Feb 2nd, 10. HTC Columbia Team Director Allan Peiper has his 2nd Kiwi on the team this year, but Roulston and Henderson aren't the only Kiwis he's been keeping an eye on.

“I know the road scene in NZ. They don't get much of a followup, and if they miss a chance it's gone forever," PeiperPieper is also a talent scout and New Zealand is a market he knows to keep a careful eye on.  In this last year he's played an important role helping Jack Bauer, Michael Vink and Ruaraidh McLeod get international contracts.

"I have had a bit of contact this year with some New Zealanders. I had contact with Clinton Avery and got him tested, and felt that he needed another year to ripen a little bit. Lovely kid, big strong boy, could be a good leadout man in the future," he told RoadCycling.co.nz in Adelaide recently.  Avery is riding for Belgium team PWS Eijssen again this year.

"Also Jack Bauer. I was ringing around a lot at the end of the season looking for a spot for Jack. It's not easy because he came out of mountain biking, and is a bit older and doesn't fit into youth squads, but he has found a team now in England."

Peiper also helped two young 18 year old Kiwis, Vink and McLeod, gain positions with top Belgum team Isorex. (Top junior cyclists off to Belgium...)

"With the New Zealand kids like Vink and McLeod, if I can do something for them, it's satisfying, because I know the road scene in New Zealand.  They don't get much of a followup, and if they miss a chance it's gone forever," said the Australian who himself raced in five Tours de France.

"I have got a busy job as it is, but I have managed to place them with a nice family in Belgium, where they live with the family, and go to the races with them. Their son is a National Belguim U23 selection rider."

Peiper isn't finished with these two riders yet, he has big plans for their future.

"If I can get them tested to give them some followup, get them to national selection and hopefully get them a pro-contract in a couple of years," he said.

Peiper says he's not just looking to find the new recruits for HTC Columbia, he's genuinely looking to help out the careers of New Zealand's growing pool of talent.

"If they come to HTC, great, if not, ok. Like Jack in Endura Racing. He can now go to the Tour of Britain or Tour of Ireland and if he puts his stamp on it, he will get a pro-contract."

"That is all he needed, a little bit of guidance, and a door open for him."

Roulston is keen to help more kiwis join him in the pro-tour ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"I have spoken with Alan about the young guys in New Zealand. I want to play a role getting riders in. I mention their name and they get noticed. The talent in NZ is just untapped, it's ridiculous. There are so many good riders there. I will go to bat for most of them," he told RoadCycling.co.nz

Roulston said he can name 6-8 Kiwi riders who he believes could be in the Tour de France in five years.  As he said, that's pretty special coming from a country of 4 million.

"I definitely think there is so much Kiwi talent. At the nationals, look at Tom Findlay, he is a gutsy wee rider. Patrick Bevin really impressed me at the Tour of Nelson. You just have some really, really good riders who I feel with the right pathway could make it to the top.  Vink and McLeod are both huge talents," he said.

"If I could write a list I could get 10-12 who would be good enough to go straight to pro-tour. Gone are the days where you need to go amateur before you go pro."

Roulston's goal is to be able to help get young Kiwi riders noticed and perhaps get a few Kiwis on his pro-tour team in years to come. 

New Zealand has five riders in the pro-tour this year and many more racing in Europe and America.  With people like Peiper and Roulston looking out for them, who knows how many could be in the pro-tour in five year's time.  

Time to start budgeting for a trip to the 2015 Tour de France perhaps?

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