12.06.12

Pure Black Racing ready to take on the Tour de Beauce - BikeNZ PureBlack Racing has announced its team for the first race in the North America block of cycling, Le Tour de Beauce.

Tour de Beauce PureBlack Racing

The team of six has arrived in Quebec ready for the six-day UCI 2.2 tour that begins on Tuesday 12th June (Canadian time) with a 162km stage in Lac-Etchemin, Quebec.

A total of 756km will be covered over the course of the tour with the longest stage on day three, which also sees the tours only mountain stage and summit finish.

The shortest stage will follow on day four, with a 20km time trial through St Benat Labre.

“We are going to take what we can get in terms of stage wins,” said Director Sportif John “Harry” Harris, “the main goal for the tour is to come out stronger at the end than they are going in, but we will definitely look to pick up stage wins where possible.

“The guys should be able to produce some good, solid, strong rides throughout the tour.”

PureBlack Racing will be racing against Pro-Cycling teams such as Team Optum, NODE4 Giordana Racing and Equipe Canadienne, and will be racing as the New Zealand National Team.

“There is some really good competition in Beauce,” said Harry, “including some European division two teams who will prove to be hard to race against.”

The six-man team includes five riders who raced together during the block in South East Asia, joined by Taylor Gunman from the BikeNZ PureBlack Racing U23 squad.

The team for Le Tour de Beauce is:
Joseph Cooper
Louis Crosby
Taylor Gunman
Michael Torckler
Roman van Uden (Captain)
James Williamson

PureBlack Racing has previously been successful at Le Tour de Beauce, taking a Stage One win through Scott Lyttle in 2011.

“The weather is beautiful and conditions are great, so it should be a good tour,” said Harry.

AVANTI RIDERS