Cyclingnews.com confirms that TIAA-CREF has signed Michael Creed and Danny Pate. Are they two under achieving, one hit wonders or is it finally their chance to shine?

You must not have watched Philly this year...incredible ride by the Pate:

1 Chris Wherry (USA) Health Net - Maxxis 6.01.16
2 Danny Pate (USA) Jelly Belly-Pool Gel
3 Chris Horner (USA) Saunier Duval - Prodir

Which he followed up with stunning victory at a Superweek crit. And then he won....

He was with Saeco early in his career.
TIAA CREF small as they are, actually does a bunch of euro and promises more in 2006.

Which he followed up with stunning victory at a Superweek crit. And then he won....

Pate certainly hasn't had the best results, but he did finish the season 6th in NRC rankings, showing consistency above all else.

As for Creed, he was sick most of the year. As far as I can tell from his website though, he's only won one race as a pro his entire career, and while he's still quite young, I would think it's time for him to start getting the job done.

Silas

Pate certainly hasn't had the best results, but he did finish the season 6th in NRC rankings, showing consistency above all else.

As for Creed, he was sick most of the year. As far as I can tell from his website though, he's only won one race as a pro his entire career, and while he's still quite young, I would think it's time for him to start getting the job done.

Silas

Creed has lots of potential I think. He can pull it off maybe. He was indeed sick this year, so we'll give him another shot to prove himself out as a pro cyclist. He has won many junior and U23 national titles, but I think that just shows how weak our junior cycling categories are if one person, or maybe a couple of guys, can dominate like that, and then when they step up as pros, they get nadda. Some do well, but most fade away. I think it might have something to do with they're used to winning all of the time, and then they get shellacked, and give up hope. That's just my take on it.

I think The Pate tried the Euro thing, and found that it wasn't for him, or didn't like the hype and all of the other crap that went along with it. I think he has found his niche in America, and will probably remain a US racer, and that's all good. He is a former U23 world champ in the TT. Remember that.

I think both of these guys will shine, or in the case of The Pate continue to shine. They take their riding seriously, but at the same time, they don't seem to take it TOO seriously, if you know what I mean.

damn i wish the Pate would stop wasting his potential like that hambone character, although i hear he is gogin pro again this year, life as an unpro was just too hard

Creed has lots of potential I think. He can pull it off maybe. He was indeed sick this year, so we'll give him another shot to prove himself out as a pro cyclist. He has won many junior and U23 national titles, but I think that just shows how weak our junior cycling categories are if one person, or maybe a couple of guys, can dominate like that, and then when they step up as pros, they get nadda. Some do well, but most fade away. I think it might have something to do with they're used to winning all of the time, and then they get shellacked, and give up hope. That's just my take on it.

He certainly has potential, and I completely agree on the U23 comments. The guy won the madison for chrissakes, and he's built like a climber too.

My thoughts are that creed needs to start getting the job done in the next year or two. There's an interview with him in PRO where he talks about not wanting to be on another D3 team, and even though he's young, he's been riding Redlands since he was 17, and the step up to Postal meant he was actually going somewhere. Hopefully the results will come this year and he'll start backing up his potential.

Silas

While TIAA-CREF is a D3 team, they still compete in europe, and are giving their riders a wider audience than domestically....thus providing more opportunity for the pates, creeds, and lewis' of the world.

I think this is a great opportunity fo rthem.

I guess that should count for something. Danny Pate has the class and is one of the top domestic guys. It's a little unfair to criticize him for not excelling at the top level. He really hasn't had a chance (excluding early Saeco debacle which by the way he and Creed served equal time).

Thy're both bringing huge experience to the team, which should be sweet for all parties.

I guess that should count for something. Danny Pate has the class and is one of the top domestic guys. It's a little unfair to criticize him for not excelling at the top level. He really hasn't had a chance (excluding early Saeco debacle which by the way he and Creed served equal time).

I could be wrong but I think that The Pate doesn't care if he makes it to the so-called "top level" of cycling. I think that he's pretty dang happy being a top guy in the US. He probably makes decent money riding bikes, and I think he digs it. I don't know this for sure, but this is how it appears to me. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.