The Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling Team have signed former New Zealand rower Ian Smallman to race in this month's Tour de Qinghai Lake in China.
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| Ian Smallman (Photo: Subway Avanti Pro Cycling Team) |
Smallman retired from competitive rowing in 2004 after eighteen years which included numerous national titles and three world championship campaigns.
"I'm really excited with the opportunity of racing for the Subway-Avanti team," he said. "The challenge of racing overseas is a big one, but I'm keen to do what I can for the team to make sure it performs in China."
Although relatively new to elite cycling the 36 year old Christchurch cyclist has proven himself in the elite Benchmark race series and at national masters level, and Subway-Avanti team Co-owner Hayden Godfrey has no doubt he will be a valuable addition to the squad for China and other key races throughout the year.
"Ian has vast experience in high performance sport from his rowing days which serves him well in cycling," Godfrey said from his base this week in the United States.
"Ian will be a great work horse for the team as he is an old school hard man and not afraid to suffer."
Smallman joins new team Manager and former Commonwealth and Olympic Games cyclist Graeme Miller and team members Sam Horgan, James Williamson, Nick Lovegrove, Joe Cooper, Ryan Wills and Eric Drower for the nine day tour which starts on 17 July.
The Tour de Qinghai Lake starts with a criterium and then includes nine stages, 1518 kilometres of racing and climbs to almost 3900 metres. There are 21 teams of seven riders entered. (147 cyclists).
