Team ISN Announcement:

  • ISN continues its build-up towards a GC run in the coming years
  • Added two riders: TT specialist Patrick Bevin and promising young talent Sebastian Berwick

Tel Aviv, August 10, 2020

Team Israel Start-Up Nation continues its build-up towards a GC run in the coming years and has signed time trial specialist, Patrick Bevin and the promising young climber, Sebastian Berwick.

Last week ISN already signed Norwegian Carl Fredrik Hagen and South-African Daryl Impey to strengthen its squad towards the 2021-season.

“We are investing both in the present with an experienced, proven rider who can make an immediate impact (Bevin), and in our future with a rider who shows great potential to develop, race and learn from riders like Froome and Martin (Berwick),” said ISN manager Kjell Carlstrom.

New Zealander Patrick Bevin, who just signed with ISN for two years, has ridden in the WorldTour for the past five. He started his WT career with Cannondale-Drapac, then moved to BMC and CCC, where he has ridden for the last two seasons. He is best known for his TT prowess, finishing fourth in the world championship last year. “I love the discipline and everything that goes with it,” explained Bevin. “I have an internal drive to improve and race against the clock; and I want to get the best out of myself in time trials wearing the ISN colors.” But he quickly added that he can be much more versatile, “I always want to be an asset to the team on the road. With an ever-expanding program and the goals that come with it, my range of abilities will allow me to contribute to putting ISN in the spotlight as much as possible.”

That’s precisely how ISN sees Bevin’s ability to improve the team.

Carlstrom explained by saying, “In the last few years, Patrick has shown that he has great potential to perform both in short stage races and TTs. We believe he will be an important piece in building the support structure around Chris, and at the same time, he’ll also get his own chances in other races. We believe he will also prove valuable in races where he hasn’t previously had the opportunity to go for results.”

Bevin added, “The team is ambitious. There is a desire to grow and contest the world’s biggest races, and that ambition is alluring. This progressive attitude, coupled with a focus on team culture, creates an incredibly positive environment and I knew it was something I wanted to be part of. I believe I have more to give the sport, and I believe ISN is the place to  harness that desire.”

The team sees the move to sign the young Australian Sebastian Berwick as an opportunity to develop a promising potential into an impact WorldTour climber and GC rider. A practically anonymous rider who has only two years’ experience on the continental level (St George Continental Team), the lightweight Aussie (59 kg, 1.75 m) erupted onto the scene this January with a remarkable breakthrough race in the Herald Sun Tour, where he walked away with stunning results: second in stage four, second overall, and the best young rider designation.

Said Berwick, “That super start to 2020 with the second-place finish in the U23 nationals and the Herald Sun Tour – that’s where I showed everyone what I could do on big climbs.”

Team ISN was impressed, handing Berwick a three-year contract and a chance to develop patiently. Carlstrom explained, “In Sebastian, we see a rider who can benefit a lot from being around our leaders like Froome and Martin. He will have the possibility to develop with us, and in the years to come we’ll see just how far he can go.”

Berwick can’t wait, “I am keen to develop and learn from the best, most experienced riders in the bunch. I will take every opportunity to help our leaders in the mountain stages, and in any other chance I get. I see the efforts ISN is putting into becoming one of the best teams in the world (especially for stage races) and it was a pretty clear choice for me to make.”