WHO WE ARE
TEAM VIDEO
WHAT SETS US APART
Team Columbia-HTC is the most successful cycling team in the world, winning more races in 2008 than any other team. Our men won 85 races and our women won 68. Our compelling, international athletes come from 18 different countries, and nine of them are current national champions. Our roster includes 21 talented young athletes aged 26 and under, making Team Columbia-HTC the youngest team at the top level of professional cycling.
High Road Sports is founded on the values of clean and fair sport, personal commitment, and placing ones goals beside those of the team. Racing as Team Columbia-HTC, we seek to create an environment where success happens using the best methods, technology and personal development tools found across the world of sport. Our goals are to make change happen, to win by fair means, and represent the best aspects of sport. We are open to new ideas, direct in our actions, and fair in our respect for the views of others.
WHAT SETS US APART
BEST METHODS AVAILABLE
TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY
Together with our 20 partners, we develop and use the best products and practices that can be applied to cycling, including nutrition, aerodynamics, materials, and sports psychology.
We want to give our riders every chance of success. We constantly seek the best tools and technology available in cycling and across the world of sport. We work closely with our partners to continually improve the products we use, and we choose partners and suppliers who seek to provide the best products, solutions and methods to their customers and our team.
We are supported by experts in the fields of exercise science, nutrition and orthopedics, as well as specialists in cycling who provide our athletes with specific training programs and methods to develop each individual. We use the data produced by the SRM power meter to analyze performance in training and in racing and as a guidance tool for our athletes during training.
We are continually working with new ways to enhance recovery from training and racing and of increasing core strength to prevent injury and to maximize the transfer of power from the athlete's bodies to the pedals. We believe in the power of mental training and motivational support. We provide our riders with expert support as well as the undivided attention of our management team to the mental strength and health of all of our athletes.
WHO WE ARE
Team Columbia-HTC, owned and operated by High Road Sports Inc., is made up of talented young cyclists supported by a leadership group of experienced riders and management. We have 21 athletes aged 26 and under, making us the youngest team at the top level of professional cycling.
We count nine current national champions, 12 former national champions, and six current or former world champions on our roster. We proudly represent national champions of Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Italy and Norway.
In 2008, Team Columbia-HTC won more races than any other team in professional cycling, with the men tallying 85 wins including exciting stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, wins in the Fleche Wallone, Schildeprijs, Tour de Georgia, Tour of California, Tour of Germany, Tour of Ireland and the Dauphine Libere among others. The women's team achieved 68 wins including three rounds of the UCI World Cup Series and the overall series, stage wins in Tour de l'Aude, Giro d'Italia, Holland Ladies Tour, Redlands Classic and the overall wins in Tour of Montreal, Thueringen, Route de France, Giro della Toscana and the Triple Crown. They are ranked the number one team in the world in the UCI World rankings.
WHO WE ARE
EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP
INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT
We believe that common goals and unity of action are the essence of team success. Led by American entrepreneur Bob Stapleton, the team has been recognized for driving the sport into a promising future, where success is measure not just by winning but by winning by fair means. Our organization focuses on providing the athletes with the right attitude, tools and support to achieve their goals and the goals of the team.
Our sports managers come from six different countries and bring comprehensive real world knowledge and experience to the team. We have the depth and breadth of experience necessary to develop athletes from any country and any skill for any competition.
We have a common set of beliefs that guide our actions: Only with success won by fair means can we create change, inspire people and shape the champions of the future.
CREDIBLE SUCCESS
LEADERSHIP IN ANTI-DOPING
31 of our 42 men and women riders won at least one race in 2008 – a stunning demonstration of true teamwork that is a unique achievement in pro cycling. Taking a leadership role in the fight against doping, each member of our team adheres to a strict code of conduct through our independent anti-doping program. We are a strong supporter of the biological passport program and take concrete action toward ensuring clean competition.
At Columbia-HTC, we place ourselves at the front in the relentless fight against doping. This year we are participating in a new program run by the Anti-Doping Sciences Institute (ADSI). Designed by leading anti-doping expert Don Catlin, the new independent testing program will build upon the comprehensive testing conducted on the team’s athletes in 2008 and complements the UCI’s Biological Passport program. The testing keeps us more informed about the conduct and health of our athletes, ensuring the future of the team and the future of the sport.
The governing body for cycling, the International Cycling Union (UCI) comments on this initiative:
High Road Sports continues to demonstrate leadership in this regard. By initiating a comprehensive team-based anti-doping program delivered by ADR, by supporting the UCI in their broad anti-doping efforts and most importantly, by actively working to create a doping-free culture within their team, they are a role model for other teams to follow.