29.05.12

Pure Black Racing off to America - PureBlack Racing are off to North America next week for their second block of racing this year after a successful three months in Asia.

Pure Black Racing

The team will travel to Canada on June 7 for seven weeks, racing in three stage races and three major criterium.

The major races include Tour de Beauce (UCI 2.2), CHIN Picnic Criterium, Tour de Delta, UBC Grand Prix, Gastown Grand Prix, Giro de Burnaby and the Tour de White Rocks.

Business Director, Greg Cross, is excited about the next block of racing for the team stating: “We will be competing in big events such as the Tour de Beauce where PureBlack Racing competed, and won a stage, last year.”

The team is entering the Tour de Beauce, Canada’s premiere professional race, as the New Zealand National Team through their partnership with BikeNZ. All other races will be raced as club team PureBlack Racing.

Taylor Gunman, who has been racing successfully in Europe with the BikeNZ PureBlack Racing U23 team, will join the team along with James McCoy, who is returning from injury to race with PureBlack Racing.

James is upbeat about his return to the team, and is eager to start racing again, stating: “I can’t wait to get back into things again with the team, there is a special vibe that comes from the team that other teams don’t seem to have and I’ve missed it.”

As for his injury, James said it has now been reduced to a niggle, and is excited to get back into the action with the boys again: “I feel like my hamstring is almost gone. I have done a few races in New Zealand and it has held up really well.”

Gunman is also looking forward to joining the team: “After watching the success the boys had in Asia, I am looking forward to catching up with the guys and racing in Canada.”

The team that will be travelling to North America is:

Joseph Cooper
Louis Crosby
Taylor Gunman
James McCoy
Michael Torckler
Roman van Uden (Captain)
James Williamson

Director Sportif, John “Harry” Harris, is looking forward to taking the team over to North America, and sees this block of racing as vital as preparation for the key races in Australasia in the latter part of the year.

“We cannot expect the team to be racing full gas all year round, the block will provide constructive R’n’R, which will help us build the foundation to win over in Australia,” he said

PureBlack Racing will travel back to New Zealand after the block for a quick break before targeting Australia’s Scody Cup, the team’s final offshore series for 2012.

AVANTI RIDERS