The revamped Lombardi Sports Elite Cycling team has bigger and better plans as HDR for its 26 elite and master racers in 2009.
Junior National Road Champion Evan Huffman will lead the Under 23 squad. "He is clearly on the way to the professional ranks, if not this season then by 2010 at the latest," said DS Bill Howard. Along with Huffman, local track star and road sprinter Benjamin Barsi-Rhyne gives the team fire power in flat, fast criteriums.
National Points Race Champion and Northern California/Nevada Elite Criterium Champion Jesse Mendonca heads the elite team which also includes Jim Miller, Colby Farrell, and Sean McBride.
The team will focus on Northern California road events with special focus on the District Championships as well as the team's flagship event, the Giro Di San Francisco. On a national level, the team will target the US National Championships with emphasis on the road and criterium events. Additionally, the team will send squads to key national events such as the Redlands Classic in Southern California, Superweek in Wisconsin, the Cascade Classic in Oregon, along with several other high profile races and targeted NRC events.
The team boasts new title sponsor HDR Inc. and new bike sponsor, but it will continue the Lombardi’s history & tradition of supporting an elite amateur program, with special focus on the development of young talent out of the depth of the Northern California racing pool. "We have a proven track record of taking U23 riders and developing them onto the national team and domestic pro teams respectively, and 2009 looks stronger than ever," said Howard.
HDR for 2009
U23: Evan Huffman, Ben Barsi-Rhyne, Eric Riggs, Tyler Brandt
Elite: Jesse Mendonca, Sean McBride, Vince Owens, Colby Farrell, Jim Miller, Blake Anton, Ryan Bennett, Eric Nitschke, Darin Divine
Masters: Robert Winder, Bill Howard, Mark Altamirano, Chris Carscadden, Nathan Parks, Steve Pelaez, Dave Nelson, Paul Sumner, Dave Loogman, Scott Derdenger, Kieth Defiebre, David Del Rosso, Steve Riojas
