Gord Fraser parts ways with UnitedHealthCare
Canadian Director Sportif out of a job because of team's European expansion plans
Amid the pro team transfer news for the 2011 season, one roster change has flown under the radar screen: Canadian Gord Fraser and the UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis team have parted ways. Fraser had been working as a directeur sportif for the U.S.-based team for the past two seasons since he stopped racing himself, but the team’s expansion into Europe has left him without a job.
“I was the one who said if you want to go big in Europe you need to get a big-time European DS,” said Fraser over the phone from his home in Tucson, Ariz. “It’s just not my area of expertise. I’d be lying if I said I could set up a warehouse and all that stuff in Europe.”
UnitedHealthcare sports director Mike Tamoyo confirmed Fraser’s departure. “We’re needing a DS that knows how to cross the border with Switzerland, deal with customs,” he said, adding that there simply isn’t room in the team’s budget to retain Fraser as a full-time U.S.-based director.
UnitedHealthcare has been on a spending spree to bring in riders with European Pro Tour experience, hiring German Robert Forster from Team Milram and Canadian Christian Meier from Garmin-Transitions. Another Canadian, Andrew Pinfold, also remains on the roster for 2011. The team has yet to hire its European staff.
Meanwhile, Fraser is looking at his options for 2011. That might include working with a new, U.S.-based team, but he said the details have yet to be firmed up. “For now, directing is my No. 1 priority. Hopefully we can get it done and get this team up and running,” he said.
