Oakland, CA – The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team announced today, Thursday, September 8, 2011, that current Team members Rory Sutherland and Robert Förster will be back with the Team for the 2012 campaign.

Photo: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us
Sutherland, who was already under contract with Momentum Sports Group (the owner and operator of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team) for 2011 and 2012, said, “I am happy to be racing with Team UnitedHealthcare again in 2012 and helping it continue to grow. We have had a great group of Teammates here (both existing and new) that have made racing with this Team so enjoyable. Next year will be my sixth year with Momentum Sports Group and wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t feel happy and at home. I consider myself very lucky to do the job that I do and for all of our great and very involved sponsors, especially our title sponsor, UnitedHealthcare. I am looking forward to continuing on in 2012.”

Speaking about the veteran Team leader, General Manager and Directeur Sportif, Mike Tamayo, said, “Rory has been a staple on this Team since 2007. He is an example of what we are trying to do with the future of Team UnitedHealthcare, and part of my personal vision, to provide our riders with the right tools, management and race program to become better and competitive at a world class level. It has been a great ride so far to watch Rory progress, and the next year is even more promising.”

A new addition to the Team in 2011, Förster was a dominant force for the Team in the sprints and a mainstay on the podium this season, landing in one of those top three coveted spots well over a dozen times.

“I am very happy to race for UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling again next year,” said Förster. “This has been a good season and I cannot say enough about my Teammates and this organization and its sponsors. We still have to finish out 2011, but I am really looking forward to 2012.”

An integral part of the Team’s overall success, Tamayo commented on Förster’s return, stating, “There is no question that Robert was a great addition for us in 2011. His strength as a sprinter is just a small part of what he brings to Team UnitedHealthcare. Robert is an outstanding Teammate and it is great that we share the same vision of not only seeing him win more races, but helping a young rider like Jake Keough become more competitive internationally. We are more than happy to have him back for 2012.”