Gord Fraser and Ryan Roth re-up with Silber Pro Cycling
Leadership locked up as team seeks to build off of tremendously successful 2016
The second-ranked team in the UCI America Tour in 2016, Silber Pro Cycling, has extended the contracts of Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame inductee and director sportif Gord Fraser and Canadian individual time trial champion Ryan Roth. Fraser has been instrumental in the rise of the program that had an astounding year while Roth’s leadership on and off the bike has helped the team develop into one of the best in North America.
Keeping the two on board ensures that the team’s leadership is solid as it graduates three top riders to new teams in 2017. Roth had arguably the best season of his career in 2016, most recently riding to 15th at the world championships in Doha, Qatar. Roth also won the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic, the Canadian national ITT title, the UCI Delta Road Race and the overall at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay. Roth also won the national individual pursuit title.
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“Ryan is one of the best riders in North America not only because he wins, but also because he performs at the highest level throughout the year. He therefore, provides consistent leadership for our team of young riders on the road,” team owner and general manager Scott McFarlane explained about Roth’s value to the Montreal-based team. “Ryan also contributes a lot off the bike. I seek his input on many aspects of team management and on equipment needs. To top it off, he’s a fan favourite because he is insightful, prepared and precise–and willing to do the brutally hard work necessary to execute the task of winning.”
Gord Fraser directed the team through to it’s rise to the top of Canadian cycling coming on board two years ago and has extended with the team for three more years. Under his leadership, the team took 26 wins in 2016 and graduated two riders to the pro continental level for next season.
“Having Gord run the team has been key to our success over the past 2 years,” explained McFarlane. “Gord’s direction has been great for our young riders, but his logistics have also helped our staff just come in and do their jobs in a supportive context. He and Ryan are largely responsible for establishing a winning culture at Silber.”
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The team also re-signed Nigel Ellsay who finished second overall at the Joe Martin Stage Race, Kris Dahl who won the opening stage of the Tour of Utak, Nicolas Masbourian who rode in the breakaway in his first WorldTour race at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, Emile Jean and Julien Gagne. The team has also signed stagiare, David Drouin who raced at the WorldTour races for team Canada in Quebec City and Montreal, and at the under-23 world championships for next season.
“I look forward to working with the returning riders,” said Fraser who was recently inducted into the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame. “We have set the bar very high and I’m confident the returning riders will continue to develop and strive to surpass a fantastic 2016.”
The team succeeded at launching Alex Cataford and Benjamin Perry to the pro-continental level and Matteo Dal-Cin, who’s 2017 team has yet to be announced, had a historic win at the Redlands Cycling Classic in 2016. The shift for the coming years will be at continuing to develop riders and Roth and Fraser are instrumental towards that goal.
“It’s an exciting time for Silber Pro Cycling. Thanks to the support of Cycling Canada, we finished an amazing year watching our riders representing their country by riding in the break of the day at three world class races: Masbourian in the WorldTour race in Quebec, Perry and Dal-Cin in Montreal and Roth at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar. This says something about our ability to recruit and develop riders. Next year we are expanding our roster with a lot of young talent. It should be an adventure!”
