Hincapie and BMC create new cycling team
US cycling apparel manufacturer Hincapie Sportswear, together with BMC and Holowesko Partners, has created a professional Under 23 cycling development team registered with USA Cycling as a UCI continental team. The squad will be the official development program for the BMC Racing Team, the team announced recently.
“I strongly believe in supporting the next generation of cyclists,” said George Hincapie. “Without the help of development programs and folks like Jim Ochowicz guiding me as a new pro, I never could have gotten where I am today.”
Jim Ochowicz is the founder of the 7-Eleven and Motorola Cycling Teams and gave Mr Hincapie his first professional cycling contract in 1994. Mr Ochowicz is the president and general manager of the BMC Racing Team and is a driving force behind the new BMC-Hincapie Sportswear U23 team.
“George and I have a long history together in cycling,” Mr Ochowicz said. “We are both passionate about the sport and want to see it grow. It’s only natural that BMC and Hincapie Sportswear join forces in creating a professional U23 program.”
To manage and direct the new BMC-Hincapie Sportswear Team, former 7-Eleven professional Thomas Craven has been hired as chief sports director. Mr Craven spent several years in the European professional peloton and has seen action in races such as the Giro d’Italia and the road race world championships.
The new racing team is composed of graduates of the former Hincapie-Holowesko Partners amateur development team, and a selection of talented young international riders.
