am H&R Block welcome Chris Prendergast and Danick Vandale to their Pro Cycling Team!
Chris PRENDERGAST
CAN U23
“I am excited to be on to the H&R Block Pro Cycling team for the upcoming 2016 season. I look forward to competing with Canada’s top Professional U23 squad in the biggest races across North America. When I am with the team, I look forward to being a strong support rider and hope to personally perform well in the one-day races like Philly, Winston Salem, as well as the White Rock and Delta road races,” says Prendergast. After focusing on school last year, Chris will be competing full time next race season with the primary target of making his mark on the U23 Canadian National Time Trial and Road Race Championships, along with the ultimate goal of being selected to represent Canada at the U23 Road World Championships.
Team Director and project leader Mark Ernsting says, “Chris is going to be a good addition to the team due to his time trial and climbing strength. I look forward to working with him and helping him get to the next level in the sport.”
The team would like to thank Team Jef Fuel for working with athletes like Prendergast for many years now. The importance of such teams is immense as it allows U19 and young U23 cyclists to develop to be able to continue on in the professional ranks. Prendergast echoes this statement by saying, “I am really grateful for everything Team Jet Fuel was able to support me with over the 2015 season.”
Speaking from Prendergast’s former Team Jet Fuel, Team Owner David Butler remarks, “Chris had a great season and we knew Chris would likely be making the move to a UCI registered trade team. That’s the goal of our team to give riders opportunities to take the next step in their cycling career.”
Lastly Prendergast mentions, “With the strong product support that is in place by our leading partners, Norco Bicycles, Shimano and Pearl Izumi, along with the teams big financial partners H&R Block, DC Bank and Stikeman Elliot, this is a team that will really elevate the sport in the Canadian Cycling community.”
Welcome to the team Chris Prendergast.
Danick VANDALE
CAN U23
Vandale showed a competitive spirit in his style of riding this past season. This is a key element of what the program looks for in an athlete. “Seeing Danick come second to Peter Disera, one of our current and returning riders, at U23 Canadian Cyclocross National Championships, along with demonstrating his win in the Individual Time Trial at the Western Canada Games, shows me that he has the ability to maintain a high level of output over such distances.” said Team Director, Mark Ernsting.
Jon Watkin, Team Director of the Accent Inns Russ Hay’s Cycling Team said, “We are immensely pleased that Danick has been given an opportunity to race at the professional level of cycling. This affirms the success of our program to develop and transition promising amateur road cycling talent in Western Canada. We are proud of Danick’s accomplishments and look forward to following his cycling career as it continues to grow.”
With Vandale’s signing, the team will boast six returning riders and four talented new U23 Canadian riders for the 2016 season.
Welcome to the team Danick Vandale!