Aevolo Pro Cycling takes on the first UCI race of 2018 and the true start of the spring campaign this Thursday through Sunday (April 12-15) at the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The four-stage race consists of two punchy road races, a short uphill time trial, and one of the hardest criteriums in the US. Thursday’s road race tackles a new, 113-mile course with a steep and technical final 3-kilometer finishing kick back into town. Friday sees the team take on the same 109 miles of rolling terrain as last year’s first road stage. The weekend brings shorter, more intense efforts with a three-mile uphill time trial through the aptly named Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday and a technical, punchy downtown criterium on Sunday.

 

Laurent Gervais, who placed sixth place in a chaotic and rain-soaked edition of the criterium in 2017 said Joe Martin is always the first test of the season and as a team.

 

“I’m excited to see how we can manage to build a good chemistry early on,” Gervais added. “More individually, this race is great opportunity to see how the form is at this point.”

 

Lining up alongside Gervais are Tyler Stites, Jason Saltzman, Lance Haidet, Nick McKey, Denzel Stephenson and Alex Hoehn.  Hoehn recently led the team to its first ever stint in the yellow jersey and victory in the best young rider competition at the Chico Stage Race.

 

Stites said he is looking forward to returning to Joe Martin after racing here for the first-time last year.

 

“This is my first target race for the year,” Stites said. “I think it suits both the team’s and my personal characteristics. Having done well here as a team last year in our first race ever, I am excited to see what we can accomplish this year.”

 

The team echoes Tyler’s enthusiasm and looks to improve on last year’s results, which included a top ten overall, second in the best young rider competition, and three top ten stage placings.