L39ion goes continental
 

Good news on this typical monday for me. Hope they can secure and maintain sponsorship..

https://www.velonews.com/news/road/l39ion-of-los-angeles-launches-uci-continental-team-in-2021-hire-skylar-schneider-and-kendall-ryan/

I wish them well. I'm not well informed about them aside from watching a few videos on Youtube.

All I know is, they have a massive following of haters. I'm in a FB buy/sell group. Someone posted up a jersey for sale and it was quite a **** show in the comments that followed. Since I'm not well informed, I've no idea why.

Good for them! The brothers and the team deserve it! :thumb::thumb:

What does a continental license get them that domestic elite doesn't?

Especially next year. Seems like a monumental waste of money at this point as most all of the races they care about they were already doing (and doing well).

They are extremely good at the Criterium.

I'm a hater. I hope this means that they won't bully the criterium scene in socal so much. Every race is basically a Legion TTT before the inevitable Justin or Cory sprint. I mean, it's cool to be a part of and all, but it's not very fun for your average elite amateur racer. Big fishes in a little pond. They need to go pick on someone their own size IMO.

I have no idea who this is or what it's about. Is it the Qanon replacement?

Shouldn't this be in the professional cycling for the fans forum now?

I agree 100%. Though I feel a bit conflicted. On one hand, Justin has brought some much-needed attention to cycling for diversity (which will be good for increasing participation and viewership and is good business). On the other hand, he has shown he is not a stage racer, and generally not good outside of crits. So aside from a couple notable performances away from crits, the team better decide if it really wants to get away from what has brought it so much notoriety.

Potentially a much bigger discussion of what the sport of cycling is. It is defined by what pays the most - Euro Stage races. But crits are fun and fun to watch, as is track and are hill climbs etc. Just no money.

I have watched 3/4 of them for a decade and they are nice guys and I wish them well, I don't see this as a serious job job thing, unless of course, they recruite for such.

In theory doesn't it open up some European UCI races for them? Given that seems to be the only place racing is happening now..

Does this mean they can compete in the Pro version of the US National Crit Championships? I read in an article, there's so many of them over the last few months on these guys, where Justin Williams implied he was prevented from riding in that race but I figured if you're an amateur then you race the amateur race.

But now that they're PCT then they can go hang with the big boys, right? Looking at JW head to head with Travis McCabe and I'm not thinking JW would have had a chance in 2019 against Travis. But now that he's retired (TM) perhaps these guys can get one.

Noticed in CyclingTips' roster breakdown, Justin is not included in the conti squad.

Yeah I think Justin and Corey, as good as they are at Crits, have a bigger picture in mind, beyond themselves. Seems like they want to build a team outside themselves. I read they see the way a team is paid and functions outside the norm. Guess we will see how it goes.

Cory could be a higher level road racer than Justin, smaller but more importantly, leaner. I'd bet he has a notably higher w/kg than his bro at all durations over 5s. Becomes more exaggerated as duration increases.

you miss the point , Justin has always said he wants to help others get those opportunities pro cycling doesn't allow them to get , so if he upgrades his team he can be a spring board to launch more Americans into the international race scene !

USAC/UCI elite national races are most likely done for 2021 , maybe for ever :(

You miss the bigger point: this is business and failing to success loses sponsors in an already lean industry. Successful role models attract more next gen athletes, so to walk away from something with a winning track record into something where the team could be more obscure works against the effort of appealing to youngsters. Motivation is driven by hope and incentive. Nobody aspires to finish mid-pack.

I don't see that. The new UCI is inclusive and Fondos are UCI, juniors (17-18) and U23 are UCI and both the most competitive groups still in the USA. Pointy end of Fondos have some very elite riders.
If you are at a "real" (primary job) professional, you travel. If you are not, it is recreation (Cat 1, USA Pro, or Cat 4 and old farts) and I expect there are still lots of forms of recreational racing to be had under UCI elite category in 2021.

More insight with the Conti license for them according to Justin. He will stay with the Domestic Elite team mostly racing the US Crit series. Corry will be heading the Conti team with the eyes to target some European races such as trying to get an invite to the Tour of Britain and such. (pending Covid). They also have the women's team starting most likely on a Domestic level as well.

Funny fact Cory still has a "pro" license but Justin does not, he still has a simple Cat 1 USAC which he laughs about.

From the latest podcast with Justin which came out when he was given his Red Bull Helmet a week or so ago he said spending the money on the Conti License is to open the doors on other avenues for riders on his team. He said he has no attention to do anything other then USA crits and help his teammates move to higher levels.

Over all I think the guy has a great head on his shoulders and if you don't know much about him recently I recommend watching the latest "The Adventure Stache" podcast which really gives insight on what he is trying to do and why they have done what they have done thus far.

Link:

Guess I don't know why he is laughing? A USA "pro" and Cat 1 have a fee difference, but other than that they are the same. What am I missing?

Race availability such as Nationals, for example Cory could have raced the US Pro national Race but Justin would have to be "invite" which he was but once he was told he couldn't bring his team he said no to USA cycling.

There are also UCI races that technically Cory could have raced where Justin most likely would need an invite, but they are if not all over seas so not really sure that mattered much.

That is why I didn't understand the laugh. He was not limited outside of a registered team wanting him. He wanted to bring his team and his team was not admitted. Aside from National Championships (ITT), I don't think Cat 1 vs Pro matters. At the pro level, you need a team invite, as it is a team sport. I don't see any limitation there outside of the ITT. If a team want's you - they get you that category. A few USAC races used to allow independent Cat 1 racers, but most do the team thing.

For a Euro pro you just need to be employed by the team, if you don't have the rank, they call and get you the rank.