Team Specialized Racing, USA Cycling’s Division III “Overall Team of the Year”, has finalized its 2011 roster, looking to build on a 2010 season that saw successes from the US to Europe. With a legacy that dates back to professional teams from the early 1990s (Subaru-Montgomery, US Postal, Discovery Channel), the team will include eight returning juniors and six new riders, all ages 14-18.

2010 was the best yet for Team Specialized Racing both domestically and abroad. At the UCI Nations Cup seven-stage Tour de l’abitibi in Canada, the team earned a stage win, 2nd on general classification, and 3rd on team general classification. The team achieved four podiums at USA Road National Championships while Matt Valencia won a Junior Track National Championship. Eamon Lucas, Peter Taylor, Torey Philipp and Marcus Smith represented the USA National Team in Europe, including the UCI Junior World Time Trial Championships and junior edition of Paris-Roubaix.

“2010 was a very successful campaign and we have even higher expectations for the coming year,” said Team Director Larry Nolan. “In 2011 we’re expanding beyond our Northern California home base and adding talented new riders from Southern California, Colorado, Montana and Georgia.”

The team is in its fourth year with Specialized and will be riding Tarmac SL3 and Tarmac SL2 race bikes equipped with SRAM Red. It will also utilize Specialized S-Works helmets and Specialized S-Works shoes.

“We’re super excited about our relationship with Team Specialized Racing and supporting the development of the next generation of US riders," said Mike Sinyard, President and Founder of Specialized. “While our presence is more obvious with ProTeams such as HTC-Columbia, we’re also dedicated to up-and-coming riders aspiring to reach the top ranks of the sport.”

In the coming year, the team will focus on the USA Cycling Junior Road National Championships in June, Track National Championships in July, and Tour de l’abitibi, also in July. The team will also contest a full schedule of regional and national road races, criteriums, time trials and stage races.

Team website teamspecializedracing.com.

Team blog teamspecializedracing.blogspot.com.