AEG-Toshiba-JetNetwork Pro Cycling Team, a US Continental team based in Athens, Georgia, has announced its sponsors and roster for 2006. Known as Aerospace Engineering Group-VMG in 2005, the team rose to prominence in its first year in the professional ranks when Serbian Ivan Stevic led the team to several results. Building on last year's success, the team will expand its roster and support staff with the help of an increase in sponsor commitment.
This year, three companies share in title support of the team: Aerospace Engineering Group (AEG), Toshiba, and JetNetwork. AEG Group, which provides service and sales for private, commercial, and military aircraft in the US (Miami), Asia, and Europe, supports the team for the fourth consecutive year. Toshiba, the fifth largest technology company in the world, brings name brand recognition and increased support in its fifth year of sponsorship. JetNetwork, a first year sponsor, is a leader in private aviation and offers a range of services, including private jet membership, aircraft sales and management, and private aircraft charters.
Adding different types of riders to its roster, the team will have more possibilities in 2006. Nebojsa Jovanavic, a stage winner at UCI events in Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia, headlines this year's new recruits and plans to take up where compatriot Ivan Stevic left off. Sprinter Emile Abraham rejoins the team after a stint with Monex and will look to add to his growing list of National victories.
2003 Elite National Criterium Champion Keith Norris also returns to the team and will focus on replicating his big win at the professional level. Eric Murphy and Hugh Moran will continue from last year's squad to challenge on the climbs, and cyclo-cross standouts Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks will bring their off-road skills to exclusive road events.
After gathering for a training camp in Georgia during the latter half of January, the team will start into its 2006 programmes made out of National and UCI calendars in February with intentions to land on podiums throughout the Americas and at select European events.
The full team roster is as follows:
Emile Abraham (Tri), Chris Deluise (USA), Chris Frederick (USA), Esad Hasanovic (Scg), Nebojsa Jovanavic (Scg), Eric Keim (USA), Bruno Langlois (Can), Viktor Laza (Scg), Hugh Moran (USA), Eric Murphy (USA), Keith Norris (USA), Prokic Predrag (Scg), Jake Rubelt (USA), AJ Smith (USA), Frank Travieso (Cub), Ryan Trebon (USA), Barry Wicks (USA) and Greg Wolf (USA). Managing Director is Ravi Rajcoomar.
