Cycling: Radioshack offers Sergent work experience

Jesse Sergent. Photo / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand world pursuit medallist Jesse Sergent is set to join Pro Tour cycling team Radioshack for the rest of the season in the United States.

The Manawatu cyclist is competing in the Cascade Cycling Classic in the US for his Trek Livestrong under-23 team, but has received a stagiaire by the team's big brother - cycling's terminology for work experience.

Sergent will join Radioshack next week although he will still be granted time out to prepare for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October.

"I'm hoping this works out and it leads to something next year," Sergent said. "It's a fantastic opportunity which has been a real goal since coming to the US."

Sergent said he had worked hard in his second year with Trek Livestrong and looked forward to the opportunity. He won the prologue stage of the current tour and was second in the individual time trial, and recently won the time trial stage in the Tour of Gila over Tour de France riders Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie.

BikeNZ high performance director Mark Elliott said he was confident Sergent would show his wares for Radioshack.

"Jesse is a very classy young rider with an outstanding potential. It's great for Jesse and also further recognition for the BikeNZ programme."

Sergent is expected to be named next month in the team for the Games.

He has yet to be informed what racing he will be doing for Radioshack in the next six weeks.

Elliott said two other New Zealand riders were in the running to receive stagiaire invitations in coming weeks.

- NZPA