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Gavin Mannion signs with Rally Cycling

  • Ron 

Rally Cycling announces its first major signing for 2019 today in recent Colorado Classic champion Gavin Mannion. The Boston native won the stage two individual time trial up Vail Pass en route to securing the biggest overall victory of his blossoming career. Turning professional in 2010 with Trek – Livestrong p/b Radioshack, Mannion has cemented himself as one of the most consistent general classification contenders in North America.

The 27-year-old spent the last two years racing for UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling where he enjoyed the most successful seasons of his career. Among his palmares are second overall at the Tour of Utah, Tour of the Gila, and Cascade Cycling Classic. Mannion also finished 11th overall at this year’s Amgen Tour of California.

“Rally Cycling is clearly one of the fastest growing pro conti teams out there with a very good schedule,” said Mannion. “I’ve actually been talking with Jonas since ’09 back when he was directing Kelly Benefit Strategies. The program has been taking some big steps these past couple seasons and the timing was just right for me to finally be able to come aboard.”

Mannion and the team inked their contracts directly following his monumental win in Colorado’s UCI 2.HC stage race.

“Winning the Colorado Classic was definitely the biggest result of my career,” said Mannion. “It came after a couple of really great and consistent seasons with UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling but I was always missing that big win. To be able to win the biggest race in my newly adopted home state was absolutely incredible.”

With a roster already stocked with climbing talent like Rob Britton, Kyle Murphy, and Nigel Ellsay, Mannion gives the team another option when the road points up.

“I think I bring consistency to the team and add another GC element to an already strong collection of GC riders,” said Mannion. “Being a “younger” North American guy, I think my attitude will fit in nicely with the team, especially when we’re racing in the gutters in Europe. Being alongside guys that you really get along with becomes hugely important.”

For Performance Director Jonas Carney, signing Mannion was an easy choice as the team heads into their second season in the Professional Continental ranks.

“Gavin has proven himself to be one of the very best in North America over the last couple of years,” said Carney. “He’s super consistent and still a young guy who is improving. We need more depth on our team as we transition to a heavier European schedule. Gavin is a logical pick as he checks all the boxes and will easily integrate with our existing riders.”

Mannion will join the rest of his teammates in late November for a team presentation in Minneapolis, Minnesota, home of Circuit Sport.

Tags: Amgen, Amgen Tour of California, Boston, Cascade Cycling Classic, Gavin Mannion, Jonas Carney, Kelly Benefit Strategies, Livestrong, Minneapolis, Minnesota, pro cycling, Rally Cycling, Rob Britton, Sports in the United States, Tour of the Gila, Tour of Utah, Unitedhealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
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