Youngest Kiwi at Utah keen for action

Paddy Bevin keen for a shot at the sprint finish ©Patrick Bevin (file photo)

Aug 10th, 11. 20 year old Patrick Bevin is keen to get amongst the action during the Tour of Utah. The youngest of 13 Kiwis racing this tour has his sights set on Stage 2.

Two days ago Bevin was racing on the flat roads around Chicago, Illinois, today the Kiwi was racing at altitude 2,300 miles away in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Tour of Elk Grove provided Bevin and his Kiwi teammate Jeremy Vennell three days of hard and fast racing, but it was on a course very different from the Tour of Utah.

"Elk Grove was good hard racing with lots of time spent chasing breaks with some pretty rapid average speeds. It is a bit tough to turn around from a flat race with a million corners to a high altitude climbing tour but I am definitely game! " Bevin told RoadCycling.co.nz

This is Bevin's second year racing for Bissell Pro Cycling, and his second year racing the Tour of Utah.

Last year he pulled out during the tough hilly criterium on Stage 4 - as did about 30 others - but he is psyched to be back amongst the pro-tour peloton this year.

"To be here racing my bike is enough motivation alone - never mind the rest."

Bevin feels his form has been building nicely after a much needed mid-stage break.

The young sprinter has spent much of this season in support of his team's wider General Classification goals. After winning the Team's Classification in five stage races this season, Bissell is currently leading the NRC Team Classification.

This tour, however, Bevin hopes to have his own chance to shine.

"The second road stage has been billed as a day that will finish in a bunch sprint; so I am really hoping this is the case," he said.

In contrast to the rest of the this tour, the challenge from the 151km Stage 2 is likely to come in the form of strong crosswinds rather than climbs. With his team's support, Bevin hopes to race aggressively to keep at the front of the race  - right until the finish line.

"Aside from that, my role is a mixture of getting through, and being as useful as I can be to some teammates in some hot climbing form," he said.

Tour of Utah

• Full Tour of Utah results
• Kiwi is Tour of Utah Sprint Champion
• Up and down day for Kiwis at the Tour of Utah
• Leipheimer leaps into Utah lead
• Van Uden and his battle for the orange jersey
• Images of Jack Bauer's Utah success
• Jack Bauer wins at the Tour of Utah
• PureBlack leader on tough opening road stage
• Bennett thrives on first day as RadioShack stagiare
• Roman Van Uden out front in Utah
• Bobsled challenge for Roman Van Uden
• Youngest Kiwi at Utah keen for action
• Jack Bauer flies in tough uphill prologue
• Back to basics for Pure Black Racing