Wildlife Generation Pro Cycling unveiled its new kit this week ahead of its first UCI race of the 2022 campaign, the February 10-13 Tour of Antalya.

The U.S.-based Continental team, in its fourth season with the environmental nonprofit as title sponsor, has lined up seven of its 10 riders for Thursday's 2.1 stage race in Turkey.

Scott McGill and Turkish time trial national champion Ahmet Olken will make their first appearances on the team. McGill, 23, finished 10th in the US Pro Road Race Championships last June and was 24th in the UCI Cyclocross World Championships a week ago. Joining the duo will be American riders Noah Granigan, Ryan Justlove, and Kent Ross, along with veteran all-rounder Sergei Tvetkov and Irishman Cormac McGillough.

"In the past we have started at lower level races and stepped up to bigger stage races, but this year we start here in Antalya against a much higher level field. Last year I spent a lot of time in Turkey and I am excited to start the season back there this year," Granigan told Cycling News.

"I think our expectations and goals are higher this year, especially with the addition of some really fast riders to the strong core of the 2021 team. In addition to Brendan Lim and Scott McGill, we have added two-time Olympian Ahmet Olken from Turkey. We couldn't be more excited to start the season and see what we can do this year."

The Tour of Antalya is a 2.1 category stage race along the Mediterranean coast, covering 458.6 km over four days.

Wildlife Generation is one of three U.S.-based teams, joining ProTeams Human Powered Health and Team Novo Nordisk. This year's competing teams also include strong professional teams such as Alpecin Phoenix, Unoex Pro Cycling, and Bingoal Powell's Source WB.

With limited opportunities for stage racing in North America over the past two seasons due to event cancellations caused by the coronavirus epidemic, the Wildlife Generation has traveled extensively to Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia to find racing opportunities, including multiple trips to Turkey. The team traveled extensively to Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia to find racing opportunities, including multiple trips to Turkey.

The team had a successful spring, with Castillo finishing second overall in the Tour of Mevlana and in the top five in all four days of the UCI 2.2 race; in July, Alex Hane (not registered this year) won the Grand Prix El Cies, with Granigan in third place. At the Tour of Thailand, Justlove finished second on stage 5, while Granigan placed 10th overall, including three top-10 finishes in the six-day stage race.

"In 2021, we have had punchy races like the Tour of Turkey and successes like podiums and a win at GP Erciyes. Thanks to the continued support of the Wildlife Generation, we expect and plan to continue our success through 2022," added Granigan.

Tvetkov returns for his second season as GC man after competing in the continental program in 2013, 2014, and 2017 during the Jerry Berry Pro Cycling era. Last year he won his fifth time trial title in Romania in seven years and his second road race crown; in 2021 he finished second overall at the Tour of Romania.

This season, the team will focus on stage races and UCI one-day races, and will next compete in the Tour of Rwanda, February 20-27, with a five-rider team. the eight-day African stage race will feature McGill, Granigan, McGuio, and Australian Johnny Clark will compete.

They will ride the roads of Turkey in the team colors of purple and blue.

Produced by Hēdo Cycling Wear of Los Angeles, California, and arriving in Turkey the day before the Antalya race, the new kit features bold shades of purple and fuchsia instead of forest green.

The familiar leopard motif on the sleeves is back, but this year in a gradation of purple with light blue spots. Silhouettes leading from the ocean to the mountains to the sky are painted on the legs of the jersey and shorts, with ripples of mixed shades of violet and blue. This is Wildlife Generation's fourth year of title sponsorship branding, and the bright fuchsia in the center of the chest stands out against a sky blue background.

Wildlife Generation took the helm of the Continental program, which was started in 2000 by director Danny Van Houte and ended its 19-year run as Jerry Berry Pro Cycling in 2019.

Now in its fourth season as title sponsor, the California-based environmental nonprofit continues to use the team as a vehicle to promote the company's mission to protect the planet and preserve wildlife habitats and species.

The 2022 Wildlife Generation roster: Ulises Castillo, Johnny Clark, Noah Granigan, Ryan Justlove, Cormac McGuio, Scott Magill, Ahmet Olken, Brendan Lim, Kent Ross, Sergey Tvetkov.