Clinton Avery working hard for 2012 contract

Avery back to his winning ways over the last few weeks

The 23 year old scored his 5th victory of the season last week, and followed it up with a 2nd today.

After a first half season of huge disappointments, Avery is in good form and eager to get back to where he thought he was this time last year.

He had joined a training camp with Skil Shimano, had a stagiare role with RadioShack and negotiations with more than one pro-tour team led to Avery signing a two year contract with pro-tour hopefuls Pegasus Cycling in late 2010.

When the team failed to secure a UCI license the Rotorua rider ended up out of a job. He made his way back to the amateur ranks in Europe but was soon knocked back once more when he required emergency surgery for a burst appendix.

He recovered well, but the time off the bike affected his base fitness with Avery saying he has struggled to hold his form for any length of time.

"My form has been all over the place this year, one minute it is great, the next I can't finish a race," he told RoadCycling.co.nz today.

Over the last few weeks though, Avery has picked up five wins. He feels his fitness is back and he is trying to finish the season strongly. His last race is September 25th, and he heads home to New Zealand on October 4th.

Today's 2nd place came from a race he had not even planned on doing, he decided at the last minute that racing was a more appealing option than training. 

Apart from a busy race schedule - his team is keen to make the most of his winning form - Avery has been kept busy by discussions with pro-teams, but none of these have led to a signature on paper.

"With all the teams stopping and merging it's making it really hard. Heaps of teams are interested but they change their mind as soon as new riders come on the market," he explained.

The Kiwi is still hopeful he will get a pro-contract for 2012, saying, "I have got my fingers, toes, arms and everything else I can cross, crossed."

Victory #5 - Wingene Koers, Interclub.

"It was a 12 lap race totalling 170km. The weather was windy, cold and the odd shower came through. In the first few laps a break of eight riders got away on the small roads.

"When the gap was 1min I went across with one other guy - only to get a puncture a lap later. With the neutral support car occupied with a crashed rider I had to wait for the peloton to pass and get a wheel from my team car.

"Since I wasn't feeling very good due to a tour two days before hand, plus the flat tyre, I just wanted to pull out. I wasn't enjoying the race anymore.

"After I got my head back in the game, I found myself back in the lead goup of 17. With only a couple of laps left and the finish not far away, my legs came right. In the sprint I had it easy as the other fast sprinters led me out."