Zach Bell will return to Team SmartStop next season.

The 31-year-old cyclist from Watson Lake will lead a 13-man roster unveiled earlier this week.

Bell is the captain of the team, which turned heads on the UCI Professional Continental circuit last season.

“It was a good season, but it was a little bit of an unfinished project at this point,” Bell told the Star. “We did some really good things, but I don’t think we fully realized the potential of the team.

“We went from being a bottom-of-the-market team to really one of the best teams in North America to be on.”

Bell did explore other opportunities before making his decision, but said the returning core means SmartStop will remain competitive in 2015.

“Since they were able to keep the vast majority of the guys, for me, that was the big incentive,” the Yukoner admitted.

“I kind of waited to sign until we knew what the group was going to look like.”

SmartStop director Michael Creed said the return of Bell is crucial to the team’s success next season.

“Zach is the centrepiece of our team,” Creed said. “When I hired Zach for 2014, I didn’t expect to get what he provided. I thought I was going to get someone with experience, speed and a level head. And while I got all that, I also got possibly the greatest team captain in the sport.”

Bell’s vast experience allows him to speak with authority, Creed said. He quickly earned the respect of his teammates and keeps the team level-headed and on point during races.

“Sometimes, when riders take on the captain’s role, they also lose ambition and desire for their own results,” Creed added.

“Luckily for us, Zach is a true professional and is often the go-to rider for that day’s stage. I couldn’t be happier to have him back on board.”

Creed hopes to put Bell in a position to win a UCI race next season.

Bell said working with Creed has been “one of the best professional relationships” in his career.

“If things stay good, I could happily ride out the rest of my career with Creed for sure,” he said.

Other members of Team SmartStop for 2015 include: Rob Britton, Chris Butler, Kristofer Dahl, Flavio De Luna, Even Huffman, Shane Kline, Jure Kocjan, Julian Kyer, Travis Livermon, Eric Marcotte, Travis McCabe and Bobby Sweeting.

Marcotte is the current U.S. champion, while Butler, Huffman, and Sweeting are new additions.

Terms of Bell’s one-year deal were not disclosed.

Next month, he plans to visit the territory for the Sport Yukon awards night and to work on his Zach Bell Rural Youth Sport Initiative.