PureBlack Racing today announced Avanti Bikes will be a foundation sponsor of New Zealand’s aspiring international UCI ProTour road cycling team.
Carl Williams and Team Riders, Taylor Gunman (North Shore) and Roman Van Uden (Mt Eden), at the Pure Black Racing Launch
(Photo: Peter Hodge; click to enlarge) |
Under the long-term agreement, signed today, Avanti will provide bicycles, equipment and accessories to the team. In addition Avanti has taken a 30 percent shareholding in PureBlack Racing's management company, Bici Vida Limited.
"For some time now Avanti's vision has been to sponsor a team who will race our cycles on the world's biggest cycling stage, the Tour de France," says John Struthers, owner and Managing Director of Avanti. "It's a perfect fit with PureBlack Racing's plan. We're helping them to compete in the UCI US Continental Tour in 2011 with the ultimate aim of becoming a ProTour Team with entry to the Tour de France by 2015. We're also fully supporting the U23 squad.
"What better way to celebrate 25 years of Avanti success than by founding a relationship between two organisations that share a common vision. It's also an opportunity for Avanti to use PureBlack Racing as a marketing platform to enable us to achieve some of our international business objectives."
"This agreement between PureBlack Racing and Avanti is a foundation deal that sets us up to climb our mountain over the next five years," said Greg Cross, PureBlack Racing's Business Director. "Avanti is a highly successful New Zealand exporter and a significant force in the bike industry. It has signaled a strategic long-term commitment to PureBlack Racing by becoming headline sponsor and investing in the team's management company. And John has made a personal commitment to PureBlack Racing by becoming a Director of Bici Vida Limited."
The agreement includes provision of Avanti bicycles, equipment and accessories. Avanti has provided customised Avanti Quantum bikes for the team and team kit in PureBlack Racing custom livery. It has also arranged sponsorship agreements with leading Japanese manufacturer, Shimano, Peak Fuel nutrition, Kenda Tyres and Zero parts and accessories.
"It's fair to say that, in terms of bikes and equipment, PureBlack Racing will be one of the best equipped teams on the UCI tour," says Greg.
"Both parties believe that the time is right for a New Zealand-based professional cycling team to compete at the highest level," says Carl Williams, PureBlack Racing's Sports Director. "Cycling is the fastest growing sport in New Zealand and we have more cycling world champions than we have in any other sport. It's a perfect time to establish a relationship between a highly successful manufacturer and exporter of bikes and cycling equipment and what we hope will be an iconic Kiwi sports team."
"Our first race in the UCI US Continental Tour will be in March 2011," says Carl. "PureBlack Racing has its inaugural training camp in Queenstown next week, then we move on to the Tour of Southland. While we aim to be competitive there, this is very much a pre-season event, as many of our riders for 2011 remain under contract to other teams till the end of December. It is an important part of our build up for 2011."
Earlier this week PureBlack Racing announced that Glen Chadwick had been appointed team captain. The full team roster for the UCI US Continental Tour will be announced later today.
PureBlack Racing has also been completing its roster for its New Zealand-based U23 development squad, which will commence racing at the beginning of 2011. "We are very excited at the depth of talent we are bringing on for next year and the opportunities we are able to provide aspiring professional cyclists," says Carl. The team will be announced once recruitment is complete.
More information about supporting, following or joining the team can be found at: www.pureblackracing.com.
PureBlack Racing 2011 UCI US Continental Tour Squad
- Glen Chadwick (Captain)
- Michael Torckler
- Daniel Barry
- Michael Northey
- Scott Lyttle
- James Williamson
- Roman Van Uden
- Shem Rodger
- Taylor Gunman
- Mark Langlands
- James McCoy
PureBlack Racing U23 and U19 Squad
- Scott Creighton U23
- Fraser Gough U23
- James Oram U23
- Dion Smith U23
- Nick Sutton U23
- Nick Hand U23
- James Northey U19
- Alex Ray U19
