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Ryan Aitcheson Signs with First Internet Bank p/b K S Energy

by Ben Andrew

December 08, 2016 – Ryan Aitcheson, who earlier this year became the first Canadian to win the USA Crits Series overall has a new team for 2017. Although not yet officially announced, Pedal Magazine had learned that Aitcheson will ride with the First Internet Bank p/b K S Energy team. The move follows the announcement earlier this season that Aicheson’s Astellas Pro Cycling would not be continuing past the conclusion of the 2016 season. The 24-year-old joined Astellas in 2013, and has enjoyed growing success in the USA crit scene.

Historic final podium at 2016 USA Crits Championship Series (l-r): Thomas Gibbons, Ryan Aitcheson, the first Canadian to win the Series, and fellow Canuck Ed Veal, who finished third overall.  ©

“I talked with many teams. A program with top athletes, focusing on hitting the top Crits is actually hard to find. Pro teams want to spend all their money on racing Redlands and Tour of California. I looked and found a smaller team with great guys, great athletes, who have the drive to race 70+times a year at Crits. Couldn’t be more excited to join a program like that,” Aitcheson told Pedal.

First Internet Bank p/b K S Energy is an elite amateur cycling team based in Fishers, Indiana with a roster of riders from across the Midwest. The squad is captained by riders Paul Martin and Ryan Knapp, whom Aitcheson has been teammates with while racing for the Panther p/b Competitive Cyclist program.

Ryan Aitcheson  ©  Astellas Pro Cycling
“I started my USA racing campaign 6 years ago with Panther p/b Competitive Cyclist,” Aitcheson commented. While he has evolved as a racer since then, the move to the smaller First Internet Bank p/b K S Energy team will allow him to continue to focus on pursuing the USA Crits Series again and defending his title in 2017.

“The full schedule for the 2017 season isn’t out just yet. Chasing the USA Crits Series title again is mine and the team’s main focus is to win the series overall. The series has all the best Crits and I want to have the ability to retake the overall title and defend some of my biggest wins,” added Aitcheson.





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