Winning team manager looking for more success

John Lee congratulates George Bennett after winning the 2011 tour ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Dec 16th, 11. Coach John Lee has managed his team to overall tour success for the last two years - has he got the line up to do it for a third time in the 2012 NZ Cycle Classic?

Michael Torckler won the tour in 2010 and George Bennett in 2011, for next month's tour Lee is looking to fastman Patrick Bevin to lead the way.

After his great display at the PowerNet Tour of Southland, Bevin can no longer be thought of as a threat just on sprint stages. As well as winning the final stage, he finished 2nd overall and podiumed on both the mountain top finishes!

The Jan 25-29 UCI2.2 tour in the Manawatu tour does not have any mountain top finishes and although it does have a fair few lumps along the way, Lee considers it a flat course.

"I think that we can get through the stages OK. Patrick should be up for a stage or two and that might make a tour win," he said. "The TT might be the big stage."

Along with Bevin, who rides for US pro-team Bissell Pro Cycling during the international season, are Tom David, Nick Jowsey, Hamish Elley-Brown and Australian Peter Smith.

It is a relatively young team with two teenagers, and only one rider not in the U23 ranks.

"We have never gone into the tour as a favorite and I think we are safe with that this time as well. The Aussie teams should be chasing the UCI points and that might play in our favour. If PureBlack is out then that also takes a few other threats out if they can't find a start," said Lee.

"We are going with the aim of a 3rd win, but we will see how the cards fall. We can't go out and dominate."

After great support from sponsor Cardno in the last two years, this time Lee's team will be riding in the colours of Hudson Gavin Martin - Ultimo.

See also ... Top Australian teams confirmed for NZ tour ...

Team Hudson Gavin Martin - Ultimo

Patrick Bevin (20) - Preparing for his third season with US team Bissell Pro Cycling in 2012. "The NZ Cycle Classic is an opportunity to come out and get a real reference for a summers worth of training. To me it is a really important race and one with a proven track record and with great prestige. John and the sponsors have put together a strong team, one that I am sure will rattle the cages of any team that is going be on the start line."

Tom David (21) - David represented New Zealand at the U23 UCI Road World Championships this year and is heading into his 5th season racing in Belgium. He is the only member of this year's team who was part of last year's success. 

Hamish Elley-Brown (19). In 2011 he raced in France for Velo Club Morteau Montbenoit, where he won two races and two series. 

Nick Jowsey (18).  2011 was a gap year for Jowsey where he focused on road cycling after transitioning from triathlon. He raced for Hudson Gavin Martin - Ultimo in the Tour of Southland. "I'm looking to achieve one thing in this tour, that’s to get either Paddy or whoever is flying to win the tour," he said.

Peter Smith (24, Aus). Raced in the UK in 2010 and in France with DN1 team CC Villeneuve-St-Germain this year where he had a strong second half of the season with a few podiums and other promising rides.