Cycling: Christie cycles to his first road victory in Europe

South Canterbury cyclist Jason Christie has scored his first road win in Europe with victory in the Raiffeisen Grand Prix in Austria.

Christie, who is based in Belgium with the BikeNZ track squad, made a solo break to win the 123km road race that attracted 245 starters.

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

The two-time junior world medallist is back in top shape after injury prevented him from competing at the New Zealand track championships two months ago.

Currently training with the UCI development programme in Switzerland, Christie will move to the BikeNZ squad in Belgium next month to link in with Beijing track medallists Marc Ryan (Timaru) and Wesley Gough (Waipukurau).

Their fellow Beijing medallists Sam Bewley and Jesse Sergent will line up against their mentor Lance Armstrong in the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico starting today.

Bewley (Rotorua) and Sergent (Feilding) will compete for their Trek Livestrong team, which is supported and mentored by Armstrong.

The seven-time Tour de France champion has been cleared to compete, along with Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer, as he recovers from recent surgery in his comeback to the sport.

In a further New Zealand success in Europe, Beijing Olympian Glen Chadwick won the first stage of the 53rd Tour of Asturias in Spain yesterday.

- NZPA