Pure Black Racing

Tim Gudsell wins and PureBlack Racing fills the podium

in Taupo to Napier Race

Tim and Mike on their own (almost) towards the end of todays race

Napier, New Zealand 24 September, 2011 – With a break of 6 weeks since our return from the United States the team returned to racing in New Zealand in the classic Taupo to Napier race. At the finish line in Napier it was Tim Gudsell taking a sprint finish from Mike Torckler by over a minute with Dan Barry coming in 3^rd and Mike Northey leading in the original break group to take 4^th. Mark Langlands finished in 6^th and Taylor Gunman in 7^th to take 6 of the top 10 spots and complete a good first day of racing for the team in the new NZ season.

“The teams return to racing this weekend is part of our build up to the Jayco Herald Sun Tour a UCI 2HC race in Melbourne next month” said Carl Williams Sports Director of PureBlack Racing. “The teams race today is followed by a week long training camp in the Hawkes Bay which we will finish off by taking part in the centennial race around Mount Egmont next weekend.”

As is often the case with this race a big break of 15 riders got away pretty early with 6 PureBlack Racing riders making the selection and quickly building up a lead of nearly 2 minutes. With around 70kms to go Mike Torckler who was returning for his first race with the team since January slipped off the front and got clear being joined about 15km later by Tim Gudsell who had ridden across to join him with a big effort on the last big climb of the day. From there the 2 of them made it a race between themselves all the way to the finish.

“It was great to win at home again,” said Tim straight after the race. “ It was a huge ride from Mike today coming back from a major knee injury and riding with us for the first time since before our US season, he had me working pretty hard all the way to the finish. The Subway guys were there in the break and they were giving it a pretty good push along as well.”

The team is staying in Havelock North for the week thanks to the generosity of Rod and Anna Drury who are hosting the team at their beach house.