Jeremy Powers switches to Rapha Focus cyclocross team
Cyclocross star and USGP and NACT cyclocross series winner Jeremy Powers joins Team Rapha Focus from Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld. Full press release below.
Team Rapha-FOCUS Signs Cyclocross Standout Jeremy Powers 2010 US Gran Prix and North American Cyclocross Trophy Series winner to strengthen top cyclocross team.
March 17, 2011; Carlsbad, CA – Team Rapha-FOCUS has announced the addition of one of North America’s top cyclocross racers, Jeremy Powers. In his best ‘cross season yet, Powers won overall honors in both the 2010 US Gran Prix of Cyclocross and the North American Cyclocross Trophy Series, a 3rd at the 2010 US National Cyclocross Championships, and his 6th selection to the US Cyclocross Worlds Team. “Adding Jeremy Powers to our cyclocross program makes Rapha-FOCUS the team to watch in 2011,” said Scott Rittschof, CEO of FOCUS Bicycles USA. “Having a rider of Jeremy’s caliber aboard FOCUS bikes is directly in line with our ‘By pros, for pros’ philosophy. Jeremy’s considerable ‘cross experience will be invaluable as we continually refine our legendary Mares CX platform.”
Powers’ aggressive, barrier-hopping style often opens a gap on the first lap and makes him a perennial crowd favorite. Powers has been at the top of the CX scene for over a decade, and has raced for the Jelly Belly Cycling Team p/b Kenda since 2004. (With Jelly Belly, Powers also races FOCUS road bikes.) His versatility and strength have also earned him numerous road bike victories, an MTB World Cup win as a junior and a #1 US cyclocross ranking.
“I’ve had my eye on the Rapha-FOCUS team since its debut in 2010,” said Powers. “I’ve known the FOCUS people for the past couple years and I’m excited to be on their amazing machines year-round. The unique Rapha style and extraordinary level of performance are the perfect complements to the overall world-class nature of this program. I’m going to work incredibly hard to make this the number one cyclocross program.”
Team Rapha-FOCUS will race the premium FOCUS Mares CX frameset, which is the newest and most technically advanced representation of the FOCUS World Championship cyclocross heritage. The light and nimble Mares CX features cyclocross-specific geometry and tubing to enable lightning fast dismounts, lifts and shouldering, coupled with outstanding ride control. The perfectly matched FOCUS Mares Carbon Cyclocross fork is precisely engineered to eliminate shudder and help riders steer with confidence through any terrain.
“Jeremy’s name was on our ‘wouldn’t that be amazing?’ list when we originally set-out with the idea of the Rapha- Focus team, so to become a reality in 2011 is fantastic”, said Slate Olson, General Manager of Rapha Racing, N.A.. ”
Jeremy possesses many of the qualities that we admire as fans and why we love bicycle racing—tenacity, flair, and a magnetic personality. With his addition to the team, I am hopeful that the front of the fields will be that much more colorful this fall.”
