Alec Cowan joins Silber Pro Cycling for 2017 season

November 11th 2016 - Silber Pro Cycling is pleased to announce the signing of Alexander Cowan for the 2017 season. Cowan won the U23 ITT National Championships and later came 12th at the U23 ITT World Championships. Other significant 2016 results include an 11th overall at the Tour of Berlin, where he finished 8th in the TT, and an impressive 6th at Eschborn–Frankfurt. In 2016, Cowan raced with Canada’s Race Clean team.

The addition of Cowan adds a second National ITT champion to a roster that already contains Canada’s Elite TT champ in Ryan Roth. “We signed Alec early,” explained Silber’s GM, Scott McFarlane. “I wanted to protect our team’s ‘engine room’ with the anticipated movement of Matteo Dal-Cin and Alex Cataford to larger programs. Both those guys are strong time trialists capable of extended work on the front of the peloton. In Cowan we get an exceptional time trialist but also a rider with a lot of punch, so he’ll have opportunities while contributing to our endgame.”

Cowan, who raced primarily in Europe last year, is looking forward to being part of Silber and the team’s supportive environment. “I’m excited to start a new stage in my career on the North American circuit,” said Cowan. “I know lots of good results are to come!”

The signing of Cowan along with junior phenom Nickolas Zukowsky signals Silber’s commitment to developing young Canadian riders. “Yes, our team will be young this year and I anticipate some growing pains,” said McFarlane. “But remember, both riders were at Worlds this year. Zukowsky was on the podium at Ronde des Vallées and 4th at Abitibi. Cowan’s 12th at Worlds was the best finish for a U23 Canadian in the ITT since David Veilleux came 10th in 2009–and Cowan is only 19 years old. My point is that our “young” riders have experience in Europe, have raced on the big stage, and have results that put their development on par with the best riders our country has produced. In sum, 2017 is coming together very nicely.”