Diversity-Focused L39ION of Los Angeles Announces 2023 Cycling Teams
L39ION adds a women’s road race champion, brings back sets of prominent siblings, and looks like a strong contender in men’s criterium racing.
L39ION of Los Angeles confirmed its 11-rider roster for next season’s UCI Continental men’s squad and seven riders for its probable U.S. Domestic Elite women’s team, Cyclingnews reported on Dec. 6.
2021 Mexican road race champion Yareli Salazar headlines the stereotype-challenging squad’s new additions, the outlet reported. She becomes the new face of the women’s team as she returns to racing in 2023 after surgery for iliac artery endofibrosis earlier this year.
“Joining L39ION in the new year is going to be an exciting new change for me. I look forward to becoming a part of the positive impact L39ION is making, as well as inspiring future generations of racers,” Salazar told Cyclingnews.
Salazar spent the last five seasons at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Continental level, where she rode for Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling in 2022.
Elsewhere, L39ION’s all-star sister pairings return for another tour. Alexis and Kendall Ryan will rejoin the squad in 2023, as will Skylar and Samantha Schneider, Cyclingnews said. Skylar Schneider and Kendall Ryan paced the peloton three times each in this year’s American Criterium Cup, and Ryan won U.S. Pro criterium title for the second year in a row.
Julyn Aguila and Amber Joseph will also return to the women’s team, Cyclingnews reported, and Shayna Powless will jump ship to DNA Pro Cycling.
2023 L39ION of Los Angeles Women’s Roster
- Julyn Aguila (Mexico)
- Alexis Ryan (U.S.)
- Kendall Ryan (U.S.)
- Amber Joseph (Barbados)
- Yareli Salazar (Mexico)
- Samantha Schneider (U.S.)
- Skylar Schneider (U.S.)
Source: Cyclingnews
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L39ION started announcing new riders on the men’s side as early as October when reigning U.S. Pro road champion Kyle Murphy and breakaway specialist Robin Carpenter came on board.
L39ION persuaded the two riders to cut ties with Human Powered Health to join a considerably strong men’s crit team led by former U.S. Pro criterium champion Ty Magner. Magner won four of the nine races in this year’s American Criterium Cup.
Eder Frayre, Sam Boardman, and Tyler Williams return to the men’s team, Cyclingnews said, after competitive showings in this year’s Joe Martin Stage Race. In the event, one of two UCI stage races located in the U.S., Frayre took second in stage two, Boardman won the time trial in stage three, and Williams placed second in stage four.
Cyclingnews also said all-rounder Ian Garrison would not return after spending just one season with L39ION since moving on from WorldTour’s QuickStep team. Sean McElroy, Freddy Ovett, and Sam Hunter Snipe Grove also depart, per the outlet.
Finally, the squad’s co-founding brothers look to compete side by side again for the first time since early 2022. Cory and Justin Williams will return to lining up together now that Justin has completed a five-month suspension resulting from a physical altercation at a July race.
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2023 L39ION of Los Angeles Men’s Roster
- Sam Boardman (U.S.)
- Robin Carpenter (U.S.)
- Alec Cowan (Canada)
- Eder Frayre (Mexico)
- Lance Haidet (U.S.)
- Gavin Hoover (U.S.)
- Ty Magner (U.S.)
- Kyle Murphy (U.S.)
- Cory Williams (U.S.)
- Justin Williams (U.S.)
- Tyler Williams (U.S.)
Source: Cyclingnews
2023 will be L39ION of Los Angeles’ fifth season in action. The Williams brothers founded the project in 2019 to “challenge outdated ideas and destroy boundaries” in cycling. Its name refers to 39th Street, where the Williams brothers grew up as first-generation Americans in South Central L.A.
Justin Williams and L39ION: Changing Bicycle Racing
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