Written by: Jonathan Tessler (Bicycle.net)

One of the new UCI Continental Teams in 2010 is Adageo Energy Pro Cycling which was the brain child of Josh Horowitz. At the invite of Horowitz, Bicycle.net went to a meet and greet with the team during their Los Angeles training camp. Adageo Energy’s training camp was like most others except for one major difference.

That difference was that the team invited more than just the media to come out and join them for a ride down the Pacific Coast Highway, they invite everyone that was listening. Using their Twitter feed, their Facebook Fan page, and the email groups to the local cycling and triathlon clubs. As unusual as this might seem for a professional cycling team, this is par for the course for Josh Horowitz.

In fact, one of his goals with Adageo Energy Pro Cycling is to always include the fans in the team’s activities. In our discussions with Horowitz he told us that he wants the fan to have experience and feel as if they own the team. Based in Los Angeles, CA, it is very easy to see a rider in and around town in the team’s kit. All the Adageo Energy riders are open and friendly. They will, and do stop to talk to the fan, whether on the bike, or in the coffee shop.

Don’t get us wrong, they do mean business, and they do intend to win their fair share of races in 2010. But it is hard to ignore the openness that Adageo Energy Pro Cycling brings to the peloton.

“When Clay Womack (Adageo Energy Founder) and I put this program together, he always wanted it to be about more than just bike racing,” Horowitz said. And they have set out to do just that. As the disaster in Haiti was playing itself out over the news channels Adageo Energy Pro Cycling went to work. They decided to commit a portion of all team clothing sales to help the people of Haiti.

The mission of Adageo Energy Pro Cycling is that “racing is not just about making it to the finish line, but also about inspiring people along the journey”.

As the season progress Bicycle.net will have the blogs of two riders from the team. Both Cody Stevenson and Tim Farnham will have featured blogs hosted on Bicycle.net.

The next to chance to meet the team will be at their training camp on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at the Callville Bay Marina Lounge in Lake Mead, Nev. Included in the day’s activities is a meet-and-greet with the team, a chance to ride with the squad during its 90-minute training ride, lunch, a formal team presentation and the opportunity to sit in on a special hypnosis session as the riders perform a race day visualization. Lake Mead and the Callville Bay Resort & Marina are located just 45 minutes from Las Vegas and within an easy half day’s drive from Los Angeles, San Diego, Salt Lake City and Phoenix.

Team Roster for Adageo Energy
(Team Director: John Wike)
Eric Bennett (USA)
Adam Carr (USA)
Austin Carroll (USA)
Tobias Eggli (SUI)
Tim Farnham (USA)
Danny Finneran (USA)
Joshua Horowitz (USA)
Matt Landen (USA)
Alexi Martinez (USA)
Thomas Nelson (USA)
Cody Stevenson (AUS)
Bennett Van Der Genugten (USA)

Team Sponsors
Adageo Energy
Wonderful Pistachios
Leopard Bikes
American Classic
Exustar
TwinLab
WLA Industrial & Urgent Care
Ultimate Sports Psychology
Pactimo
Liquid Fitness
Maxxis
Geklaw.com
DeFeet
Thule
TRP
iBike @ Sportswest.com
Powerbar
Hawk Racing
Selle Italia
BodyFix
Smith Optics
Friction Freedom
Abbots Pizza Company

Team Website: AdageoEnergyProCycling
Twitter Feed: AdageoEnergyFacebook
Facebook Page: AdageoEnergyTwitter