Get To Know Astellas Cycling Team... Max Korus

New for 2014, we are proud to sponsor Astellas Cycling in the team's first year as domestic professionals. Get to know the team: 

Name: Max Korus

Age: 25

Hometown: Elkins Park, Pa

When did you start cycling?

I began cycling competitively in 2010. I was a walk on to the track team at the University of Pennsylvania, but I suffered repeated stress fractures in both of my feet. My roommate at the time was the president of the cycling club and he suggested I give the sport a try.


What do you like about cycling?

I enjoy the competition and the camaraderie.


What do you do outside of cycling? Jobs, hobbies, family? 

In the offseason I work odd jobs, ranging from construction to college admissions consulting. I ski and surf when I have the chance.


When did you start riding with Astellas? 

This will be my second season with the team (I joined in 2013).


How do you feel about becoming a Professional domestic team this year? 

I’m very excited about it. I think the team will have a lot of great opportunities.


What type of racing is your “specialty?” 

Time Trial/ All around.


What races are you excited for this year? 

I’m really looking forward to just about every race the team has on the schedule. If I had to single one out, it would be the Tour de Beauce.


What bike will you be riding this year? 

T1

2014 Litespeed Sewanee

The Sewanee represents a new development in full suspension cross country race bikes.  Perfect for your next XC race - 90mm of rear end travel, cold-worked 3Al/2.5V titanium frame, the ultimate combination of durability and weight savings - the Sewanee features a CLR suspension design that allows for constant acceleration and nimble handling even in the most challenging terrain.  MultiWheel Compatible (MWC) design-optimized for 27.5 inch wheels, yet still compatible with 26 inch wheels via an eccentric BB.  Precise feedback and direction from professional mountain bike racers and teams have allowed us to further improve upon an already solid design. 

Handmade in the USA

MWC optimized for 27.5" (650B) wheels; also compatible with 26" 

and replaceable aluminum rear drop out

XC geometry optimized for 80-100 mm forks

CLR Balanced Ratio Suspension with titanium rocker for 90 mm vertical rear wheel travel

Available in sizes S, M, and L

Get to Know Astellas Cycling Team... Brecht Dhaene

New for 2014, we are proud to sponsor Astellas Cycling in the team's first year as domestic professionals. Get to know the team: 

Name: Brecht Dhaene

Age: 25

Hometown: Ghent, Belgium

When did you start cycling?

When I was 12 years old

What do you like about cycling?

The tactics, the mental and physical war in the race, the taste of victory, seeing all those beautiful places all around the world… I really enjoy cycling in every possible way

What do you not like?

Being not able to ride for whatsoever reason

What do you do outside of cycling? Jobs, hobbies, family? 

I have done a master in European Politics and I am now doing a second master in Management at Belgian universities.

I also enjoy going out for dinner with my girlfriend

When did you start riding with Astellas?

2014 will be my first year in an Astellas racing jersey.

How do you feel about becoming a Professional domestic team this year? 

It’s very exiting! I am really looking forward to do the USA/North-American racing calendar!

What type of racing is your “specialty?” 

I prefer climbs up to 8km and arrivals uphill. When it is been a hard racing, pushing the riders to their limits I’m at my best.

What races are you excited for this year? 

The North American (UCI) stage races will be my prior goals, such as Joe Martin, Tour of the Gila, Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, Tour de Beauce.

What bike will you be riding this year? 

Litespeed!

Anything else? Tips, tricks, advice? 

It never gets easier, you just go faster. (Greg Lemond)

You can follow Brecht on Twitter @BrechtDhaene and be sure to follow @astellascycling

2014 Litespeed T3

Our 2014 T3 offers everything that you would expect from our titanium engineers. We hand crafted the frame from 3Al/2.5V titanium and loaded it with tube-shaping features like an oversized, tapered top tube, flattened/ovalized seat stays, and a biaxial, ovalized down tube. Oh, and we threw in triple-butted chainstays, a 44mm head tube, and PF30 because we're all about performance and ride quality. That's what goes into a USA-made masterpiece.



Oversized 44mm headtube and PF30 BB technology with an ovalized seat tube/down tube junction for drivetrain stiffness and power transfer










Tapered, shaped, oversized 3Al/2.5V tubing with performance-fit road geometry

Handmade in the USA using T3 technology and is available in sizes XS, S, M, ML, L, and XL

Get to Know Astellas Cycling Team... Thomas Brown

New for 2014, we are proud to sponsor Astellas Cycling in the team's first year as domestic professionals. Get to know the team: 
Name: Thomas Brown

Age: 27

Hometown: Athens, Georgia

How did you start cycling?

I got into cycling in third grade after seeing the Olympic road race in Atlanta.  After that my friends and I would ride mountain bikes around all day jumping off of everything.  The mountain bike phase lasted four or five years.  I got a road bike around middle school and have been doing it ever since then.    

What do you like about cycling?  

I like the sensation above all else.  Cycling gives me a feeling in my body, mind, and soul that I cannot replicate with anything else.  Cycling gives me incredible happiness in how it allows me to explore new places, roads, and see the world.  

What do you not like?  

While I love traveling for races, I really enjoy being home in Athens sleeping in my own bed and cooking in the kitchen.  

What do you do outside of cycling? Jobs, hobbies, family?  

Besides cycling, I am also finishing my graduate degree in Public Health this spring.  I deeply believe in education and that I will be able to combine my experiences with cycling into a life long career in Public Health inspiring people to live healthier and happier.  Besides that, I just got married in January.  My wife is also a professional cyclist and we often train together.  

When did you start riding with Astellas?  

This is my first year with Astellas.  I was with SmartStop-Mountain Khakis for four years before this and Jittery Joes before that.  

How do you feel about becoming a Professional domestic team this year? 

I’m excited to be involved in a new program and hope to use my experience from other years to have fun, get results, and be a part of a cohesive team.  

What type of racing is your “specialty?” 

I definitely have become more focused on criterium racing in the past couple years.  It suits my characteristics and I know the races well.  

What races are you excited for this year? 

Living in Athens Georgia, I cannot help but get excited for Athens Twilight.  This coming year will be the 10^th time I’ve raced it.  The atmosphere at the race is like no other race on the circuit and I totally love it.  

What bike will you be riding this year?  

I will be on a Litespeed L1R.  I’m really excited about the bike.  Growing up in the Southeast, Litespeed was always a major player in the local scene.  I’m happy to finally get aboard one!

Anything else? Tips, tricks, advice?  

My major tip is to keep everything in your life in balance.  Don’t stress about the small things and just relax in general.  

Be sure to follow Thomas Brown on Twiter @tominimo, and follow the Astellas Team @astellascycling

2014 Litespeed C3

Our 2014 Litespeed C3 blends race performance, amazing ride quality, and reliability all at a great price. We made the C3 with 30T carbon fiber, using our Reactive Pressure Molding (RPM) frame technology, and it shares many of the Aerologic features found on the C-Series flagship model, the C1R. We refined and tested the aero seat post, shrouded water bottle mount, and aero tuned cross sections in the wind tunnel in order to give you the aero advantage on roads outside the wind tunnel.


The shrouded water bottle mount on the down tube makes that necessary cargo almost invisible to the wind and the aero tuned downtube morphs every millimeter for maximum aerodynamics. Aero seat stays decrease aerodynamic resistance while adding stability and comfort and a tapered fork with our unique bowed design helps absorb turbulent shock and allows air to zip through for a smooth ride. Our engineers used variable-size tubes for all of the aerodynamic elements in order to maximize performance across the bike's size range.

Our Reactive Pressure Molding (RPM) precisely controls the internal structure and wall thickness of the carbon frame during the manufacturing process; this allows us to use design elements far beyond what can be achieved with conventional bladder molding. The result is a lighter, stiffer, faster bike with incorporated aerodynamic elements without the added weight of filler materials.




The minuscule drag penalty of the external cable routing is far outweighed by the weight saving and
ease of maintenance that the design represents. Not to worry, though. The other C-Series models do come with internal cable routing.

Get To Know Astellas Cycling Team... Hogan Sills

New for 2014, we are proud to sponsor Astellas Cycling in the team's first year as domestic professionals. Get to know the team: 

Name: Hogan Sills

Age: 24 (in May)

Hometown: Champaign, IL

How did you start cycling?

My dad raced as a junior when he was in high school. He picked up racing again about ten years ago, and I started riding and training with him then. After my first race at the age of 15, I was hooked.

What do you like about cycling?

I love the speed, tactics, and the journey of training. 

What do you not like?

Of course, I don’t like to crash. Also, I wish cycling would take off more in the U.S. so riders would be supported more to focus on training and racing.

What do you do outside of cycling? Jobs, hobbies, family? 

I like to snow ski, fish, and do anything outdoors. I also have a degree in civil engineering from Purdue.

When did you start riding with Astellas?

I rode for Astellas two years ago. Last year I moved to a smaller team, but I am excited to be back now.

How do you feel about becoming a Professional domestic team this year? 

It’s very exciting. I always dreamed of riding professionally as a kid and even at a young age I trained hard for this. I’m more motivated than I’ve ever been, and I realize that just because I’m a Pro now, doesn’t make me magically faster. I have to train that much more.

What type of racing is your “specialty?” 

I’ve always had a good sprint, so criteriums are my specialty. I also tend to do well on hilly road courses.

What races are you excited for this year? 

I’m most excited for the North Star Grand Prix, the USPRO National Road Race, and the USPRO National Criterium.

What bike will you be riding this year? 

The L1R.

Anything else? Tips, tricks, advice? 

My philosophy for chasing the Pro dream was to never put all my eggs in one basket. A college degree is the most important investment for your career (probably not cycling), so I always put that first, and then trained for cycling in my free time. It works if you make a schedule and stick to it. There’s a lot of life after cycling, so don’t forget about that in your pursuit of going Pro.

Check out Hogan's blog "Hogan's Heroes" and follow Hogan on Twitter at @hogansills, and don't forget to follow @astellascycling on Twitter and "like" Astellas Cycling on Facebook.

2014 Litespeed L1

Industry-leading, race-ready carbon technology from titanium’s most recognized and trusted brand, our 2014 L1 utilizes every possible material advantage to improve ride-quality and handling while maximizing power-to-pedal quickness and overall agility.







Our long history of material knowledge and expertise has been meshed with fresh frame and bottom bracket technology to create the 2014 L1. Indeed, over four years of development have gone into designing this unique elite, UCI-approved racing bicycle.

The 2014 L1 is loaded with the same frameset features as the L-series flagship, the L1R.  Light, stiff, and performance-ready, no detail was overlooked in the engineering of this model. The L1’s state-of-the-art feature set includes our own Reactive Pressure Molding Construction, BB386 EVO technology- a wide-bearing BB30 system- and a barely UCI -legal 1.125” x 1.5” tapered steerer fork, plus an overall attention to detail and asymmetric design feature set simply not available on other comparable pro-grade bikes.

Multiple asymmetric, shape-specific design features increase performance and enhance stability. At the
front of the frame our proprietary Quadrilateral System creates a box shape that resists braking forces and flex to manage the simultaneous torsional-frontal and lateral-load input from both road and rider. The asymmetric down tube/seat tube junction provides a balanced, efficient drivetrain power transfer. And, overall larger diameter tubing used in the chain stays, seat tube, and down tube means less flex in the bottom bracket area for maximum power transfer to the pedals.

Get to Know Astellas Cycling Team... Michael Pincus

New for 2014, we are proud to sponsor Astellas Cycling in the team's first year as domestic professionals. Get to know the team: 

Name: Michael Pincus

Age: 20

Hometown: Pearland Texas

When did you start cycling?

I started racing in 2007. I was a cross-country runner before I started racing. My dad has already been cyclist for a few years and I decided to give it a try. Since then I have been hooked.

What do you like about cycling?

The places you see, the people you meet, the style of competition.

What do you not like?

It can be expensive. Sharing the road day in and day out with bad drivers can be a worry.

What do you do outside of cycling? Jobs, hobbies, family? 

Right now I am a full time electrical engineering student at the University of Houston. Between studying, racing, and training I like  to be with my friends as much as possible.

When did you start riding with Astellas?

This is going to be my first season with the team, 2014.

How do you feel about becoming a Professional domestic team this year? 

It is really exciting, I know that great opportunities will come from being a domestic professional team and I want to make the most out of it.

What type of racing is your “specialty?” 

Long hard races that typically come down to a small group, stage races, and wet criteriums.

What races are you excited for this year? 

I am excited for all the races right now. Majority of the calendar are new races I have yet to do. I know from past experiences that Tulsa Tough will be a blast.

What bike will you be riding this year? 

Litespeed T1

Anything else? Tips, tricks, advice? 

Stay in school, take opportunities that are presented to you, and have as much fun as possible.

Don't forget to follow @astellascycling and @Pincus1 on Twitter, and check out Michael's blog.

2014 Litespeed M3

Nothing short of pure Litespeed legendary ride
quality, the M3 stacks an incredible value-add feature and component set onto an elite unidirectional monocoque 24T carbon frame.

With an all-new frame design and graphics for 2014, the re-designed M3 arrives complete with Shimano 105 components, Easton bar/stem/ seatpost combo, and Real Design wheelset. We loaded the elite unidirectional monocoque 24T carbon frame with features not normally found at this price point and engineered the bike for a quick, snappy feel out of the saddle and maximum performance when climbing or sprinting.




Frame technology includes a box-section profile at the oversized PF30 bottom bracket to ensure optimum power transfer, while the unique design of the downtube improves aerodynamics for decreased drag and further improved performance. The tapered headtube provides precise handling and front end stiffness. Fun and fast for a solid day of racing or training, our M3 is ready to take anything your next ride can throw at them.


Fans of the Litespeed brand will also recognize a familiar attention to detail in both frame geometry and overall build specificiations, including the Shimano 105 drivetrain and an aero-shaped down tube design. Unlike any off-the-shelf bike from the mass-market manufacturers, the M3 arrives with both classic Litespeed styling and proven ride-quality derived from decades of thoughtful and innovative bicycle design.