Founding and Mission (2010)

Our program, as Team Mike's Bikes, was formed in the fall of 2010 with an ambitious goal: to elevate the Northern California racing scene while proving that a new level of teamwork, professionalism, and excitement that could set the standard for domestic racing. From the start, the program's mission has been to develop, inspire, and nurture the happiness and potential of the next generation of racers, on and off the bike. That philosophy took shape under a founding leadership of Mike's Bikes co-owner Matt Adams, team director Steve Pelaez, and longtime rider Dana Williams, all of whose influence shaped the culture that still defines the program.

Early Growth and Local Dominance (2010–2013)

The team established itself quickly as a force in Northern California. By 2012, the team had recorded more than 50 victories and stood as the strongest Elite team in the district, capping the year by winning the season-long Northern California Premier Series title with a dominant 1-2-3 showing at the Giro di San Francisco. Building on that start, the 2013 roster paired established professionals, notably Daniel Holloway and Roman Kilun, with rising talents like James LaBerge, a blend of experience and development that would come to define the program.

Daniel Holloway would dominate the initial half of 2013 with wins at the Sea Otter Classic, Berkeley Hills Road Race, Merco Classic, and the Cat’s Hill Criterium. With those stellar results he would once again turn professional in Europe with Amore & Vita.

Breakthrough: The First National Championship (2014)

Then, the development philosophy of the team began producing national champions. In 2014, James LaBerge won the USA Cycling U23 Men's Criterium National Championship in Madison, Wisconsin, the program's first national title. It was a landmark moment for the Nor Cal based program, proof that it could develop riders for the highest level of American racing. That year, James also shocked the star studded professional field winning the opening stage of the Chico Stage Race. On the strength of those results, LaBerge turned pro the following season with Champion System.

The team would built on that championship depth. That same year, Walton Brush earned a bronze medal in the Men's Elite Road Race National Championship, while on the home front Roman Kilun took individual honors as Team Mike's Bikes claimed the team title in the NCNCA Premier Series. After the 2014 season Walton turned professional with iRT Pro Cycling, while James turned pro with Champion Systems.

A Watershed Year (2015)

2015 was the program's major breakthrough on the national stage. At the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships in North Lake Tahoe, Colin Daw won the Elite Men's Road Race after a long, wind-battered course through Sierraville and Truckee. It was a team result as much as an individual one: Chris Riekert, Max Korus, Roman Kilun, and Nate English all played key roles executing the race plan, positioning Colin to win rather than simply racing as individuals; all five finished in the top 10. 

At the same Nationals, Max Korus added a second title, winning the Elite Men's Time Trial with a record-breaking ride, he crossed the line in 47 minutes and 22 seconds, an unofficial national record for the 40k. He backed that championship with an equally impressive win in the time trial of the Cascade Cycling Classic. Max ended the season by participating in the UCI World Championships and turned professional the following year with Israel Cycling Academy. 

Spotlight on Gavin Hlady

Gavin Hlady, a Sunnyvale, California native, is one of the clearest recent examples of what the program is built to produce. His breakthrough came at the 2023 Redlands Bicycle Classic, one of the most prestigious stage races on the American calendar. In the legendary Sunset Road Race, the race's decisive final stage, Hlady rode a brilliant race and finished second behind professional Robin Carpenter of L39ION of Los Angeles, with Riley Sheehan of the Denver Disruptors third. Hlady led the chase group home and stood on the final stage podium in one of the hardest, most selective races of the domestic season. Gavin would go on to win the Pescadero Road Race and take 2nd in the U23 Criterium National Championship.

That result helped put him on the radar of the professional development system. He moved to Aevolo Cycling for 2024 and, that August, was called up as a stagiaire with EF Education-EasyPost, the team's WorldTour squad. For 2025, he joined EF Education-Aevolo, the U23 development team EF built as a direct bridge to its WorldTour roster.

For Team Mike's Bikes, Hlady's story captures the complete arc the program was built around: a young Northern California racer joins the team, breaks through in elite domestic racing, and climbs step by step toward the WorldTour.

Building a Pipeline

By this point, the team had grown into something larger than an elite racing team, it had become a genuine development pipeline. The program came to be known nationally as the place giving riders a path at every stage of their careers. Young racers learned from experienced teammates, competed at the top of domestic racing, and, for some, moved on to professional careers. Others, not destined for the pro peloton, tested their limits in the sport and made lifelong memories.

Max Korus, James LaBerge, Walton Brush, and Gavin Hlady all progressed from this program into the professional ranks. Gavin is the most recent example: after racing for the team in 2023, he joined Aevolo Cycling for 2024, was called up that August as a stagiaire with the WorldTour team EF Education-EasyPost, and moved into EF's own U23 development squad, EF Education-Aevolo, for 2025, and will ride with the EF Education World Tour squad in 2027. 

Rising Stars (2027)

Redwood racing is perfectly positioned to build on this legacy in 2027 with a new crop of young and hungry U23’s:

Yoann Perrodin is a 19-year-old mountain-bike racer specializing in cross-country (XCO/XCC). 2026 was his first year racing on the road and he proved himself to be a natural. In that time he placed 5th overall in the Tour De Bloom, 3rd in the Baker City Stage Race and finished 2nd in the Berkeley Hills Road Race. Of the bike, Yoann is an engineer at Bimotal in Berkeley.

Sebastian Koster is a 19-year-old road cyclist from from San Francisco. He progressed rapidly through junior and U23 racing. In 2025, he rode for the Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team, competing internationally in European junior stage races as well as the U.S. junior championships. In 2026, he moved to our team, recording several strong domestic results, including 3rd place to the Baker City Stage Race criterium and winning Golden State Omnium time-trial. Off the bike, Sebastian starts UC Berkeley in the fall of 2026.

Aaron Leopold is a 19-year-old road and gravel racer from San Francisco. Aaron is new to cycling and is only in his 2nd year. Previously he was a top downhill ski racer. In 2026, he built a strong local results record in road races and impressed in the Grasshopper Gravel Series. For 2027, Aaron will combine building road racing experience with a focus on the u23 Lifetime Gran Prix. Off the bike, Aaron is a sophomore student at UC Berkeley.

Coming Full Circle

The pathway has also run in the other direction. Sean Bennett arrived to the team as an established WorldTour rider, having raced for EF Education First and EF Pro Cycling in 2019 and 2020 and for Team Qhubeka NextHash in 2021 — a career that included three Grand Tour starts. In 2024, he returned to Northern California racing with Team Mike's Bikes p/b Equator Coffees.

Bennett's return says something important about the program. This team is not only a launching pad for young riders on their way to the professional ranks. It is also a place riders who have raced at the top of the sport can return to, contribute to, and mentor from. Riders develop here, turn pro, gain experience at the highest level, and some bring that experience home.

Like Sean, Roman Kilun also found a home with the team after a career in the pro peloton. After riding for teams like Health Net p/b Maxxis, OUCH p/b Maxxis, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis, and Kenda-5-Hour Energy Cycling Teams he “retired” in 2013 to focus on his law career, but he was not ready to hang up the cleats. Joining the team gave him an opportunity to continue racing at a high level and to mentor the next generation of American cyclists. As the years progressed, his passion has shifted towards sustaining the program, its management, and building community around it.