December 5, 2015 – Ryan Anderson will join French-based Pro-continental Team Direct Energie (formerly Europcar) for 2016. The announcement followed on the heels of the confirmation of Direct Energie’s UCI Pro-continental licence via the team’s web FB page. The only other Canadian on the 22-man squad is Antoine Duchesne, but David Veilleux was also there until 2013. Although not a WorldTour team, Jean-René Bernaudeau’s squad, in its previous incarnations has often competed at top races such as the Tour de France.
Anderson, 28, most notably distinguished himself in 2015 by finishing second at the Canadian road race championships along with winning a stage and the Points jersey at the Troféu Alpendre Internacional do Guadiana in Portugal. He finished second overall at the White Spot / Delta Road Race and was the top Canadian at the Tour of Alberta in 2013 and 2014 winning the North Star Grand Prix last year as well.
Since 2008, Anderson has ridden for: Symmetrics, KBS, SpiderTech, Champion, and Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies.
The new title sponsor, Direct Energie, is a provider of electricity and natural gas in France. As previously reported, Canadian-based sportswear manufacturer, Louis Garneau Sports, previously with Europcar, is no longer a team sponsor.
Direct Energie 2016 Roster:
– Ryan Anderson
– Thomas Boudat
– Lilian Calmejane
– Romain Cardis
– Sylvain Chavanel
– Bryan Coquard
– Jeremy Cornu
– Antoine Duchesne
– Yohann Gene
– Fabien Grellier
– Romais Guillemois
– Tony Hurel
– Fabrice Jeandesboz
– Julien Morice
– Bryan Nauleau
– Adrien Petit
– Alexandre Pichon
– Perriq Quemeneur
– Romain Sicard
– Guillaume Thévenot
– Angelo Tulik
– Thomas Voeckler
Pedal posting on Direct Energie’s status here.
UCI release here.
December 6th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Nice guy off the bike, a smart, strong, lightning fast super racer on the bike. Can potentially win any race, anywhere, any time. Canadian prospect for Rio gold.