CYCLING

Avanti rides with PureBlack Racing

Carl Williams and Team Riders, Taylor Gunman (North Shore) and Roman Van Uden (Mt Eden), at the Pure Black Racing Launch — Peter Hodge

PureBlack Racing today announced Avanti Bikes will be a foundation sponsor of New Zealand’s aspiring international UCI ProTour road cycling team.

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.

About Avanti Bikes
Founded in New Zealand in 1985, Avanti Bicycle Company distributes bicycles to New Zealand, Australia and other countries within Oceania. Offering a range of over 80 models catering for all types of cycling, Avanti holds a dominant share in both the New Zealand and Australian markets, with over one million bicycles sold over the past 25 years. In 2009 the Company commenced distribution in several other international markets. All Avanti bikes are proudly designed in the Avanti’s headquarters, in Mount Wellington, Auckland.

About PureBlack Racing
Team PureBlack Racing is a New Zealand-based professional road cycling team, launched in 2010, with the aim becoming New Zealand’s leading international UCI ProTour road cycling team. Lead by America’s Cup yachtsman, Star Class World Champion and Olympian, Carl Williams and investor and entrepreneur Greg Cross, PureBlack Racing will compete in the UCI’s US Continental Tour in 2011 with the ultimate aim of becoming a ProTour Team with entry to the Tour de France.

 

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