Planet Energy and Catalyst Capital Group Inc. will continue as the principal financial sponsors of Team R.A.C.E. Pro (TRP) through 2009, but the team also said Friday that it will soon be ready to offer details about additional support from new sponsors as well.

Josée Larocque and Steve Bauer of Cycle Sport Management Inc. said they are both pleased with the progress made during this first year of building a Canadian UCI Continental men’s team.

“Our message is clear. We are focused on providing the best possible opportunity for Canadian road cyclists,” said Larocque.

Team R.A.C.E. Pro’s 2009 roster will have good balance with improved strength and speed. Francois Parisien, 2005 Canadian Road Champion, and Ryan Roth who finished second to Svein Tuft in the 2008 Canadian Time Trial championship, will return for 2009, establishing a base of experience upon which the rest of the team will be built.

2008 Track Olympian and 2007 Pan American Road Race Champion, Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Keven Lacombe (Kelly Benefit Strategies), the 2008 Canadian Criterium Champion, have signed deals with TRP for 2009.

The speedy duo has substantial experience racing together and will greatly improve the team’s ability to win races in sprint finishes. Eric Boily (Volkswagen), National Team U23 at the Worlds in Varese, Italy, will bring youthful energy and attack power to the team’s lineup.

Savvy experience and endurance will be provided by Andrew Randell (Symmetrics), the 2002 Canadian Road Champion and Bruno Langlois (Volkswagen), second in the 2008 Canadian Road Race Championship. The two veterans are expected to bring strength and stability to the core team for the tough races in the UCI America Tour on which the team plans to focus.

Rounding out the team roster nicely will be Maxime Vives and Charly Vives
(Calyon) who join returning TRP teammates Joël Dion-Poitras, Keir Plaice, Andrew Hunt and Mark Batty. Vivesy, Boily, Dion-Poitras, and Batty each participated to the Canadian National U23 Team projects this past season. This group of young riders will be looking for opportunities and experience and a chance to show their talents in some challenging races.

“I am very excited to work with all these young men,” said Bauer. “Josée and I have worked very hard this first year to build this team in a positive direction. We have made considerable changes for 2009. Step by step, we are aiming to become a Canadian force to be reckoned with at international UCI races. Just like those cold weather fronts that descend out of the Canadian North, we want to make an impact and ensure it will be known that the team has arrived.”