May 22, 2008 (Montreal, QC) – Francois (Frank) Parisien confirmed on Wednesday evening that he will leave Symmetrics on June 1 and will join Team RACE Pro for the rest of 2008. His dream of competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games that led to him switch teams.

“I am going to ride the three races near Philadelphia (the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling which includes the Lehigh Valley Classic, Reading Classic, and Philadelphia International Championship from June 3-8), and the Tour de Beauce (June 10-16) with Team RACE Pro. It was impossible for me not to ride these two events with Symmetrics.” Symmetrics, while participating at these events, had not selected Parisien to race there with the team, which resulted in his departure. Parisien hopes to make Canada’s 2008 Beijing team and these races are important if he wants to be in the running for consideration to compete at the Games this August.

Pedal reached Symmetrics team co-owner, Kevin Cunningham in Vancouver for his comments. “This is an amicable decision. Frank is a great young guy with a lot of talent. He is also a lot of fun to be around and I respect his drive. But we mutually agreed he might be better off with another team right now,” said Cunningham.

“If this were not an Olympic year, I don’t think that we would have this conflict. And the door remains open for Frank to come back
riding with us in 2009. But we don’t give our cyclists the freedom to get their own results. We race as a team and always will,” he added.
“We’ve set the paperwork in motion, according to UCI regulations, and he will be released from the team on June 1st.”

Parisien said that he’s been speaking with Steve Bauer and Team RACE Pro for quite a while, but had decided to go with Symmetrics in 2008. Parisien also spoke about the financial difficulties at Symmetrics and how everyone agreed to take a salary cut to keep the team afloat, but stated that this was not a factor in his decision to leave.

“I had a friendly talk with Kevin and have no hard feelings. I respect all of the riders there and also the staff who are currently working for free. I am disappointed to leave Symmetrics under these circumstances, but pleased to be with Team RACE Pro now – they totally understand my Olympic dream and it’s great to have support with this opportunity. Everything is verbal at this point, but I should be signing my contract tomorrow (Thursday), and I will be riding an Argon 18 bike.”

“I will also be riding various races around Montreal and competing at the Canadian Road Championships. But after that, I don’t know what my schedule will be. My contract with Team RACE will be for the duration of the 2008 season. As for 2009, I might stay with Team RACE but I’m open to opportunities, including a return to Europe to ride there. If someone knocks on my door, I will answer it.”

As reported earlier, the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) is expected to reveal the the three spots available on Canada’s Olympics men’s road team in mid-June.