win several contests including the Colorado championship. "We are all very excited to have this opportunity," said Luttrell, a former member of the Spike Shooter/Cody Racing Professional Team and the TIAA-CREF/5280 squads. He added, "Racing at this level is always fun and with the team and organization that's been assembled, we look forward to having a very successful season." All three riders are current or former national champions and come to the team with prior World Cup experience.
The team is managed by Tom Rodi, a veteran of the cycling industry, and expects to maintain its secondary mission as a testing and development platform for a variety of manufacturers.
In addition to full road schedules, the riders will compete in several national track events, including the San Jose and Portland legs of the American Velodrome Challenge and Trexlertown's Madison Cup, as they prepare for the national championships and World Cup events.
The team has chosen to race on frames and carbon components built by Parlee Cycles, for whom Sabga has been a long time product tester and advisor, and Edge Composites rims and forks. Additional companies backing the team include GU Sports, Wheeltags, Wheels in Focus, and USA Pista Elite.
