Huge break for talented Jason Christie

Dec 8th, 09. He's not even 19 quite yet, but Jason Christie has secured a contract with British continental team Endura Racing.  He joins kiwi Jack Bauer on this new team.

Jason Christie in his domestic team kit - Team Carbon Zero

Talking to Christie, you get the feeling he's wiser than his age suggests.  He seems to have made his own opportunities in life and isn't afraid to step out into the unknown. Qualities that will no doubt help him transition into the life of a pro-cyclist.

Christie, a two time track junior world medallist, raced on the European roads for the first time this year.  Before joining the BikeNZ track camp in Belgium, Christie was training under the guidance of the UCI World Cycling Centre.

"It's a centre that helps develop riders. It is based in Switzerland and run by the UCI. I knew the manager in there and I sorted it out myself," Christie said. "This year was a stepping stone, to develop as a rider, learn how to look after yourself and go into different environments," he explained. "Next year will be easier because of it."

Christie was rewarded for his efforts with victory in the 123km Raiffeisen Grand Prix in Austria in April after making a solo break away from the 244 other riders.  

"I haven't finished yet, I want to win more," he said at the time.

"It happened through email. They asked me for my CV, which I sent to them, and they were happy to take me on board. They sent me a contract, I pretty much signed it straight away.  It's a pretty awesome opportunity," he said. 

"A good setup, a really good setup," Christie said. Although their team kit won't be out until the end of January, Christie is being sent training kit to ride in.  Endura is a Scottish founded company who make cycling clothing so Christie says he won't ever be short of kit again.

Track goals still in place

Christie isn't turning his back on the track though and is even postponing joining his new team until after the Track Nationals at the end of February.  He's a little disappointed to be missing the team training camp but he wants to keep his Commonwealth Games hopes alive.

"Hopefully I will get to the Commonwealth Games, depending on how selections go and how the form is on the track. I'd like to be competing in the points and scratch events on the track," he said.

Team Endura is a road team, but with track legend Rob Hales as team captain, Christie expects to get good support for his dual goals.  In fact the team has suggested Christie lives in Manchester near Hales.

"Rob is based in Manchester, they want me to go near him. He is a track superstar, World Champion, Olympic Champion - he has done it all. He is a superstar for Great Britain," Christie said.

The team is scheduled to race some big events in 2010 including the Tour of Ireland and the Tour of Britiain and Christie is hoping to perform well enough to get the opportunity to race in these tours.

Jack Bauer signs in for Sunday's Festival of Cycling criterium ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Bauer on board too

Also signed up to Endura Racing Team is Golden Bays' Jack Bauer. In the team statement where the two kiwis were announced, their addition was described as, "two Antipodeans who will add some southern Hemisphere fire-power to the already strong UK-based team".

Bauer and Christie hadn't met each other until a month ago but each like the idea of having another kiwi on the team.

"I hadn't even heard of Jack Bauer until the Tour of Southland," said Christie. "I watched him on TV. He goes good. He's got a good engine."

Bauer is starting with the team a little earlier than Christie, he expects his first race to be the Tour of Mediterranean, France.  

"Endura Racing, and also Team Sky are both starting up in the UK this year.  Endura sit under Team Sky, and I hope to step up, it's kind of a development team," Bauer told RoadCycling.co.nz just after winning the Avanti Long Bays Classic road race at the Festival of Cycling on Saturday.

"It's a fantastic set-up. We get paid a salary, they have a really good bike sponsor in Look and they fly us around, put us up in hotels. I'm looking forward to it and am really happy to have a kiwi team mate," he said.

Endura Racing 2010 line-up

• Rob Hayles (Eng, Captain) 
• Jason Christie (NZ)
• Jack Bauer (NZ)
• James Moss (Eng)
• Evan Oliphant (Sco)
• Rob Partridge (Wal)
• Ross Creber (Sco) 
• Scott Thwaites (Eng)
• Gary Hand (Sco) 
• Callum Wilkinson (Sco)
• David Lines (Sco) 
• Ian Wilkinson (Eng)
• James McCallum (Sco) 
• Alexander King (Sco)

"I am really pleased with the squad of riders that we have assembled here at Endura Racing", said Endura Racing's Team Captain Rob Hayles.

"There is a great mixture of youth, experience and abilities across all disciplines. The guys will be highly charged when they come together in the next few weeks, as the squad is very talented, and after a long career I am as excited about next season as at any time in the last few years."