December 20, 2006 - It's been a year since Credit Agricole opened a bank representative office in Canada, with hopes to obtain a bank licence in 2007. Calyon Financial, their securities brokerage arm, has been represented for more then three years in Canada, and has established an office in Toronto.
Meanwhile, Calyon is also supporting cycling. The success of their young pro 2006 team is quite promising, especially considering the young age of most of the riders. Crédit Agricole's bank subsidiaries - Calyon and Calyon Financial - will pursue and augment their support of the Calyon Canada Pro continental Cycling Team in 2007.
Litespeed will remain our road and time trial frame provider. Martin Swiss Cycles is getting progressively more involved with our team, and will continue to provide us with the same quality of support as they did in 2006.
Roger Legeay, Crédit Agricole Pro Tour Cycling team sport director will contribute to our team and will be present at our team presentation. Also, the performances of our riders will be followed by the Crédit Agricole cycling team.
Our objective is to give young promising riders the chance to make it to the next step, in two or three years from now. Support from the Crédit Agricole cycling team and Roger Legeay is very important for us. Last year, we suffered a particular lack of support. This explains our efforts to solidify our staff and add depth to our roster. But, our goal remains the same: to create the best environment possible for young athletes in order to bring them to a higher level on the road, on the track or in cyclocross.
Marc Wayne Addison and myself will act as sport directors and Jonathan Desjardins will be our administrative director.
Two people will be assigned to our communications department. The team will also have the support of a "soigneur" and a mechanic during our major projects. One person as been hired and will act as Van Houtte "representative". Also, a sport director assistant will join us soon.
About the riders :
2006 riders returning to Calyon in 2007 :
Erik Lyman / Jean-Sebastien Perron / Broocke Boocock / Maxime Vives / Charly Vives
U23 riders coming to Calyon in 2007
Matt Guze (Ontario) and Ryan Belliveau (New Brunswick)
Elite riders coming to Calyon in 2007
Phil Cortes (New Brunswick) and Greg Rain - new Canadian national cyclo cross Champion - will add power horse to our roster.
About our main sponsors :
Calyon / Calyon Financial / BBSP / ER renovation / Litespeed / Martin Swiss / Catlike / Lake / Verge / Mazda / Van Houtte
A partnership as been concluded with Peak Center in Montreal (Pierre Hutsebaut). Peak Center will provide us with training programs and will assist our athletes in their preparation.
More sponsors will join us soon.
Martin Swiss's master team will join us and we will wear the same colours as we hope it will increase our visibility and help build positive synergy. Those riders are nice people and serious competitors. They are thrilled to be part of this group. For example, Sylvain Adams raced the Gentlemen grand prix with Maxime Vives, last fall. It has been a true sports and human experience for both; after a few kilometres the chemistry was there and a friendship was born.
Lastly, Martin Swiss and Calyon Canada Pro continental Cycling Team will organize a criterium in Westmount (date to be confirmed)
A team presentation will be announced soon.
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