MonaVie-Cannondale adds Bishop and three others

Building on the success of last season, the MonaVie-Cannondale Cycling Team added four riders to its roster as it continues to fulfill its mission to undertake epic racing around the world.

Current US National short track and marathon champion Jeremiah Bishop is the best-known of the team's additions. Bishop will be joined by two-time US Collegiate National Champion and former ITU Winter Triathlon World Champion Benjamin Sontag and Utah-based Alex Grant. Burke Swindlehurst (of the Bissell Pro Cycling Team) will also cross over from road racing on a part-time basis.

"Joining the MonaVie-Cannondale Team presents an opportunity to focus on my favorite form of racing - epic racing - and meet the challenges of the world's toughest mountain ranges and top international competitors," said Bishop. "It's an opportunity I couldn't resist." Bishop plans to compete in the US Pro Cross Country Tour (ProXCT) and select events of the Kenda Cup East series.

The legendary David "Tinker" Juarez will return to the team for 2009 along with Bart Gillespie, Susan Butler, Mitchell Petersen, Bryan Alders and Leana Gerrard.

The riders will race team-issue Cannondale Scalpels. Its nine riders will compete in epic races such as the Cape Epic, BC Bike Race, Intermontayne Challenge, American Mountain Classic and La Ruta de los Conquistadors. The team will also attend select US Cup and NUE100 events.