January 26, 2007 – The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team today announced its official second season line up featuring ten returning squad members and new names including: former professional Australian National Road Champion Henk Vogels; two-time professional Irish National Road Champion and former Junior World Road Champion Mark Scanlon; stage racing expert Burke Swindlehurst and the formidable Caleb Manion.

Now headed by former U.S. National Road Champion Chris Wherry and lead out specialist Vogels, the team to watch in 2007 is well-poised for a repeat of its dynamic inaugural season. Identified from day one as the most dangerous team in the peloton after surprise wins in Stage One and Stage Four of the Amgen Tour of California, the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team earned the respect of its competitors in the field, ending season one with 55 first-place victories, podium placements in 94% of all races entered, plus 24 NRC wins to take the number two position on the NRC Team Rankings.

Returning to the team are former U.S. National Time Trial Champion Chris Baldwin (USA), who comes off a storied 2006 season; former Florida State Criterium Champion Stefano Barberi (BRA); two-time New Zealand National Road and Time Trial Champion Heath Blackgrove (NZL); Pan Am Games Champion Ivan Dominguez (CUB); top mountain climber Justin England (USA); two-time Mexican National Champion Jose Manuel Garcia (MEX); Multi-National, Multi-NCCA National Champion Bobby Lea (USA); 2005 & 2006 Serbian National Champion Ivan Stevic (SCG); multi-European stage winner Sean Sullivan (AUS), and former USPRO Road Champion Chris Wherry (USA).


“We’re in an extraordinary position,” said Team Owner Sean Tucker. “I’m excited about the season ahead. Based on our team’s performance last year we received interest from cyclists around the world. We were able to select four new members who best complemented our team and who bring a wealth of experience to the domestic scene. In addition, by aligning with Fuji Bicycles and Bontrager, we’ve improved our road bike. Plus, we’ve increased our offerings to the over 13,000 fan members. We’re ready for 2007.”

Also on board is Team Director Kirk Willett who joins Harm Jansen (former USPRO Criterium Champion and Dutch National Champion) to jointly manage the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team. Willett, a former professional cyclist and well-known team director will handle team logistics, day-to-day operations, race strategy, and overall management of team personnel. Prior to Toyota-United, Willett worked from 2000 to 2003 as Team Director for the Prime Alliance Cycling Team. There, he managed high profile athletes, leading the team to over 100 wins and the number one individual position on the NRC calendar. In 1999, as a leader of the Mercury Professional Cycling Team, Mr. Willett also served as Development Cycling Team Director/Manager.

“We’ve got a tight roster, and in Kirk an experienced and tactical genius,” said Harm Jansen. “I think we’re well positioned to take on the competition, our team is already riding well. Baldwin had an electric end of season showdown in the national time trials, and recently, Heath Blackgrove took second at the National New Zealand Road Championships. We’ve added some serious firepower and Pro Tour level experience with Mark Scanlon, Henk Vogels and climbing specialist Burke Swindlehurst, plus our wild card Caleb Manion. I think we’ll definitely have an impact on the domestic racing circuit this year. ”

The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team’s North American racing schedule, will again begin with the Amgen Tour of California in 2007 and will include the Pro Cycling Tour (the premier professional cycling series in the U.S.), and the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC), which features more than 70 races this year.

The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team is sanctioned by USA CYCLING, the national governing body of professional cycling and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the International governing body of professional cycling.

Official 2007 Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team:

· Chris Wherry (USA)- Former USPRO Road Champion
· Henk Vogels (AUS) – former professional Australian National Road Champion, USPRO Criterium Champion, USPRO Road Champion
· Chris Baldwin (USA) – Former USPRO Time Trial Champion
· Ivan Dominguez (CUB)- former Cuban National Champion, Pan Am Games Champion
· Mark Scanlon – (IRL) two-Time Irish National Road Champion, World Junior Road Champion
· Burke Swindlehurst -(USA) One of the country’s top stage racers
· Bobby Lea (USA) – Multi-National, Multi-NCCA National Champion
· Ivan Stevic (SCG)- two-Time Serbian National Champion
· Justin England (USA) – One of the sport’s top mountain climbers
· Heath Blackgrove (NZL)- two-time New Zealand National Road and TT champion
· Jose Manuel Garcia (MEX) ) – two-time Mexican National Champion
· Caleb Manion (AUS) – Stage racing specialist
· Sean Sullivan (AUS) – Multi-European stage winner
· Stefano Barberi (BRA)- Former Florida State Criterium Champion
· Walker Furguson – (USA) Former World Junior Mountain Bike Champion
· Ryan Miller -(USA) Former National Champion
· Nate Mitchell – (USA) Former Member Junior Worlds Team