Clinton Avery secures pro contract

Avery has signed a pro-contract for 2012 ©Graham Watson, World Champs

Oct 21st, 11. Clinton Avery will be at the startline of Europe's big races next year, the powerful Rotorua rider has been snapped up by a new UCI Pro Continental team.

Last month Champion System said they were on the lookout for a Kiwi to join what is set to be Asia's first UCI Pro-Continental team. Today they announced they have signed Avery.

The 23 year old is one of three Australasians to join the team - the other two already have pro-tour experience.

With Avery are Australians Will Clarke, who raced for Leopard Trek this season, and Aaron Kemps who, like the Kiwi, was a victim of Pegasus Racing Team's implosion last year.

Kemps has previously raced for Liberty Seguros, Astana and Rock Racing. Most recently he rode for V Australia.

As a stagiere on RadioShack in 2010, Avery looked forward to his 1st full season as a professional after signing a two year contract with Pegasus Racing, but when that programme failed he returned to Belgium and raced 2011 in the amateur ranks.

Unfortunately he was knocked back again when he required emergency surgery for a burst appendix, and the time off the bike led to mixed form throughout the season.

When his form was good, however, it was great. Avery took five wins in the latter part of the season and represented NZ at the UCI World Championships.

The changing landscape of this year's pro teams with mergers and departures made it a difficult year to break into the pro-team ranks, but Avery told RoadCycling.co.nz last month, "I have got my fingers, toes, arms and everything else I can cross, crossed."

With a contract signed, Avery can now uncross his fingers - but given his history, perhaps he will keep something crossed until the day the team's UCI license is confirmed.

Team Champion Systems are confident they will be granted a pro-continental license to allow the team to compete in professional tours in Europe and North America as well as Asia.

"Champion System NZ is very happy to see Clinton sign with the team," said Hayden Godfrey who manages the  Champion System company in New Zealand.

"He is an awesome talent and after some bad luck with the Pegasus Team collapsing it's great to see him get his career back on track. We are looking forward to seeing him flying the Champion System colours at January's Elite Nationals."

Champion System Pro Cycling's Team Director is experienced DS Edward Beamon who has managed cycling teams for over 15 years. He was most recently the Technical Director of V Australia. He expects Avery's aggressive style of racing to "add real depth to the team".

John Lee, Avery's NZ coach is thrilled with the news.

"I am absolutely stoked for Clinton to get a pro ride. He had big team interest but places got filled very quick by the collapse of HTC and the other team mergers. He will still have a chance to shine in a pro conti team and should show his true class.

"Finally getting paid to ride a bike - it's got to be a great feeling for him right now. So many people have helped Clinton over the last few years and they can all be happy and take a bit of Clinton's success," he told RoadCycling.co.nz