Squire will be honing his mountain bike skills under team manager and long-time mountain bike racer Marc Gullickson. Gullickson will look to help gifted young rider develop his considerable talents which carried him from a sport racer to National Champion in just one year.
The U23 Team will be using all Specialized Equipment for both mountain and road. Team riders will be riding the new S-Works Epic in 2009 as well as a S-Works SL2. SRM is also helping out with power meters for their road bikes.
Squire's race schedule for 2009 includes stops on the World Cup and ProXCT circuit as well as potential for major road races like Paris Roubaix. After confirming with the U23 Team a the very motivated Squire said, "I'm really excited to race in the World Cups because I'll be competing on the most premier level of cycling and I'll be able to gauge where I am and where I'd like to be in a few years... I'm a big skier but I can't wait for the snow to melt and the biking season to begin!"
Squire's tentative race schedule for 2009 is below:
Valley of the Sun, (Road)
ProXCT #1 in Fontana, California
Sea Otter Classic, California
World Cup #2, Offenburg, Germany
World Cup #3 Houffalize, Belgium
Swiss Power Cup
Trip Ardennais, Belgium(Road)
Luxembourg Stage Race, Luxembourg(Road)
Possibly Paris Roubaix, France(Road)
Tarragona Stage Race, Spain(Road)
Marathon National Championships,Breckenridge Colorado
National Championships, Sol Vista Colorado
World Cup #5, Mont Saint-Anne Canada
World Cup #6, Bromont Canada
ProXCT, Mt. Snow Vermont
ProXCT, Windham New York
Tour of Utah Stage Race, Salt Lake City Utah(Road)
Hopefully World Championships, Canberra Austrailia
And then World Cup #7 and #8 are still up in the air depending on funds.
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TransRockies Ambassador Program Kicks off in 2009For most riders, the single greatest goal of their TransRockies experience is to reach the finish line each day in one piece and within the time limit. By doing so, they remain officially scored in the event and on track for the treasured finisher t-shirt and medal—mementos of their achievement. While riders come to the start line with ample physical and logistical preparation, the singularly wild and rugged nature of the TransRockies means that there are always unexpected obstacles to overcome along the way to the finish line.
In 2009, with the help of some dedicated members of the TR family, we’re launching the TransRockies Ambassador program, a new on-course rider support program unique among epic events. The TransRockies Ambassadors are a team of two riders who will ride the course each day from start to finish providing additional mechanical support as needed to help riders fix mechanical issues and get to the finish line. They will start at the back of the field and gradually work their way forward as the stage progresses. Ambassadors will carry an extensive selection of tool and spares and be easily identifiable on course with specific number plates and backpack markings.
It should be noted that the TR Ambassador program is not intended to provide a competitive advantage for teams hoping to carry less equipment and there will be a nominal time penalty imposed for those needing Ambassador assistance to complete a stage. The Ambassador program is intended to improve the TransRockies experience by helping riders overcome the worst mechanical issues and providing assistance, advice and encouragement as needed to get everyone to the finish line.
The two riders who will inaugurate this program are five-time TR finishers Simon Parker and Jim Seethram. “There’s really nothing worse for a TransRockies participant than to getting evacuated off course to the finish line”, said Parker. “The Ambassador Program will hopefully build upon the great TransRockies camaraderie and spirit of cooperation and will help some riders avoid the sweep and have the great TransRockies experience they imagined when they signed up.”