<p>The Monster Energy Specialized team had a banner weekend in Mont Ste Anne Canada this weekend as Sam Hill (AUS) and Troy Brosnan (AUS) took hom Macca, Gomez, Norden, Henning, and Whitfield weve added names like Frodeno, Don, and Findlay among others.</p><p>
</p><p>
And we will also build on the unprecedented Factory Team type race support we began in 2010: Specialized trucks will be present at races throughout the US and Europe, offering soigneur services for the pros as well as mechanical support to pros and age groupers alike. And a new partnership with Zipp and SRAM will provide spare parts and wheel options to the pros. Specialized will also once again partner with the ITU World Championship Series and have a similar presence at key Ironman and Half Ironman distance and other major events around the globe. It is this combination of a dominant list of pro athletes and comprehensive race supportmore common in road and mountain bike racingthat will again allow the Specialized team to stand alone at the top of the tri world. </p><p>
</p><p>
I thought we had an absolute dream team last year, but somehow were poised to be even stronger in 2011 with our new lineup, raved Bobby Behan, Sports Marketing Manager. Were looking forward to another exceptional year. And while World titles are great, were especially proud to be able to again offer neutral support to many age groupers and give our elite athletes levels of support they never had before." </p><p>
</p><p>
Here are the 2011 Specialized Factory Triathlon Team lineups according to distance, along with some of the athletes career highlights:</p><p>
</p><p>
Long Course:</p><p>
Chris "Macca" McCormack Rasmus Henning</p><p>
Jordan Rapp Peter Reid</p><p>
Philip Graves</p><p>
</p><p>
3-time World Champion, the reigning Ironman World Champion Chris Macca McCormack returns after his incredible victory in Kona. "One of THE moments from 2010 was undoubtedly that final mile of Macca's memorable victory," said Behan. "We are pleased to announce that a longer-term deal will see Macca with Specialized for many years to come.</p><p>
</p><p>
Rasmus Henning who won Challenge Roth with a near-Ironman distance record 7:52 will also return for another shot at that record in a different race. Jordan Rapp, the victim of a near-death accident early last season, was back at the top only seven months later to finish 4th at Ironman Arizona, and continues to heal and improve. This fearsome trio is joined again by young up-and-comer Philip Graves, 3-time World Champion Peter Reida Specialized Ambassador since his retirementwill continue to advise and mentor. All will again ride the Shiv.</p><p>
</p><p>
Short Course: ITU Development Team:</p><p>
Javier Gomez Leonardo Chacon Corrales</p><p>
Jan Frodeno Abrahm Louw</p><p>
Simon Whitfield</p><p>
Tim Don</p><p>
Lisa Norden</p><p>
Barbara Riveros</p><p>
Paula Findlay</p><p>
</p><p>
Two more 2010 World Champions, Javier Gomez and Lisa Norden will return to defend their titles under the Specialized banner, along with 2-time Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield, but theyll face tough competition this year from their new teammates: 2008 Olympic Champion Jan Frodeno and former World Champion and Hy Vee winner Tim Don. Also joining is World Championship Series Round 2-time winner Paula Findlay. Meanwhile, Sydney World Championship Series round winner Barbara Riveros has graduated from the ITU Development Team to the senior stable. Of course Specialized will continue to support at a grass roots level, with neutral technical service at major events and through support of ITU Development Team scholarship athletes Leonardo Chacon Corrales and Abrahm Louw. Men will ride S-Works Tarmac SL3 and women will use the S-Works Amira.</p><p>
</p><p>
With the Summer Olympics only one year away, this new team is perfectly poised to be a serious threat for the podium. The level of talent on this team as well as the race support from Specialized is unprecedented and that combination will certainly help lift all of us to another level. It´s great to have peace of mind that for the London Olympics, and of course all my races, I´ll be riding the latest and greatest bikes on the market, said Frodeno. </p><p>
</p><p>
Xterra:</p><p>
Conrad "The Caveman" Stoltz Dan Hugo</p><p>
Melanie McQuaid Ned Overend</p><p>
</p><p>
Yet another returning World Champion heads up our off-road team. Conrad "The Caveman" Stoltz was close to quitting his 2010 season to comfort his ill father in South Africa. Instead, the tough South African held strong, winning his 8th USA Series Title, utterly dominating Worlds in Mauia title he dedicated to his dad Gert. Conrad will again race alongside fellow countryman Dan Hugo and 3-time Xterra World Champion Melanie McQuaid. Ned Overend, a legend and icon at Specialized, will continue to mentor the team. </p><p>
</p><p>
The Epic 29er will be the bike of choice for The Caveman, and McQuaid will have the S-Works Era. The men will also have the option to ride S-Works Stumpjumper 29HT or Epic 26 models. Stolz had this to say about his new ride: "To me the highlight of 2010 was the arrival of my new S-Works Epic 29er. Winning XTERRA Worlds was ok too."</p>
More...
</p><p>
And we will also build on the unprecedented Factory Team type race support we began in 2010: Specialized trucks will be present at races throughout the US and Europe, offering soigneur services for the pros as well as mechanical support to pros and age groupers alike. And a new partnership with Zipp and SRAM will provide spare parts and wheel options to the pros. Specialized will also once again partner with the ITU World Championship Series and have a similar presence at key Ironman and Half Ironman distance and other major events around the globe. It is this combination of a dominant list of pro athletes and comprehensive race supportmore common in road and mountain bike racingthat will again allow the Specialized team to stand alone at the top of the tri world. </p><p>
</p><p>
I thought we had an absolute dream team last year, but somehow were poised to be even stronger in 2011 with our new lineup, raved Bobby Behan, Sports Marketing Manager. Were looking forward to another exceptional year. And while World titles are great, were especially proud to be able to again offer neutral support to many age groupers and give our elite athletes levels of support they never had before." </p><p>
</p><p>
Here are the 2011 Specialized Factory Triathlon Team lineups according to distance, along with some of the athletes career highlights:</p><p>
</p><p>
Long Course:</p><p>
Chris "Macca" McCormack Rasmus Henning</p><p>
Jordan Rapp Peter Reid</p><p>
Philip Graves</p><p>
</p><p>
3-time World Champion, the reigning Ironman World Champion Chris Macca McCormack returns after his incredible victory in Kona. "One of THE moments from 2010 was undoubtedly that final mile of Macca's memorable victory," said Behan. "We are pleased to announce that a longer-term deal will see Macca with Specialized for many years to come.</p><p>
</p><p>
Rasmus Henning who won Challenge Roth with a near-Ironman distance record 7:52 will also return for another shot at that record in a different race. Jordan Rapp, the victim of a near-death accident early last season, was back at the top only seven months later to finish 4th at Ironman Arizona, and continues to heal and improve. This fearsome trio is joined again by young up-and-comer Philip Graves, 3-time World Champion Peter Reida Specialized Ambassador since his retirementwill continue to advise and mentor. All will again ride the Shiv.</p><p>
</p><p>
Short Course: ITU Development Team:</p><p>
Javier Gomez Leonardo Chacon Corrales</p><p>
Jan Frodeno Abrahm Louw</p><p>
Simon Whitfield</p><p>
Tim Don</p><p>
Lisa Norden</p><p>
Barbara Riveros</p><p>
Paula Findlay</p><p>
</p><p>
Two more 2010 World Champions, Javier Gomez and Lisa Norden will return to defend their titles under the Specialized banner, along with 2-time Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield, but theyll face tough competition this year from their new teammates: 2008 Olympic Champion Jan Frodeno and former World Champion and Hy Vee winner Tim Don. Also joining is World Championship Series Round 2-time winner Paula Findlay. Meanwhile, Sydney World Championship Series round winner Barbara Riveros has graduated from the ITU Development Team to the senior stable. Of course Specialized will continue to support at a grass roots level, with neutral technical service at major events and through support of ITU Development Team scholarship athletes Leonardo Chacon Corrales and Abrahm Louw. Men will ride S-Works Tarmac SL3 and women will use the S-Works Amira.</p><p>
</p><p>
With the Summer Olympics only one year away, this new team is perfectly poised to be a serious threat for the podium. The level of talent on this team as well as the race support from Specialized is unprecedented and that combination will certainly help lift all of us to another level. It´s great to have peace of mind that for the London Olympics, and of course all my races, I´ll be riding the latest and greatest bikes on the market, said Frodeno. </p><p>
</p><p>
Xterra:</p><p>
Conrad "The Caveman" Stoltz Dan Hugo</p><p>
Melanie McQuaid Ned Overend</p><p>
</p><p>
Yet another returning World Champion heads up our off-road team. Conrad "The Caveman" Stoltz was close to quitting his 2010 season to comfort his ill father in South Africa. Instead, the tough South African held strong, winning his 8th USA Series Title, utterly dominating Worlds in Mauia title he dedicated to his dad Gert. Conrad will again race alongside fellow countryman Dan Hugo and 3-time Xterra World Champion Melanie McQuaid. Ned Overend, a legend and icon at Specialized, will continue to mentor the team. </p><p>
</p><p>
The Epic 29er will be the bike of choice for The Caveman, and McQuaid will have the S-Works Era. The men will also have the option to ride S-Works Stumpjumper 29HT or Epic 26 models. Stolz had this to say about his new ride: "To me the highlight of 2010 was the arrival of my new S-Works Epic 29er. Winning XTERRA Worlds was ok too."</p>
More...