Team Waste Management established itself as one of the top amateur cycling teams in the United States during the 2008 season competing on the national circuit. Team WM has now announced their eight-man elite squad for 2009 that consists of five members who are also part of the US National U23 Team racing in Europe.
The 2009 team roster has three returning members, Stevie Cullinan, Grant Van Horn, and Sean Mazich. New members include Larry Warbasse, Carter Jones, Kevin Soller, Scott Stewart and David Talbot. A staff of three is responsible for the medical purposes. Barney King continues as the race director.
In preparation for the 2009 calendar, which will include most western NRC races and BC Superweek in Canada, the team has just completed a successful training camp in San Marcos, California, where they assembled for testing, analysis, planning, team building, and a little bit of saddle time on the new team bikes and Sugoi clothing. Look Bicycles has been selected for the team in 2009 with additional support from Ritchey. The training camp was also a chance for the team to meet and work with their professional affiliates at Jelly Belly Professional Cycling and that team's director Danny Van Haute.
Team WM and Jelly Belly will continue their affiliation in 2009 after a successful cooperation this past year which saw top young amateur Keil Reijnen move up from Team WM to Jelly Belly with a pro contract. Reijnen was just one of three Team WM members to sign pro contracts at the end of the 2008 season. Alex Boyd (Rock Racing) and Jon Parish (Kenda) also moved to pro teams.
"Team Waste Management's primary focus is supporting amateur cycling and helping talented young riders take the step to the next level," said team President Steve Cullinan. "We have assembled a team of great people to develop a very strong amateur team for 2009, and we anticipate our Jelly Belly relationship will further advance our goals of taking our kids to the next level with the talent on our 2009 roster!"
Team WM is a youth development organised under the non-profit RacelabU23 Cycling Team. The team continues to receive primary sponsorship from Waste Management. Team WM is focused on supporting and developing U25 cyclists to get them to next level of cycling.
