April 13, 2008 (Langley, BC) — Despite some recent reports predicting the imminent demise of the Symmetrics Cycling team, team co-owner, Kevin Cunningham assured Pedal on Saturday that Symmetrics will ride a full season in 2008, through October. Cunningham confirmed that the S-Team is in financial difficulty, as reported recently in Vancouver’s The Province, but stated that, “we are doing as much as we can, on as little as possible.”

Even though they had a fabulous 2007 season Symmetrics has lost three sponsors – Coast Capital, B.C. Hydro PowerSmart and FarmPure – for this season and has consequently seen its operating budget slashed by 35% from $1 million to $650,000. Last year, their biggest financial sponsor was Westlam, a BC-based plywood manufacturer, part of the Cunningham Group owned by the Cunningham family. But this year, while still involved, Westlam is unable to contribute, as its industry has been hit hard by both a high Canadian dollar and the recession in the USA. Continuing sponsors, such as Norco, have increased their contributions, but the S-team is still scrambling. Title sponsor, Symmetrics, is in the data analysis software business.

“Our riders have agreed to take a cut and brought their salaries down to 2007 levels. And we are looking at the least expensive ways to race, but with a schedule still as full as it was in 2007. Getting on airplanes to pick up UCI points can be astronomically expensive; it’s much cheaper to drive to races. So we’ve revamped our schedule to cut costs,” said Cunningham.

“We’re working on the premise that the S-Team will be at full level for 2009,” added Cunningham who hit the road on Sunday for a 4,600km round trip from Vancouver to Georgia where Symmetrics is competing at the Tour of Georgia stage race from April 21-27. Other races on the team calendar include the U.S. Air Force Cycling Classic, Pan-American Championships in Uruguay, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, Commerce Bank Philadelphia International (Triple Crown), the May 30 Toronto Criterium, the Tour of Utah, the Tour of Missouri, and the Tour of Chihuahua in Mexico.

“We’re leaving our 24’ trailer containing the team bikes in the east until after the [road] nationals in June,” stated Cunningham to underline how the team is trying to minimize travel costs.

Not all is bad news, however. Symmetrics Cam Evans, current Canadian Road Champ recently won the San Dimas stage race and while the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) has not yet made it official, S-team member Zach Bell has presumably made the Olympic track team criteria. “We’re waiting for the official announcement next week,” said Cunningham. “And we’re also hopeful to see some other team members going to Beijing on the road team.” The CCA announcement on who qualifies for three spots on the Olympic men’s road team is expected by mid-June.

The report in The Province also quoted Cunningham as highly praising his riders’ commitment to their team, saying it was, “a joy” to witness. Cunningham confided to Pedal his satisfaction with the 2008 team roster, adding that, “I think Georgia is going to be a good race for the S-Team.”

As reported earlier, there is no longer a Symmetrics women’s team. The 2008 Symmetrics Team roster includes:

– Andrew Pinfold
– Andrew Randell
– Brandon Crichton
– Cam Evans
– Christian Meier
– Cody Campbell
– Eric Wohlberg
– Francois Parisien
– Geoff Kabush
– Jacob Erker
– Jeff Sherstobitoff
– Ryan Anderson
– Svein Tuft
– Will Routley
– Zach Bell