UCI Pro Continental status confirmed for Rally Cycling
A team full of Canadians moves up the UCI ranks for 2018
On Monday, the UCI confirmed Rally Cycling’s bid to move up to the UCI Pro Continental ranks was successful after 11 years on the UCI Continental circuit. It’s looking like not since Spidertech’s demise in 2012 have so many Canadians been members of a team at the UCI Pro Continental level.
All signs point to the team having a roster full of Canadians. Ryan Anderson is coming over to the team after two years and Direct-Energie. Nigel Ellsay is moving to the team from Silber Pro Cycling. Tour of Utah champion Rob Britton will ride for the team in 2018 after his most successful season in his career to date. The 2017 roster also included Canadian champion Matteo Dal-Cin, Adam de Vos and Piedrick Naud but it is yet to be seen who from that group will be re-signed.
Evan Huffman powered to the summit finish at Marmot Basin to take the win. (Image: Rally Cycling)
A celebratory Rally Pro Cycling Team at the Gastown Grand Prix. Photo: Scott Robarts
Adam de Vos (Rally). Photo credit: Oran Kelly
Ryan Anderson. Photo credit: Oran Kelly
In recent years, the teams profile has risen with more trips to Europe and competitiveness in North America’s biggest races. In 2017 the team won stages at the Tour of California, Tour de Beauce, Tour of the Gila, Joe Martin Stage Race, Cascade Cycling Classic and Tour of Alberta. On top of the stage wins the team took the overall in Alberta, Utah, Gila and Utah.
The 2018 targets will include the Tour of California, Tour of Utah, Colorado Classic and Tour of Alberta in North America but the new status will allow the team an increased ability to target races around the world.
So far this off-season, Rally has strengthened it’s roster in anticipation to the move up the ranks. Robin Carpenter, Ty Magner and Kyle Murphy are all joining the team along with the strong contingent of Canadians. Evan Huffman also has resigned.
Rally Cycling also boasts a strong women’s UCI team headlined by strong Canadians including new signing Gillian Ellsay, Olympians Kirsti Lay and Canadian national champion Allison Beveridge, Sara Bergen, Sara Poidevin and Katharine Maine.
