Takis Christopoulos Heller to compete with Xspeed United
After the presentation of the ProTeams, we continue our coverage of the ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas 2024 with the 13 Continental Teams that have signed up and will be in the starting line in Thessaloniki on May 15.
ARA Skip Capital
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Australia
Founded: 2018
Abbreviation: ARA
Official website: https://www.aca-cycling.cc/
X: aca_cycling
Facebook: Australian Cycling Academy
Instagram: aca_cycling
In 2024
The ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas will be the most notable race for them so far in 2024.
In brief
It is a project started in 2018 by riders Ben Kersten and Matt Wilson, to promote young athletes from Australia. 19-year-old Hamish McKenzie, now with Jayco AlUla, is their latest former rider who signed with a Pro team.
ATT Investments
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Czech Republic
Founded: 2019
Abbreviation: ΑΤΤ
Official website: attcycling.cz
X: jsmeteam
Facebook: TopforexATTInvestments
Instagram: topforex_attinvestments
In 2024
No major distinctions and few matches for them so far. They participated in the International Tour of Rhodes and the two-day Tour of the Visit South Aegean Islands (also in Rhodes). A podium finish by Marton Dina has been their best result.
In brief
It all started in 2019 in the Czech Republic, with the aim of developing the capacity of local young riders and preparing them for the pro cycling world.
In 2023 they launched the “3 to 1” model, meaning that for every young rider who joins the club, there are three more experienced taking over his cycling training.
27-year-old Marton Dina, and Slovak road race and ITT champion Matúš Štoček, stand out from the team’s line-up.
They have been using Lapierre bikes since the day they were founded, while their main sponsor is ATT Investments.
Bike Aid
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Germany
Founded: 2005
Abbreviation: BAI
Official website: bikeaid.de
X: bikeaid
Facebook: teambikeaid
Instagram: bikeaid
In 2024
They have already snatched a win this season, with Dawit Yemane in the first stage of the Tour of Mersin (2.2 category). Yemane won the points jersey in the same Tour as well.
In brief
As an organisation they were founded in 2005 in Saarbrücken, initially as a cycling NGO with the aim to help African riders develop. With more than 1,200 active members, it is one of the largest cycling communities in Europe.
The professional team is active since 2014, following the prompting of two former riders, Timo Schäfer and Matthias Schnapka. Bike Aid is the team where Eritrean Meskeb Debesay, who had a successful three-year stint at the top level with the Dimension Data jersey, emerged.
Elkov A Kasper
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Czech Republic
Founded: 1993
Abbreviation: ΕΚΑ
Official website: https://www.hkcycling.cz/
X: -
Facebook: Elkov Kasper Czech Cycling Team
Instagram: elkovkasper
In 2024
They mostly competed in France and Croatia winning once, with Lukáš Kubiš in the third stage of the Istrian Spring Trophy (2.2 category).
In brief
It is one of the oldest teams in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1993 by two professional athletes, Vladimír Vávra and Otakar Fiala. Until 2000 they operated as a police team. They have been using the Italian Wilier bikes for the last couple of seasons.
Global 6 Cycling
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Luxembourg
Founded: 2021
Abbreviation: GLC
Official website: global6cycling.com
X: global6cycling
Facebook: global6cycling
Instagram: global6cycling
In 2024
The ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas will be the most notable race for them so far in 2024.
In brief
One of the newest teams in this year's Tour of Hellas. Their professional journey in cycling began in 2021, headed by Mario Manzoni. The Italian was a successful rider (stage winner of the Giro D’ Italia in 1997) and has been the DS in many pro teams including Androni and Bardiani.
For the 2024 season, they switched nationality (from New Zealand to Luxembourg) and changed their bike provider (Argon 18).
Hre Mazowsze Serce Polski
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Poland
Founded: 2017
Abbreviation: MSP
Official website: mazowszeteam.pl
X: MazowszeCycling
Facebook: MazowszeSercePolskiCyclingTeam
Instagram: mazowszesercepolskicyclingteam
In 2024
They have already registered three wins this season, all courtesy of Marcin Budziński: in the GP Slovenian Istria (1.2 class), the GP Brda-Collio (1.2 class), and the GCC at the Tour of Mersin (2.2 class).
In brief
After the dissolution of CCC Sprandi Polkowice, they are Poland’s most powerful team.
Their initial goal was to develop young Polish riders. Poles exclusively man the team roster. For the 2024 season, they acquired the services of national champion Alan Banaszek.
They have been using Italian bikes Guerciotti since the first day of their establishment.
ParkHotel Valkenburg
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: The Netherlands
Founded: 2014
Abbreviation: PHV
Official website: https://ridetowin.nl/
X: PhValkenburg_CT
Facebook: Parkhotel Valkenburg
Instagram: parkhotel_valkenburg_ct
In 2024
The ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas will be the most notable race for them so far in 2024, along with the one-day race Flèche Ardennaise (1.2 category).
In brief
Known to the Greek fans from the 2023 Tour of Hellas as Abloc. The last time they were named Parkhotel Valkenburg (former and current team’s main sponsor) was nine years ago.
Most of their riders are Dutch with the 2019 Points world champion Jan-Willem van Schip being the most notable.
Saint Piran
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: UK
Founded: 2021
Abbreviation: SPC
Official website: https://saintpiranprocycling.com/
X: @SaintPiranTeam
Facebook: saintpirancycling
Instagram: saintpiran
In 2024
The ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas will be the most notable race for them so far in 2024.
In brief
The team deals with men's and women's cycling on almost all surfaces. They mostly work to develop young riders from Britain. To boost their brand, they acquired Harry Tanfield (previously in Katusha Alpecin, Team Qhubeka ASSOS, AG2R La Mondiale, etc.). The roster also includes the experienced Alexandar Richardson (ex-Alpecin – Fenix) and William Tidball (World and European Scratch Champion).
Tarteletto Isorex
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Belgium
Founded: 2010
Abbreviation: TIS
Official website: www.tarteletto-isorex.be
X: tartelettoisorex
Facebook: wielerploeg.be
Instagram: tartelettoisorex
In 2024
So far, they’ve won the Stage 1mass sprint finish of the Tour of Antalya (2.1 category), with the experienced sprinter Timothy Dupont (winner of the second stage of the ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas 2023).
In brief
A typical Belgian team, made entirely of local athletes. Loyal fans, who made the trip to Greece in 2022 and 2023, call them Yellow Vikings.
Greek Champion, Polychronis Tzortzakis was with the team in 2018 and 2019.
They use Giant bikes.
Team Felt Felbermayr
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Austria
Founded: 2005
Abbreviation: RSW
Official website: https://www.rsw-radsport.at/team/
X: feltfelbermayr
Facebook: TeamFelbermayrSimplonWels
Instagram: feltfelbermayr
In 2024
The Austrian team riders come to the ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas 2024 having competed in more than 15 Tours or one-day events so far, and are counting seven podium finishes! Two of these podiums came at the International Tour of Rhodes with Patryk Stosz winning stages 1 and 2.
In brief
It is one of the oldest professional groups in Austria, counting almost 20 years of existence. The induction of the American bicycle manufacturing company Felt to their sponsorship line-up, brought financial prosperity, hence the bar has been set high for the 2024 season. The roster has been impressively strengthened with riders who carry many years of experience at the top level, such as Hermann Pernsteiner (3 Grand Tour appearances, 10th overall at Giro D’ Italia in 2020), Sebastian Schönberger (1 Tour de France appearance) and Patryk Stosz.
Victoria Sports Pro Cycling Team
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Philippines
Founded: 2023
Abbreviation: VSC
Official website: -
X: -
Facebook: Victoria Sports Pro Cycling
Instagram: vsprocycling
In 2024
The team’s top accolade so far has been Nichol Blanca Pareja’s victory in the Philippines’ road race national championships.
In brief
Their most important task is to develop riders from the Philippines. They have high hopes for 2024, hence they hired Héctor Carretero to lead the team. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who boasts three Grand Tour appearances, called it day last year after a long career that saw him competing for Movistar and Equipo Kern Pharma. The most famous rider is the 38-year-old Portuguese, José Mendes with 6 Grand Tour appearances (3 in La Vuelta, 2 in the Tour, and 1 in the Giro).
Vini Monzon - Savini Due – OMZ
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Romania
Founded: 2018
Abbreviation: VSO
Official website: giottivictoriateam.com
X: team_GTV
Facebook: GiottiVictoriaSaviniDueTeam
Instagram: giottivictoria_savinidue_team
In 2024
The ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas will be the most notable race for them so far in 2024.
In brief
A team with a strong Italian community in the administrative and in the sports department, even though their headquarters lie in Romania. The dominant figure in the technical staff and the club's mastermind is Stefano Giuliani - assistant to the great Francesco Moser at Gis Gelati.
Xspeed United
Team Status: UCI Continental Team
Country: Canada
Founded: 2019
Abbreviation: XSU
Official website: xspeedunited.com
X: XSpeedUnited
Facebook: xspeedunited
Instagram: xspeedunited
In 2024
The ΔΕΗ International Tour of Hellas will be the most notable race for them so far in 2024.
In brief
They were first introduced as a Hong Kong-based team in 2019, although most riders came from Canada and Australia. Since 2020 they represent Canada.
They use Canyon bikes like other ΔΕΗ Tour of Hellas teams and their primary goal is to work with young riders and help them evolve.
Their roster is multinational, with the 17 cyclists coming from eight different countries, including Takis Christopoulos Heller, who’s not the sole Greek in their ranks. Savvas Potsos has been on the coaching staff for many years.
