GreenEDGE go Chinese with new team

Australian cycling's powerful GreenEDGE organisation has a third team with the Mitchelton-Scott line-up to race on the continental circuit.

The development team is a partnership between GreenEDGE, Cycling Australia and the Chinese Cycling Association.

It joins the top-level Orica-Scott men's and women's teams at GreenEDGE, the brainchild of Shayne Bannan that is owned by Australian businessman Gerry Ryan.

"The addition of Mitchelton-SCOTT continues to support our ambitions to foster the development of young Australian riders and also extends our support to the Australasian region for whom we represent with the UCI," Ryan said.

Bannan has known top Chinese coach Jingkan Shen since the 1980s.

Australian coach James Victor will run the team.

There are six confirmed Chinese riders and two Australians - teenagers Harrison Sweeney and Robert Stanndard.