The Champion System Pro Cycling Team – Asia’s only pro continental team – has accepted a wildcard invitation to participate in the Tour of Beijing, Asia’s only UCI WorldTour event.
Champion System learned Wednesday that it will be one of 19 teams contesting the third edition of the race, Oct 11-15.
“To bring the Champion System team back to Beijing in 2013 is great validation for the team and gives the riders a good feeling that last year’s performance was appreciated,” Beamon said. “It has been the primary target for many of our riders this year and it provides tremendous motivation as we enter the later part of the season.”
Though Beamon has yet to name the roster, he said he plans for it to highlight the team’s Chinese riders.
“We would like to see our Chinese athletes factor in the race drama and we will look to race aggressively to create opportunities for them,” Beamon said. “The team is very developmental in nature with a mission to advance Chinese and Asian athletes and I believe racing at the Tour of Beijing is such an important step in their maturation.”
On Tuesday, Champion System’s Matt Brammeier was runner-up to Julien Vermote (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) at Desselgem’s Grote Prijs Memorial Briek Schotte after featuring in the race’s main breakaway.
“I was feeling strong and confident,” Brammeier said. “I tried my luck with two kilometers to go, but was brought back inside the final kilometer. With 350 meters remaining, I was forced to sprint again if I wanted to win, but Vermote managed to get around me just before the finish line.”
Last week, the Champion System Pro Cycling Team competed at the inaugural Tour of Alberta where Matthias Friedemann finished in the top 10. The German sprinter said he hopes to carry that success into his upcoming block of European racing.
“I’m pretty happy with my ninth-place finish in the general classification, especially because I was sick beforehand and missed a few important kilometers.” Friedemann said. “It was the perfect preparation for the fall classics in Belgium. A couple Alberta stages, particularly those with crosswinds, are very similar to these upcoming races.”
Ron Callahan is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.