USPro Tri, a pro triathlon team composed of ten American pro triathletes, has announced its line-up of athletes and sponsors for 2013. As always, the support of the team’s sponsors has proven invaluable. For 2013, new sponsors have joined many long-standing sponsors to offer the team support this year.
Profile Design enters its sixth year of support for USPro Tri. The team will debut many of Profile’s new 2013 products, including the state-of-the-art Aeria aerobar, the new M:2 wetsuit, and the new aerodynamic HC bottle.
Zoot enters its third year of partnership with the team, providing triathlon-specific footwear. Many of USPro Tri’s athletes will be racing in Zoot’s Ultra Race 4.0, the ultra-light Speed and Kiawe shoe variants.
Albabici is also continuing its four year long-standing relationship with the team, providing Limar racing/training helmets, and Selle SMP saddles.
Champion System in its fourth season with the team will be providing distinctive red, white and blue custom team apparel. The team will both race and train in a wide variety of its custom clothing.
PowerBar will be supplying the team with its full line-up of nutritional products, including Ironman Perform, the official on-course hydration for most North American Ironman events.
Kurt Kinetic returns again for its sixth season with the team. The brand’s trainers, bike computers and accessories support the athletes with their indoor riding and training requirements.
USPro Tri is also excited to announce two new sponsors for 2013…
Smith Optics will be making its stylish and high-performing eyewear line-up available to team athletes. With features such as interchangeable lenses and PivLock technology, the team can look good and stay protected.
Kenda makes tyres for all types of riding. The team will ride Kenda’s Volare tubular tyre and Kenda’s Kaliente clincher tyre, which includes the brand’s Iron Cloak flat protection system.
On the up
During the team’s five-year history, athletes on USPro Tri have accounted for two long-course duathlon national titles, a long-course triathlon national title, an Ironman 70.3 title, a sliver medal at the Pan-American Games, dozens of podium and top-ten finishes at Ironman, Ironman 70.3 and other major events, and many more local and regional wins. The team is poised for a great 2013, with a mix of team veterans and newcomers on its roster:
Ryan Bates
Team founder and director Ryan Bates has USPro Tri ready for another big year. Despite his many duties as team director, Ryan has posted some solid results. In the past two years, Ryan earned a 6th-place finish at the classic Memphis 5150 in May, finished in the top-10 twice in Ironman 70.3 events, and won the Cleveland Triathlon.
Adam Bohach
Adam joins the team after a stellar amateur career in which he earned USAT Athlete of the Year honours. An Iowa native, Adam has recorded strong finishes at the prestigious Hy-Vee US Championship over the past two years. Before turning pro, Adam finished 9th overall at Ironman 70.3 Racine, then finished as first overall amateur at Rev3 Wisconsin, posting a blazing 1:13 half marathon run split. Adam began his pro career late in 2012, racing Rev3 Cedar Point and Ironman Arizona, posting solid finishes in both.
Daniel Bretscher
Daniel returns to the team in 2013 after a breakthrough 2012, where he earned a huge win at Ironman 70.3 Steelhead. Daniel also posted a runner-up finish at Rev3 Cedar Point, bested only by long-time Ironman specialist Viktor Zyemtsev. A former USAT amateur Athlete of the Year and USAT Pro Rookie of the Year, Daniel has also posted two fifth-place finishes in stacked fields at Ironman 70.3 Muncie and a fifth-place finish at Ironman Lake Placid.
Nick Brodnicki
Another first-year pro, Nick is coming off a breakthrough 2012, which saw him earn his elite license with a strong finish at Rev3 Maine. He followed up with another strong race at Rev3 Anderson. Nick also posted two local wins in 2012 despite early-season illness. Nick enters 2013 with an eye on the Rev3 pro series.
Mike Caiazzo
One of USPro Tri’s veterans, Mike has produced some of the team’s most exciting results over the years. Mike is a dangerous runner, having posted the fastest run split in several major events. Mike has recorded the fastest run en route to podiums at IM 70.3 Muncie (2nd in a loaded field), IM 70.3 Timberman (2nd behind triathlon legend Rasmus Henning), and IM 70.3 Rhode Island (3rd, with a 1:15 split on a challenging course). In his only attempt at Ironman, Mike finished fourth at Ironman Lake Placid, and has recorded numerous local wins in his home state of Maine.
Ryan Giuliano
Duathlon specialist Ryan Giuliano is also remaining with the USPro Tri team for 2013. Ryan is one of the most accomplished duathletes in the US, having won the prestigious Powerman Alabama (long course duathlon National Championship) in 2011. He has also recorded strong finishes at the Desert Classic Duathlon and the Duathlon World Championships (where he has represented the US as an elite six times!).
Jim LaMastra
Jim completed his first season with USPro Tri in 2012, after a solid amateur career that saw him qualify for the Ironman World Championships twice and post several overall amateur wins at major events. Since turning pro, Jim has recorded two top-10 finishes at the competitive Rev3 Cedar Point, a top-10 finish in a stacked field at Ironman 70.3 Syracuse, and a win at the Cleveland Triathlon.
Kyle Pawlaczyk
Kyle enters his third year on the team with eight top-10 Ironman 70.3 finishes on his resume. A former collegiate distance runner, Kyle has run 1:15 off the bike, and posted one of the fastest run splits in scorching conditions at Eagleman in 2011. Kyle has also begun to establish himself as a strong cyclist; his splits at Ironman 70.3 events in Syracuse, Rhode Island and Pocono placed him among the day’s fastest.
Jack Smith
Jack is one of four newcomers to USPro Tri, and brings the most pro racing experience. Jack’s 2012 season saw him qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Jack’s strongest results as a pro include a 7th-place finish at Ironman 70.3 Timberman and a 9th-place finish at Ironman 70.3 Syracuse. Jack balances his racing schedule with medical school.
Tom Wood
Tom enters his first pro season with some impressive results on his resume. After finishing as second amateur at Rev3 Knoxville in 2012, Tom wrapped up his season with a win at the Beach2Battleship iron-distance event, breaking nine hours on his way to victory. In 2013, Tom will focus on the Ironman distance, with three Ironman events (Lake Placid, Louisville and Florida) on his schedule.
