LeMond Fitness sponsors the Rapha Focus professional cyclocross team with the Revolution trainer

LeMond Fitness, a leading manufacturer of training equipment for cycling, is proud to announce their sponsorship of Team Rapha Focus, North America’s premier professional cyclocross team. LeMond Fitness will provide the team and its elite racing stars – Jeremy Powers, Zachary McDonald, Christopher Jones, and Julie Krasniak – with its new Revolution trainers for the team’s pre-race warm ups and indoor training activities.

“Warm-up is more important in cyclocross than in any other cycling discipline,” says Jeff Rowe, Rapha Focus team manager, “because the rider has to go to maximum effort right off the line. Our riders do some ‘openers’ on the course a couple of hours before their event, and then a solid hour on the Revolution trainer timed to end minutes before their call-up.”

Team Rapha Focus loves the LeMond Revolution trainer because of its groundbreaking Direct Drive technology. Unlike roller-based trainers that provide a mushy feel and wear out tires, the LeMond Revolution connects directly to a bike’s drive train, providing progressive resistance that replicates the feel of a real ride.

“Cyclocross race wheels and tubular tires are not appropriate for use in traditional trainers,” Rowe said. “Using the Revolution, the rider gets a more stable platform, doesn’t stress the wheel or frame unnaturally, doesn’t wear out a tire, and can warm up on their race bike. We carry three Revolution trainers in the team truck and each rider has one at home. Our European Service Course is also LeMond-equipped. Team Rapha Focus chooses each of our partners with great care; the team at LeMond and their understanding and passion for cyclocross are the perfect fit for us.”

Since the team’s launch for the 2010 – 2011 season, Team Rapha Focus has emerged as a leader on the North American cyclocross circuit, performing outstandingly in U.S. Gran Prix races across America. This year they look to expand this performance to the world stage, and are well on their way to doing so with top ten finishes in both Elite and U-23 World Cup races already on the books. Jeremy Powers, the team’s standout elite rider for the ’11-12 season can be found riding and discussing his LeMond Revolution trainer in the web-based T.V. series “Behind the Barriers.” Please visit the team’s website – http://www.rapha-focus.cx – for more information.