Drapac Professional Cycling looks ahead to 2016 with a keen focus on further development of its global race program. Racing on five continents in 2015, Drapac Cycling will look to enhance the 2015 race schedule and expand its diverse roster of riders.

The Australian UCI Professional Continental Team has recorded nine wins this season to date and made debuts at the World Tour Events in Montreal and Quebec this past week, as well as had its first start at the iconic Amgen Tour of California in May.

“With the UCI Professional Continental license application for 2016 being finalized, we are looking towards 2016 with a strong set of goals. In 2015, we focused on key aspects with the team and found great success. The 2016 racing program will grow with a push into the Middle East and South America, and will look to add an additional World Tour event. We will expand on this year’s success and further develop the decade long foundation that is Drapac Cycling,” Jonathan Breekveldt, General Manager, said.

Joining the Drapac roster for 2016 is Jens Mouris. A strong and dynamic rider with World Tour racing experience, Mouris will be an integral part of the team and its 2016 tactics.

“We are all really pleased to have signed Jens for 2016. He is another rider who I believe will fit in well culturally with our team, and his racing experience is a great addition to our roster. Our key focus for 2016 will be a continued upward trajectory as a team, and I firmly believe that Jens will play a significant part in our success in the future, “ Tom Southam, Sports Director, said.

Drapac Professional Cycling has had an action packed 2015 season, with significant growth. Drapac Cycling’s 2015 program began with a bang earning its first UCI World Tour Stage win at the Santos Tour Down Under, then racked up wins at Jayco Herald Sun Tour and Tour of Taiwan before a podium filled debut at the Amgen Tour of California. A recent victory in the finale stage at Tour of Utah earned Drapac its first U.S. win.

“We came into 2015 with a keen focus on a North American campaign. As with any race program, you learn from each tour, what works for your program, what you can do better. We found great success in 2015 and we will use those experiences to further our success in 2016,” Southam said. “We have a young, yet strong and experienced roster and will make some key additions for 2016.”

Another new face to the Drapac roster is young Australian talent Jason Lowndes. Lowndes spent this season riding in Canada for the continental squad Garneau – Québecor .

“We are delighted to have Jason on board. He has had his first real year as a full time rider this year, and he was a consistent winner in the North American races. I think that he has a huge amount of talent, and he could develop into a really strong rider over the next two years,” Southam said.

Re-signing with Drapac for his 6th season is the versatile Travis Meyer, an experienced rider and team leader for the Drapac program on and off the racecourse.

“Travis has been a key member of the team this year after recovering from a serious accident in 2014, and he has found a really good place for himself in this team. He is a consummate professional and a real asset to have in our line up at almost any race we take part in. As such, he was one of our key signings going forward and we are delighted to have him on board,” Southam added.

In preparing for 2016, Drapac Cycling plans to keep an extensive North American race block in the schedule as well as a mid season training camp in the US. Drapac Cycling will start the 2016 season with a training camp in Australia prior to tentative season opener Santos Tour Down Under.

“Our riders have enjoyed racing the US tours and we plan to again focus on stage wins at the major events including in the US,” Southam added. “We are an international team and look to races with international exposure for our title sponsor, Drapac Group.”

Drapac Cycling also expanded its Transition Program in recent months, naming Stuart Canavan as Wellbeing Director.

“Drapac Cycling has always had a balanced approach to professional cycling and we have continued to further our commitment to our riders and making sure that the ethos that the team was founded on kept up with your growth on the race course,” Breekveldt added.