Feb 1st, 10.  Heath Blackgrove is heading back to his US based Team Hotel San José and is taking Logan Hutchings with him to Austin, Texas this year.

Blackgrove and Hutchings at the end of the Trust House Tour ©RoadCycling.co.nz

With the domestic elite season all but over, New Zealand's top riders are preparing for their international seasons.

Blackgrove and Hutchings are heading to Austin, Texas where they hope to continue the success Blackgrove and the team had last year.

In New Zealand the two were on opposing teams at the PowerNet Tour of Southland where Blackgrove won the tour title and Hutchings won a stage.

However, last week at the Trust House Cycle Classic Hutchings and Blackgrove joined forces in the Solway Team.  Blackgrove finished 4th and the team placed 2nd overall.

It was a good start, not a dream start, to the Blackgrove/Hutchings combination but the duo will have plenty more opportunites to work together  with their Team Hotel San José during the US season.

"We have built a developmental team around Heath and he will play a pivotal role when they are on the road," Reed said.

"Not only does he have the most experience, but he is also a terrific mentor for our younger riders and even the Team Hotel San José club members."

The 29 year old is coming off one of his best seasons, with US victories at the Mississippi Grand Prix, Texas Tough Grand Prix II and the Tour of Lawrence as well as his NZ successes.

Blackgrove leads teammate Sean Sullivan during a race in 2009 ©Laura Reed

Hutchings redeemed his 2009 season with the stage win at the Tour of Southland and his 2nd place in the time trial at the Oceania Championships.

With the team's new lineup Blackgrove said he expects Team Hotel San José to be competitive in nearly every type of race.

The squad has added strength for breakaways and hilly races, and boosted its speed for sprints and criteriums.

"While the extra strength will give us more options, I am very excited to work with the sprinters we have on board and setting them up for the bunch finishes," Blackgrove said.

"I really think we're going to surprise a lot of people this year and look forward to helping develop Team Hotel San José."

In 2009, Team Hotel San José won 50 races and registered 95 Top 3 placings, including victories at the Athens Twilight Criterium, the Texas Tough Grand Prix II, the Tour of Lawrence, the Mississippi Grand Prix, the Texas and Colorado state criterium championships and a sweep of the podium at the Tour of Austin.

Team Owner and Manager Barry Lee said the long-term vision for the team is to apply for continental license status in 2011.

Team Hotel San José

Alex Battle-Woods* (USA), Zach Bergh* (USA), Heath Blackgrove (NZL), Travis Burandt* (USA), Josh Carter (USA), Cody Foster* (USA), Logan Hutchings (NZL), Stefan Rothe (GER), Ronnie Strange, Sean Sullivan (AUS), Joseph Tokarski* (USA), Carlos Vargas (COL).

*Under 23 Junior Development team member.

If you are a Kiwi roadie heading off for the International season, please email us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and let us know your plans.

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