The new Stradalli – Bike Aid Conti Team will debut on January 18th in the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo which has been held in Gabon, Africa for the past 10 years.
It is the most prestigious race in Africa and its UCI 2.1 status is why it will feature some of the best teams in the world.
Gabon sits on the West Coast of Africa next to the Republic of Congo and south of Cameroon. This race will consist of 7 stages. 3 stages take the riders on a tour through the hillier parts of Eastern Gabon. 1 stage will be an individual time trial and the rest of the stages will be held near the flat coastline of West Gabon.
Team Europcar and Bretagne-Seche Environment as well as other Professional Continental teams compete here on a regular basis. Competing alongside Stradalli-Bike Aid in La Tropicale Amissa Bongo will be teams representing countries from each region of Africa as well as Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team.
The UCI uses the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo to focus on developing African cycling and allow amateur cycling teams the opportunity to race with professional teams.
[ad#ip]
Timo Schafer, team leader for Stradalli-Bike Aid, said La Tropicale Amissa Bongo is the perfect place to begin the season.
“This was a very successful offseason for training and business. Not only was our team able to travel the world from the United States to Europe but we were able to find great sponsor including Stradalli Cycle who will be the title and bike sponsor and have provided us with these great Aversa full carbon road bikes. It is nice to know that we have strong legs and strong sponsors to help build momentum before the season even begins. Now we get to go to Gabon, Africa to show everyone how serious we are about our mission to develop African cycling.” Schafer said.
The Stradalli-Bike Aid Continental Cycling Team has had multiple success stories including Eritrean professional cyclist Mekseb Debesay who signed with the Dimension Data UCI World Tour Professional Team. Debesay is just one success story of the Stradalli-Bike Aid team with plenty of more talented cyclists emerging from Africa.
Joshka Beck, professional rider for Stradalli-Bike Aid, said the new sponsors acquired in the off season are going to make a big difference in 2016.
“I have been training on the Stradalli carbon Aversa road bike for a couple months now. Every professional cyclist will tell you how having quality equipment and preparation are the most important things when it comes to racing, especially in a long season. I know I speak for the entire team when I say the support from great sponsors like Bolle and FSA (Full Speed Ahead) has been awesome. I can say the same about the Prologo Seats we were given as well.” Beck said.
Daniel Bichlmann, professional rider for Stradalli-Bike Aid, said finding sponsors who back your goals is never an easy job but now that the job is done it is going to make racing a whole new experience for Stradalli- Bike Aid.
“We get to go into La Tropicale Amissa Bongo with full confidence now that we know we have the support of sponsors like Stradalli and Prologo who are committed to us and our mission. Prologo supports guys like Alberto Contador and Peter Sagan and Stradalli Cycle is making some of the best carbon frames in the market. When you have companies like these gather and support you it means a lot for the team and means even more for African cycling. 2016 will be a great year for us with resources like these.” Bichlmann said.
