[Part 1] [Part 2]

SpokePost.com: I'm talking to Bill Laudien, Team Manager of the new Division 3 SportsBook.com professional cycling team...First, Bill, how did you get involved with the team and SportsBook.com?

Bill Laudien: I've been a customer of sportsbook.com for about two years...and the team was a natural progession of a number of cycling related things that I've been working on for quite some time.

SpokePost.com: Did you basically assemble the sponsorship?

Bill Laudien: Yeah. With the birth of my daughter, our third child, I started realizing that riding, coaching, race promotions, and running a regional team was going to be too much. So during the fall I started trying to figure out which project I really wanted to take on...and running a pro team was the one thing that I hadn't really tried that I wanted to...so I put together a proposal and starting shopping it around trying to sell the idea. Right out of the gate Sportsbook.com showed an interest.

SpokePost.com: Great! I would imagine your previous experience running regional teams and promoting races helped with this endeavor?

Bill Laudien: I think so...one thing that has been helpful to myself and Andrew Albright in trying to do the teams and events that we do is the idea that teams and races are businesses...advertising businesses more specifically and that serving your clients (sponsors) is the priority.

SpokePost.com: Right...agreed.

Bill Laudien: ...and there is also the...practice of putting things together logisitcally - race promotion was the best training ground for that.

SpokePost.com: Excellent. Now aside from SportsBook.com, who are the teams other sponsors so far?

Bill Laudien: Acrow Bridges has just signed on and so far Charlie and Bill Kileen have been tremendously supportive...and without the support of Red Rose Imports, who brought in almost all the product sponsors ( Nalini, Olmo, Selcof, Fir, Miche)...this would not have been possible to do in such a short time frame..I owe Greg and Todd at RRI...a tremendous thanks...The final gaps have been filled by Honey Stinger which is neat as they have Lancaster ties, Rudy Project for Helmets and Glasses, and by John Luck shoes who have stepped up (pardon the pun) in this last month.

SpokePost.com: Yes, our team is a "Honey Stinger Team" too! Love that stuff...

SpokePost.com: by the way...little side note...I really love that honey stinger product...that's some good stuff.

Bill Laudien: wait until you try the bar !!!

SpokePost.com: Got some...good stuff...Peanut Butter....mmm mmm

Bill Laudien: Chocolate - ahhhhh

SpokePost.com: Alright...back to business. What's your roster look like this year? Do you have any specialties?

Bill Laudien: I think we have an interesting blend....The idea behind the team was to give some opportunties to some developmental riders on the east coast...and I think we've achieved that with guys such as Gui, Nathan, Pinkham, and Ross - but at the same time, those guys don't really have a chance to devleop unless they're mentored by guys with experience...and I think we have that strong leadership with riders such as Matt Svatek, Adam Myerson, and Ryan Oelkers...and then we have the two wild cards Josh Beck and Larry Pererra....

SpokePost.com: Matt Svatek came from Cannondale-Wheelworks, right?

Bill Laudien: Yeah, which along with Snow Valley and Go Mart is about the best training ground you can have to move to the next level...really a parallel move in most ways...and Matt brings a certain level of professionalism and confidence from that experience that will be an asset for us.

SpokePost.com: Well, isn't Go Mart pro now as Team West Virginia? Or is there still an amateur Go Mart squad? I think some people are confused about that one...

Bill Laudien: You'll have to talk to those guys about that...

SpokePost.com: Right...

Bill Laudien: Just to finish up with Larry and Beck...those are two guys of whom I have some expectations...Larry has had some great experiences in the last couple of years - Cuba and Turkey for instance - and he's now moved from developmental to being at a time when he needs to prove himself...and Beck is the world and national duathlon champ in the 20-24 age group....which shows he has the engine, and needs to make that transition to the road.

SpokePost.com: Sure does! Where are you guys based out of?

Bill Laudien: Half the squad is in PA and half in Mass.

SpokePost.com: So you really CAN hit the east coast....Have you had your spring training camp this year?

Bill Laudien: We made a trip to Mexico for a stage race, which went well, but our official camp will be after Redland...perhaps the first team to have their camp AFTER their first stage race!

SpokePost.com: Ha! Seriously...

Bill Laudien: But being from the east, as you know...weather often dictates what you are able to do and we've got guys all over the country right now trying to find warm weather

SpokePost.com: Yes, I know...our team (Maxxis-SpokePost.com) is having their camp the weekend of March 30th...so you're not the only ones! Sounds like you have an exciting first year program that will open up some opportunities...what would you say to the Division 3 "naysayers"?? If you know what I mean?

Bill Laudien: I'm not sure I understand the criticism really...I think our team, our sponsors, and myself as director all have a reasonable level of expectation of what to expect for the year...our goal is to provide positive exposure for the sponsors, provide developmental opportunities for our younger riders, and when possible, achieve results within the capabilities of our experienced riders...how anyone can be critical of those goals is beyond me.

SpokePost.com: I agree totally with that thought. Division 3 was implemented by the UCI to be a "developmental" professional level to begin with...I think some of the teams that should be taking criticism are the ones that have the resources to move to Division 2, but don't...Unfortunately, the scene here in the US is quite a bit different than overseas...and we have to live with the guidelines laid down by the UCI.

Bill Laudien: ...and from the teams that have sprung up over the last two years, some will go on to continue to grow and some of those riders will continue to progress, that can only be good for the sport. I think that you are speaking of teams such as Saturn and 7 up, but as someone who has gone through the UCI process you'll never find me critical of the steps that those two teams are taking to keep thier programs financial healthy and in giving riders opportuntiies. The UCI restrictions for TT2 are hardly worth it for most teams racing domestically...to make that jump you need to subtract about $100,000 off the top of your budget.

SpokePost.com: jeez...it is prohibitive

Bill Laudien: and that means that 3 riders, at least, are out of a job...

SpokePost.com: right...

Bill Laudien: So I applaud Saturn and 7 up for making a tough decission, but one that fall in favor of the riders in this case.

SpokePost.com: I DO see your point. Do you think any concessions should be made regarding the age restrictions in division 3 racing in the US?

Bill Laudien: I think it's set pretty fairly - a nice balance between developing youth and ...

SpokePost.com: For those who may not be familiar...what is the restriction?

Bill Laudien: ...maintaining an outlet for veteran riders...the requirement is that half your team needs to be 27 years or under

SpokePost.com: ...so it's not an average age?

Bill Laudien: no

SpokePost.com: I guess that's not too bad...perhaps people are overstating the situation a bit...

[Part 1] [Part 2]