Team Type 1 names new assistant director

Former professional cyclist Michael Carter will be an assistant director for Team Type 1 in 2010, the team announced on Tuesday.

Carter, 46, raced from 1984 to 1993 and later directed the first China-registered professional cycling team, the Marco Polo Cycling Team. In addition to competing in all three Grand Tours (the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España) the American's career highlights include a third place overall in the 1991 Tour de Romandie.

"My goal is to take the riders we have, get to know them, work with them and draw the best out of them," Carter said. "I want to help them reach their potential and bring them together as a team. I'll work with the chemistry that exists there and improve on it. We want them to be the best riders they can be and be the best team they can be."

Phil Southerland, Team Type 1 co-founder, said Carter brings a wealth of experience to the team, particularly in the realm of competing in Europe and Asia.

"I've known Mike for about 10 years now," Southerland said. "When I was 18 years old, I thought he was an extremely classy individual who was able to mold a group of guys into a cohesive team in one week. To bring his knowledge and success on a worldwide level to our program will help us reach people all over the world affected by diabetes."

Carter will assist directeur sportif Vassili Davidenko, who has been with Team Type 1 since the creation of the men's professional program in 2008. Gord Fraser, the team's assistant director in 2009, opted not to return to Team Type 1 for 2010.

The US-based UCI Continental Team Type 1 is the world's only professional cycling team with a roster that includes riders who have Type 1 diabetes.

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