Hagens Berman, a Seattle-based class action law firm, today announced it will back a new under 23 cycling development program in the United States. Hagens Berman is the co-sponsor of the successful Jamis/Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home Pro Cycling Team, and has been a committed sponsor of amateur cycling in the Pacific Northwest for nearly a decade, with more than 20 riders advancing from the Hagens Berman amateur team to the professional level.

The Hagens Berman U-23 Development Program will comprise two select junior riders and 10 U-23 select riders from around the U.S. and will work in conjunction with the USA National Team to provide riders with the opportunity to compete in Europe.

The team is slated to compete in a full program of races around the country in 2014 and the riders will be fully supported by a professional staff including a director, mechanic and soigneur. The team has established partnerships with reputable product sponsors including Jamis, Reynolds, Castelli and Oakley, with others to be announced at a later date.

The program will be managed and directed by Herriott Sports Performance (HSP), a Seattle-based performance consulting company led by former professional cyclists Todd Herriott and David Richter. HSP works with riders and teams at the local, national and international level.

Hagens Berman-sponsored teams have already achieved success at the local, regional and national level. Most notably, Jamis/Hagens Berman rider Janier Acevedo’s recent third place finish and yellow jersey run at the 2013 Amgen Tour of California.