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ABOUT DCBANK

A bank dedicated to meeting the evolving payment needs of its clients.

Founded in 2007, DCBank is a Schedule 1 Canadian chartered bank. Our mission is to provide innovative payment and banking solutions to our clients. Our proprietary solutions offer our clients efficiency, flexibility and convenience when it comes to their banking and payments needs. DCBank works closely with its clients, providing personalized service and customized programs that deliver increased value and competitive advantages to our clients.

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Say Hello to the Team

Jean-Denis Thibault

Climber

Racing Age: 21
Nationality: CAN
Home Town: Québec
Strength: Climber

Carrier Highlights:
– 10th at 2018 National Championships - Road Race (U23 Classification)
– 1st at Stage 1 (Prologue) of GP de la Matapédia (National Level Stage Race) and 4th in General Classification.
– 10th General Classification at Tour de l'Abitibi (N.Cup) 2016

I was born in Québec City and I grew up doing a lot of sports. In my childhood, I was speed skater but also cyclist and it's only at the age of 15 years old that I stopped skating to focus on cycling. Now I'm heading to my third year as a U23 and I'm ready to use all the experience I got in the past two years to get some results! I'm also someone who loves traveling and one of my dream is to visit as many countries as I can in my life!

Eugenio Mirafuentes

Climber

Racing Age: 19 years
Nationality: Mexican
Home Town: Nuevo Leon, México

Carrier Highlights:
-KOM Jersey on Junior UCI Nations Cup, France 2017
-4th place stage 2 Junior UCI Nations Cup, Swiss 2017
-Scratch Elite National Champion 2018

I’m a young guy from northern Mexico that lives his passion for cycling every day. I like to travel all over the world racing against the best. I share this passion with music and soon I will start my university career. My dream is to become World Tour cyclist and carry my country’s flag in the most important races.

Jake Cullen

Climber, Breakaways

Racing Age: 23
Nationality: Canadian
Home Town: Vancouver, BC
Strength: Climber, Breakaways

Career Highlights: 2017 Zwift Academy Semi-Finalist, Win from 100km Solo Break at Race the Ridge 2017,

I’m currently finishing my final year of my bachelors degree in political science and international relations at SFU. I’d definitely consider myself somewhat of a coffee snob, and I really enjoy the process of brewing a good cup of coffee. I like to spend my free time taking in the beauty of nature, and always appreciate getting to enjoy new and unfamiliar landscapes.

Jure Rupnik

Allrounder/Sprinter

Age: 26
Nationality: Slovenia
Home town: Logatec/Weyburn last 5y

Carrier Highlights
– Delta RR UCI 1.2- 6th
– Tour of China2 stage4 UCI 2.1 - 8th place
– Tour of Hainan stage5 UCI 2.HC- 9th place
– Hong Kong Cyclothone challenge UCI1.1- 17th place

About myself.
Always smiling and generally happy person.I like discipline in what I do. Always been involved in sports (basketball, hockey). Before cycling I was a competitive skier. I like traveling and cooking! Not afraid of speed and crazy stage finishes.

Thomas Schellenberg

All rounder

Racing age: 19
Nationality: CAN
Hometown: Chilliwack

Career Highlights: Top Canadian at 2018 Junior Road Worlds, 2nd - 2018 National Criterium Championships (Junior), Top junior at 2018 Redlands Bicycle Classic

Some other info: Ever since showing up to a local group ride in sweat-pants and a puffy jacket on a poor excuse for a cruiser bike in January of 2016, I have been hooked on riding my bike. It has been a tremendously steep learning curve from then on, and it continues to be. While I'm not racing or riding my bike, I enjoy building and flying radio controlled airplanes. I also enjoy working with CAD systems and making all manner of different objects with CNC machines.

Travis Samuel

General Classification, Time Trailist

Racing Age: 25
Nationality: Canadian
Home Town: Peterborough, Ontario

Carrier Highlights: 7th Canadian Nationa ITT 2018, Wore best young rider jersey at Volta a Portugal, 9th Hong Kong Road Race, 10th/3rd U25 GC Tour of Tahiu Lake, Current Ontario Provincial Champion

I'm currently studying at Trent University for a double major in business and economics. I enjoy reading up on the stock market and listing to EDM(electric dance music) in my spare time.

Joshua Kropf

Allrounder

Racing age: 23
Nationality: Canadian
Hometown: Langley, BC

Career Highlights: 2010 U15 national TT champion, 2015 Saskatchewan provincial criterium champion, 2018 British Columbia road champion.

You will often find me coming up with some new crazy business ideas. I have a passion for life and being able to do what I love; cycling. I enjoy the more than occasional coffee and treasure time with my wife and our dog. I am very grateful for everyone involved helping me get here, and for this opportunity to be apart of this team. I’m looking forward, and working harder then ever to help do my part in achieving success.

Antoine Leplingard

Time Trials / General Classifications

Age: 24
Nationality : French
Home Town : La Roche-sur-Yon (France)

Career Highlights :
- 1st Tour de la Manche stage1 (2017)
- 1st GC Tour de Mareuil Verteillac (U23 French Cup 2015)
- 4th France U23 National Championship Time Trial (2015)

I got a degree in IT. My hobbies : Training, exploring the world, and I am also a big NBA fan. Getting involved in DC Bank Pro Cycling Team for the 2019 season is an awesome opportunity. The team will allow me to live my dream; racing on some of the biggest races all around the world.

Greg Daniel

GC

Racing Age: 25
Nationality: USA
Home Town: Denver, CO

Carrier Highlights: USA Pro Road Race Champion 2016, Tour of Utah KOM winner 2015, Tour de Beauce stage win and GC win

I’ve been racing for over 10 years now and am enjoying it more and more with each passing day. My goal is to be able to give back through the sport in any way I can. Whether that is trying to help this next generation succeed, inspiring people to get on bikes, or simply just spreading joy and compassion to others. God has given me the ability to ride a bike and I ride in His name.

“I’m extremely excited to join DC Bank for 2019 and be able to compete again for the top spot on the podium in every race. To be able to have a chance at winning races is what I’ve been craving and I’ll be happy to pursue that next season. I’m also looking forward to mentoring and guiding some of the other riders to the top of the sport. If I can help the team rise up and grow, I will view my season as a success. This upcoming season I’m focusing on helping my teammates achieve their dreams while being able to find my opportunities to succeed.``

Emiliano Mirafuentes

Sprinter

The current U23 Mexican National Road Champion, Pan Am Points Race Champion and stage winner at Tour de l’Abitibi. “My goal with the team is to start in a good way our pro career. I am very thankful with the team because they are not putting pressure on us at all, but the completely opposite, they are showing us the path to be successful as cyclists and human beings,” said Emiliano.

Marko Pavlic

Climber

A rider who proved himself over the last few months of the 2018 season as a late signing to the H&R Block Pro Cycling Team placing 3rd at Tour of Quanzhou Bay, 6th at Tour of Fuzhou, 7th Tour of Fuzhou and in 2015 was 7th U23 at Course de la Paix. “Thank you for having me on the team for the next season! I’m really grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to being a strong GC contender through my climbing skills and working hard with my teammates,” expressed Pavlic.

Team Gallery

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors guide the M1 Pro Cycling project in legal, accounting and business advice, as well as direct oversight in the projects budget, that in return provides full transparency, ensuring sponsors and members associated with the team that the program is operated professionally.

Carl Jacobson

Co-Founder & Partner | Synergy Business Lawyers

Carl was an elite level cyclist, placing top ten at several Canadian National Road Championships. Carl was a founding member of the Kona-Adobe cycling team and brings a strong business and legal background to the M1 Project.

Gary Clarke

Partner | Stikeman Elliott LLP

Gary is a former competitive cyclist and founding member of the amateur H&R Block cycling team. Gary supports the M1 Project with strategic advice and guidance, and connects it with both the cycling and business communities.

Paul Blanchette

Director of Finance | ARC'TERYX

Paul is a former competitive cyclist and founding member of the Kona-Adobe cycling team. Paul brings a strong financial background to the M1 Project.

Todd McCallum

VP of Digital Solutions & Business Development | H&R Block Canada

Todd is a founding member of the amateur H&R Block cycling team and a former competitive cyclist himself. Todd’s background in business development provides the M1 Project with significant sponsor relationship opportunities.

Management Team

M1 Pro Cycling is the foundation behind the M1 Project that is dedicated to establishing Canada’s most comprehensive road cycling platform. A platform that brings Canada’s most talented and influential leaders in sport and business together to create the ultimate structure that will ensure the program will be sustainable in every respect for current and future generations.

Susie Ernsting

CEO

Susie will provide the expertise required in establishing Canada’s most prominent professional cycling program. Her goal is to provide a platform that will allow every aspiring Canadian cyclist the chance to race at the highest level on the international stage. With over 20-years of cycling specific experience; competing internationally for Team Canada, as well as owning and operating a successful sports management business, M1 Sports Management, that specializes in cycling properties, it’s assured that Susie will bring the right mix of individuals together that will work as a team, resulting in winning performances.

“I want to aspire Canadians to – Join the Team – whether it’s a sponsor that will benefit from the marketing opportunities that the program will provide, an athlete who wants to one day compete in the biggest races in the world, or the person who enjoys the sport recreationally and wants to support the team as a fan”.

Maxime Martin

Director Sportif

Maxime Martin joined the team as Director Sportif, hailing from Saint Amand, France, Maxime is an experienced racer and director with teams spanning the globe. Maxime started his racing career in France  where the “climbing specialist” earned himself a professional contract in Asia on OCBC Singapore.

After retirement from the sport, Maxime transitioned his focus to the management side of the team, helping manage French riders transition to Japanese professional cycling teams.

“My goal is to help elevate the teams profile by using my networks in both Europe and Asia to expand our race calendar and instilling a European cycling culture into this amazing Canadian team.”

Joyce Chiang

Team Logistics

Joyce’s has an extensive background in athlete logistics with IOC recognized national sports federations. This brings tremendous value to the M1 Project as she oversees the team’s travel, race registration and accommodation logistics.

“Becoming a part of the new M1 Project is an opportunity that excites me as an athlete, a fan of the sport and a Canadian. I love sport, I believe in what it can do to inspire, motivate and energize a nation.

Cycling is a sport that is able to inspire and move people on a level that no other sport can through our cities, towns and countryside as it’s “playing field. We watch our heroes in front of us, competing on the very roads we commute, train, or racing on. I see huge potential in Canadian cycling. Cycling is one of our country’s fastest growing recreational sports and M1 has a unique opportunity to be both a pioneer in developing Canadian cycling at a grassroots level and to launch Canadian cycling onto a global stage.”

Our Advisors

The Advisory Team is designed to help promote and advise the management team of the M1 Pro Cycling project in each of their respective fields of expertise. The advisors will consist of three types of members: Former Elite Cyclists, Former Elite Athletes from another sport and Business Leaders – with the one commonality among them – that they have a passion for the sport of cycling.

Alex Stieda

Senior Client Executive | DXC Technology

Alex is the first North American to wear the Yellow Jersey in the 1986 Tour de France. On the same day, Alex also retained the coveted polka dot, multi-coloured, the red and the white jerseys. Alex also represented Canada at the 1984 Olympic Games and will assist the M1 Project with his significant connections in the cycling industry.

Dr. Jack Taunton

Retired Professor, Faculty & Director | Sports Medicine UBC & Fortius Institute of Sports Med

Dr. Taunton was the Team Canada’s Medical Officer for the Olympic Games in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 2000. He was also the Chief Medical Officer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Dr. Taunton will be instrumental in providing the necessary framework and physiological testing requirements for the M1 Project.

Pierre Hutsebaut

Peak Centre Montreal | Continental Advisor UCI America Tour

Pierre was the Technical Road Manager for the 1976 Olympic Games and became the Canadian Nationals Team Coach in 1982. Pierre has also been the Director of the National Racing Program and Executive Director of Cycling Canada. Since 2005, Pierre has been appointed as the International Cycling Union America Tour Advisor. Pierre looks to bring his diverse cycling experience to the M1 Project.

Ron Hayman

Owner | Hayman Sport

Ron was one of Canada’s first athletes to turn professional in the late 70’s as 1 of 7 founding members of the Schwinn 7-Eleven cycling team. Ron competed at the 1972 & 1976 Olympic Games and was runner up on the list of the 10 most important Canadian Cyclists in the 20th Century. Ron is passionate to introduce the sport to juniors and this aligns with the long term vision of the M1 Project.

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