H&R Block is the main sponsor of the new continental team in Canada launches M1 Pro Cycling 2015, a project that plans to take more steps to become a Professional Continental or WorldTour team.

M1 aims to become a reference of the Canadian cycling. The creation of the UCI Continental team in 2015 is just the first step. The general manager Mark Ernsting plans to add a women's team and become Pro Continental or WorldTour between 2018 and 2020.

"H&R Block Canada gives us the opportunity to take the first step in professional cycling with a continental UCI license for 2015," says Ernsting. "We are very excited to have them on this project. They have supported the sport for more than seven years at the amateur level. Now it is fantastic that they have committed to participate in the project. M1 Pro Cycling will launch the first phase of the project with the creation of UCI Continental team in 2015.”

"We look at the long term, not a four-year cycle. We want to improve the younger riders, 19 to 20 years old, while looking to an older generation, 26 years and over," notes Ernsting referring to his global vision. Norco Bicycles, Pearl Izumi and Shimano are the technical suppliers.

The former national champions Garrett McLeod and Stuart Wight lead the team in 2015, which also features two foreigners, Nathan Elliot (Australia) and Jure Rupnik (Slovenia). Adam de Vos, Bailey McKnight, Felix Cote Bouvette, Garrett McLeod, James Piccoli, Jure Rupnik, Nathan Elliott, Ryan MacDonald, Stuart and Travis Samuel Wight form the rest of the team.

The team calendar starts in the San Dimas Stage Race in California in late March, to continue at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, first test of the US national calendar. Other objects will be the Tour de Beauce, National Championships and the Cascade Cycling Classic.