CK Banská Bystrica becomes a continental team for 2014
CK Banská Bystrica has registered as continental team for 2014.
After reaching better results and even conditions the club moves towards in a new direction. Men team in season 2014 is going to be registered with the UCI as a continental team. For many years there has been in Slovakia only a one such a team (Dukla Trenčín). In a certain year also ŽP Podbrezová reached similar level, so this step is extraordinary in the Slovak cycling sport. Since CK Banská Bystrica had for a long time a racing program at continental team level, transition to this category where about 160 similar continental teams all over the world is expected, is a logical result.
"After two years of first-rate cooperation and increasing standard in the team we decided to make this move after discussions with team partners and Slovak Cycling Federation.CK Banská Bystrica is going to be a continental team for 2014. I would like to thank you to all who contributed to this, to a large extent to Slovak Cycling Federation for the support and acknowledgement of our long-time high-quality performance. Since the field of activity is expanding, and as usual there will be no lack of high-quality races, team is expanding its lines. Since Martin Haring is assigned to preparation for the Olympics and he is going to focus primarily on earning points for the Olympics in MTB, we decided to offer a position to other two cyclists. Tomáš Harag, the best junior of this year and the winner of Slovak Junior Cup and Karol Baďura, who showed an increasing trend in homeland contests of Merida Road Cup. We want to give him a chance in the higher level cycling and show that everyone has a motivation to race and show off on the homefield and so his transfer to the continental team is not an utopia. Likewise we gave this year a chance to Jakub Vančo who is continuously improving and he managed to dress even a representation outfit in cyclo-cross. Belgian Fred Blankers definitely becomes one of our team managers who takes a part in African championship every year and we will see him at Around Slovakia," so evaluated reasons for decision manager Martin Fraňo.
In the new season the team will be riding the edge-cutting bicycles Merida Scultura equipped with Shimano Dure-Ace group that proved themselves useful not only to the cyclists of CK BB, but they also passed a challenging Protour test in the team Lampre-Merida. Of course, the team will have at disposal four time-trial bicycles Merida Warp with those help they also managed to get the title of Slovak Championship in the team time-trial. Innovation in the form of time-trial helmets Casco that will once again contribute to the improvement of performance in time trials, new carbon Merida Big Seven team will help Martin Haring in Olympic qualification, in cyclo-cross literally “fly” the proven bicycles Merida Cyclocross Carbon.
"It is pleasant that majority of partners is satisfied and they remain partners of the club also in 2014. So we can use civilian clothing Merida, sport pants and underwear Vaude, chains Yaban, compression knee socks for all seasons Royal Bay, suntan lotions and insect repellents Daylong, cycling clothing Top. Also remain our other partners, Franko pizza, BCF, Gryf, FAT, Cokin,Bikepro, Autoservis A1 and other. Team got a new partner, beer Urpiner and other partners and vendors that we will inform about in the following weeks are being discussed. Translation of website into English in 2014 will be officially carried out by an independent translation and localization professional Vladimír Otiepka. Team registration has been quite frenetic, even because that cyclo-cross season, which is very difficult for us, but extremely successful, culminates at the moment. We know that in the match for UCI points that are evaluated in team competition with dozens of high-quality and rich rival teams it is going to be very, very difficult, but we go into battle with raised head and will see what the new season brings to us," said Martin Fraňo about the future.
Racing manager introduces also other plans: "As for the racing program, for the majority of cyclo-cross racers the season ended and they are going to prepare for a new road season. In the beginning of the year there is a cross-country ski training camp waiting for us and if we have suitable weather and snow conditions, we definitely take a part in the race Biela Stopa. After that, probably a training in warmth waits for us and first race at the beginning of March. Season will start at Tour de Cameroun, as usual. So far it seems that racing program will be very extensive, so we await a difficult season. Of course, we will participate in top homeland competitions, Slovak Championship, Around Slovakia or new race of UCI countries V4 in May. For sure we will find time to introduce ourselves at homeland competition Tour de Volcano. I strongly believe that, in particular, Harag, but also Vančo will participate in some races with SVK representation under 23, particularly in Carpathian Couriers Race U23. Martin Harig will further prepare for the World Championship in cyclo-cross at the end of January and will enter the season later. Besides MTB races and winning UCI points in MTB we will definitely see him in some crucial road competitions in the role of leader and top-ranking climber."
Line-up of continental team CK Banská Bystrica: Karol Baďura, Lukáš Bátora, Tomáš Harag, Martin Haring, Miroslav Debnár, Martin Fraňo, Jozef Palčák, Rudolf Rusina, Jakub Vančo, Ivan Viglaský, Roman Zrelica.
Other contestants of CK Banská Bystrica: Zuzana Vojtášová, Lívia Hanesová -women, Robert Glajza, Ladislav Longauer, Ivan Haas, Ján Malachovský, Vladimír Melo, Peter Kán - masters.
ostatní pretekári CK Banská Bystrica: Lívia Hanesová, Zuzana Vojtášová - ženy, Robert Glajza, Ivan Haas, Peter Kán, Ladislav Longauer, Ján Malachovský, Vladimír Melo - masters.
