Cycling: Prospect signs with leading pro team

Tom Scully. Photo / Supplied

Southland cyclist Tom Scully has signed a professional contract with one of the sport's biggest teams just weeks after returning to the bike.

Scully, 20, has signed a deal to join the under-23 team of American team Slipstream Sports, the same organisation that top New Zealand rider Julian Dean competes for.

It marks a significant turn in fortunes for the Southlander, whose young career was in jeopardy six months ago when he crashed heavily into a power pole at 60km/h while competing for the BikeNZ team in the Tour of Ireland.

His injuries required three operations for his seriously damaged knee and tendons, with initial reports suggesting he would be out of the sport for a year.

"I'm really excited about the news," Scully said today. "Slipstream are one of the really big professional teams and it is going to be a fantastic challenge and experience."

He said it has gone some way to compensating for missing out on the Commonwealth Games this year. He had been earmarked as a potential medallist at New Delhi after he won the scratch race at the World Cup in Melbourne late last year and was third in the points race, the Madison and the team pursuit at the Beijing World Cup in January.

BikeNZ high performance director Mark Elliott said he was delighted with the contract.

"It is great news for Tom and for our programme. I know just how hard he has worked on his rehabilitation. It means another of our top track riders is going to get great competition and experience with a professional team on the global scene.

"We've been working with Tom on this deal and we are pleased that the team understand that Tom's focus is firmly fixed on the track in the next 20 months to the London Olympics but this opportunity will help him considerably in his goals in that respect."

Scully had recently been back in touch with the American professional team after initial contact last year.

He said it would be a big year for the under-23 group as they have become a full Continental team and will race more in Europe as well as the US. They will be based in Girona in Italy.

He will join Slipstream after the world track championships in March.

- NZPA