L39ION of Los Angeles has bolstered its 2023 roster with the signings of US pro road race champion Kyle Murphy and Tour of Britain stage winner Robin Carpenter. Both riders will move on from Human Powered Health at the end of this year and have spent the past five seasons with the U.S. pro team.

Murphy added a flourish to his career this year by winning the stars and stripes jersey at the USA Cycling Pro Road Race Championships, where five HPH teammates, including Carpenter, finished in the top 18 in the 186.1 km race.

Human Powered Health has recently added World Tour talent to its team, including Barnabas Peake (Intermarque Wanty-Gobert) and Gijs Van Hocke (AG2R Citroen), and continues to focus on racing in Europe. According to Murphy, the move from a professional team to L39LION was not a setback, but merely an opportunity.

"I am motivated and excited to reconnect with American fans and American racing. In the long run, I have always wanted to return to racing in the United States. I know there are people out there who would love to see the National Champion jersey on the World Tour, and I understand that. I want to bring this jersey home and show it off and feel good about it," Murphy told Cycling News.

"At this point in my career, I'm a little more able to give back. So I'm really interested in the camps and group rides that the L39ON team organizes."

Murphy said it is special to continue racing with a teammate like Carpenter. Carpenter is a great teammate because they have supported each other in big races, such as the national title in Knoxville and last year's solo win at the Tour of Britain over Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers).

"I've been there for some of his big successes and he's been there for me, like the All Japan Road Race. The whole team gathered at the Gay Street Bridge to hug and enjoy the moment. We know how to play to each other's strengths. We know how to play to each other's strengths, and it's a lot of fun. He's super analytical and a great guy to be with."

Carpenter will enter his 12th professional season next year, including stage race wins at the Cascades and Joe Martin in 2017, the Winston-Salem Classic He has had success in road races, criteriums, and gravel, finishing sixth in the 2021 Unbound Gravel 200. He began considering other career options midway through the year, stating on social media that he "needs a little more inspiration down the road."

"I am really excited to move on to a new competitive challenge next year with L39LION. Plus, I feel really lucky to be back in the US and racing for a team that is at the forefront of showing the world how great the American racing scene is," Carpenter told Cycling News once the new team was confirmed.

"L39ON is definitely one of the coolest teams out there right now and I'm excited to be a part of it. I don't know the team's official schedule yet, but if the schedule allows, I'll be dabbling in gravel events like I did with Unbound in 2021."

The US pair will be reunited with former teammate Ty Magner, who is expected to compete in L39ION for a third year.Magner, the 2018 US Pro Criterium National champion, won five major crits in the US this year and was He was fourth. And for Murphy, he will be reunited with L39ION co-founder Justin Williams.

"Ty is one of my best teammates. He's just a bright motivator and really knows how to get the best out of his teammates. I was actually teammates with Justin [Williams] at Cylance back in the day. He knows how to get the most out of people and he understands how to motivate them," Murphy said, noting that at the World Championships in Australia, his American teammate Skyler Schneider commented on the family-like atmosphere of the L39LION team. He stated that he was impressed by the comments made.

"Skylar Schneider was also at the World Championships and it was inspiring to talk with her about the vibrancy and fun of the team. Skylar Schneider was also at the World Championships, and it was inspiring to talk with her about the vibrancy and fun of the team. Because of the way the pro road calendar works, I have never even met most of the women in Human Powered Health. So I'm looking forward to a more realistic racing environment.

Murphy, a year older than Carpenter, turned pro from amateur eight years ago and broke into the Circuit Sports program three years later.

"I was so grateful to get that contract, it was like a dream come true. They were dominant in the U.S. and to have the opportunity to race with them was very exciting," Murphy said of his 2018 contract with Rally Cycling at the time. "Soon the program became focused on Europe, and it was exciting to have the opportunity to race over there. Now I just want to race in the United States. I'm feeling motivated

"I feel like I have the strength and energy to handle wherever Justin [Williams] sends me. The game is just beginning."

L39LION representatives said they would make further roster announcements in the coming weeks.