Axeon Cycling Team Opens First Week of Racing Season in Portugal with Ruben Guerreiro winning Costa Vincentina and James Oram finishing 3rd at Volta Alentejo

Axeon was started by world-renowned Belgian cycling champion Axel Merckx! This UCI Continental team, rebranded as Axeon, was originally founded in 2009 with the goal of developing the best young talent into pro riders. Since the program began it has sent eighteen riders to the pro tour ranks including: Taylor Phinney, Lawson Craddock, Joe Dombrowski, Ben King, Jasper Stuyven and more. The 2015 Axeon Cycling Team plans to continue this legacy and believes strongly in supporting these talented young cyclists in their journey towards becoming the best athletes and role models that they can be.

Check Out Team Video, Here: https://youtu.be/1Yy69ETnlYs

Axeon Cycling Team Opens First Week of Racing Season in Portugal with Ruben Guerreiro winning Costa Vincentina and James Oram finishing 3rd at Volta Alentejo

“I would say, 100% that the program put me where I am now. I honestly don’t think I would be racing in the World Tour without it… the profile of the team, and the support of an amazing staff all helped me get to where I wanted to be.”

– Joe Dombrowski, Pro Cyclist, AXEON Cycling Team Alumni

“[AXEON Cycling Team] gave me the tools and experience that I needed to advance in the sport and opened doors to the next level.”

– Ben King, Pro Cyclist, AXEON Cycling Team Alumni

April 2, 2015 – Axeon Cycling Team (pronounced “ak-shun”) is the newly-branded U23 Development cycling team directed by world-renowned Belgian cycling champion, Axel Merckx. The team was re-launched this year following the program’s strongest season to date. The 2015 Axeon Cycling Team will be participating in races this year such as the AMGEN Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, Tour of Utah, and the U23 Paris Roubaix. For more information, please visit: www.AxeonCycling.com.

This UCI Continental team, rebranded as Axeon, was originally founded in 2009 with the goal of developing the best young talent into pro riders. Since the program began it has sent eighteen riders to the pro tour ranks including: Taylor Phinney, Lawson Craddock, Joe Dombrowski, Ben King, Jasper Stuyven and more. The 2015 Axeon Cycling Team plans to continue this legacy and believes strongly in supporting these talented young cyclists in their journey towards becoming the best athletes and role models that they can be.

With excitement towards the 2015 season, Axel Merckx tells us, “The 2015 season has already started with the best results we have ever experienced this early in a campaign. You never know what to expect from year to year as we always have kids move up to the Pro Tour or graduate and thus the team changes pretty drastically each year. Over the years we have come to expect different things each season, but each year we seem to reload rather than rebuild when we graduate great talent. I think we have a great group of riders that could really get some big results this year. “

Merckx, Born in 1972 in Uccle, Belgium, is the son of five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx. Although Proud of his father’s exploits, Axel enjoyed a superb racing career which includes winning an Olympic medal in 2004. Axel began his professional cycling career in 1993 as a member of Team Telekom. Most recently, Axel has become synonymous with the success of the Axeon Cycling Team as the squad’s director and now, owner.

Axeon Cycling Team will continue to be registered in the United States, as in the past, which requires that 60% of the riders be American citizens, and this season the team has riders hailing from Great Britain, New Zealand, and Portugal. Sponsors this season will include Atlantech, Neon Adventures, SRAM, Bissell, Cipollini, and the American Proficiency Institute.

Axeon Cycling Team’s most recent accomplishments include podium spots at their first two races of the season. The team started off strong in Portugal this year at Costa Vincentina with Ruben Guerreiro taking first place overall and the team taking home first in the Team General Classification. James Oram then kept the momentum going with a 3rd place overall finish at Volta Alentejo that included a Stage 1 victory. These races marked the start of an amazing year for Axeon that already included a U23 Time Trial National Championship for James Oram in New Zealand

Upcoming Race Schedule

4/5 // Trofeo PIVA // Italy

4/6 // Giro Belvedere di Villa di Cordignano // Italy

4/18 // U23 Liege Bastogne Liege

4/29 – 5/3 // Tour of the Gila // New Mexico 5/10 // Tour Of California // California

5/25 // USA Nationals // Chattanooga, TN 5/31 // U23 Paris – Roubaix // Paris, France 6/11 // Tour De Beauce // Beauce, Canada 6/24 // U23 Nationals // Lake Tahoe, CA 8/3 // Tour of Utah // Utah, USA*

8/17 // USA Pro Challenge // Colorado, USA* 9/2 // Tour of Alberta // Alberta, Canada*

*pending 2015 invite

2015 Axeon Cycling Team Roster

Keep updated on Axeon Cycling

Website: http://www.axeoncycling.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/axeoncycling Twitter: https://twitter.com/axeoncycling

Instagram: https://instagram.com/axeoncycling/

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