Best Buddies International announced today that it will "retire" its Best Buddies Racing (open in new tab) program after two years of supporting elite men's teams in the United States with more than 30 wins (open in new tab) at the end of its current 2022 contract.

Best Buddies Racing has been a dominant force on the American criterium racing scene, topping the men's team standings in the 10-race American Criterium Cup (open in new tab). The team won the team title in the final event held in early September as part of the Bommarito Audi Gateway Cup, with two riders, Alfredo Rodriguez and Bryan Gomez, finishing third and fourth overall in the individual points competition, respectively.

"Best Buddies has retired from the racing team to promote its mission of one-on-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while engaging diverse, positive, and new riders in a more inclusive We will shift our focus to building a cycling community," a statement from the management team said.

They will shift resources from bike racing to bike riding, with an emphasis on a new ambassador program that includes Chris Froome (opens in new tab) (Israel Premier Tech) and Tom Pidcock (opens in new tab) (Ineos Grenadiers) Shift resources away from bike racing to bike riding. Cycling News has learned that the World Tour duo will participate in the Best Buddies Challenge event on November 18 in Miami, Fla. [Anthony K. Schreiber, founder, chairman and CEO of Best Buddies International, founded in 1989, said, "For the past two years, the Best Buddies Racing team has been working to raise awareness of the Best Buddies mission through inclusion and enthusiasm has built a strong foundation. [In addition to exciting new developments that complement the Best Buddies Challenges and Best Buddies Breakaway Camp cycling initiatives, led by four-time Tour de France winners Chris Froome and Tom Pidcock, the new We look forward to the launch of the Pro Cyclist Ambassadors Initiative.

The Breakaway Camp will be held September 21-25 in Asheville, NC, and the Best Buddies Challenge will take place October 15 in Marin, CA. There will also be a Cycling Adventure, which will "enable a more inclusive cycling experience and give event participants and supporters the opportunity to engage and interact with pro ambassadors like Froome and Pidcock." Further details will be announced in the future, according to the nonprofit.

The team has been in the spotlight beyond bike racing this summer, getting involved in controversy at the July 16 Salt Lake Criterium in Utah's capital, the midway point in the 10-race American Criterium Cup series. Aggressive racing behavior between riders from Best Buddies Racing and L39ON of Los Angeles led to a post-race fistfight that resulted in multiple fines and suspensions.

A week-long investigation led to three riders, Michael Hernandez and Robert Sierra of Best Buddies Racing and Justin Williams of L39LION of Los Angeles, for "violent conduct between riders" and "unsportsmanlike conduct." violations of USA Cycling rules were investigated. Hernandez, team captain of the Best Buddies team, accepted a reduced three-month suspension and 16 hours of community service, while Sierra accepted a one-month suspension and eight hours of community service. Williams did not receive his original five-month suspension and community service after exercising his right to a hearing; his suspension from the USA Cycling competition went into effect on July 25.

"I am extremely proud of what the Best Buddies Racing team has been able to accomplish over the past two years," Hernandez said in a press release. "The team's success on the bike speaks for itself, but what moved me the most was that each and every team member fully embraced the mission of Best Buddies and truly cared about each and every participant who came out to support them at the race."

A Best Buddies International spokesperson stated that the athletes are free to sign with other teams for the 2023 season.

A spokesperson for Best Buddies International said the players are free to sign with other teams for the 2023 season. Among the riders on the roster this season were Hernandez, who won the amateur criterium national title; Ada Nesek, a college criterium national champion; and Curtis White, who finished 12th at the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, the top American male finisher.