03.10.12

PureBlack Racing in 9th after Stage One of the Tour of Tasmania - PureBlack Racing start Tour of Tasmania in Good Form

Pureblack Racing Tour of Tasmania

Wednesday 3rd October: PureBlack Racing made a solid start to the Tour of Tasmania yesterday with a 9th place finish in the Stage One Team Time Trial.

Racing 18.1km up Mount Wellington in Hobart and finishing 1,200m above sea level, every rider knew it was going to be a tough start to what is known as a grueling tour.

The day started with a 5km parade through Hobart before the big climb.

Director Sportif, John “Harry” Harris, was feeling upbeat going into the tour, and at the conclusion of yesterday’s first stage effort, he was even more convinced of their form.

“We had a solid day on the bike today,” said Harry, “All the boys rode really well and to sum it up it was just a good day at the office.”

PureBlack Racing completed the stage with a time of 51:51, just over four minutes behind race leaders, Genesys Wealth Advisors Pro Cycling.

This is the only team time trial PureBlack Racing has raced this season, but Harry said that at this level it is a discipline that all cyclists should know how to undertake and execute well.

“The guys were really setting the pace in the tough and technical uphill race,” said Harry, “Taylor [Gunman] was great on the bike today, he was on the driving seat and rode really well for the team.”

Unfortunately the team lost Jimmy [James Williamson] half way up the climb, which left the team with four riders and hindered their efforts slightly, but this did not faze Harry. “There were not many teams that finished with more than four riders, he will be back tomorrow and ready to fight.”

The weather conditions didn’t make the day any easier either,  “Windy and cold is an understatement,” said Harry, “It was like a freezing cyclone on the top of that mountain.”

Tomorrow’s stage sees the teams racing 123.5km from New Norfolk to Lake Pedder, in a road race that is going to be tough, with Harry predicting plenty of action.

“There will be damage done tomorrow, it is a solid 125km road race which is very different to what we experienced at Murray [Tour of Murray River].”

Harry believes the peloton will spilt up and there will be a number of moves being made, “We will definitely be aiming to be represented in every move, especially the one that counts.”

Stage Two hosts 4 sprint premes and 6 KOM premes and begins at 1pm NZT.

AVANTI RIDERS