Cycling: PureBlack late entry to top UCI event

Jorge Sandoval. Photo / APN

Trust House cycle classic race director Jorge Sandoval has reluctantly accepted a late entry from New Zealand professional team PureBlack Racing for this month's race.

Sandoval was irked when the newly formed team failed to enter before the December deadline, recently saying, "If you want to run a professional team, you have to know what you're doing."

However, he changed his mind after discussions last week with PureBlack Racing sports director Carl Williams.

Sandoval said Williams had apologised for missing the deadline and agreed to pay a late entry fee.

That extra money would go into the prizemoney pool for the race, from January 26-30.

"The decision to allow PureBlack a late entry was mine alone, and I did it principally for the benefit of the five Pure Black riders, who would not otherwise have had the chance to compete through no fault of their own.

"At the end of the day having PureBlack Racing compete is in the best interests of New Zealand cycling," Sandoval said.

Williams was pleased his team would show their wares against a host of overseas riders.

"As New Zealand's top-ranked UCI event, this is a race we always wanted to be part of," Williams said.

"Jorge's willingness to reconsider is a clear demonstration of the way in which he always puts the riders first.

"He puts a lot of hard work into the tour alongside his sponsors and support crew, and we will now focus on preparing for the race and doing everything we can to make this a memorable race."

PureBlack Racing was formed with the goal of becoming New Zealand's first UCI ProTour team.

It has signed Tim Gudsell, Michael Torckler, Glen Chadwick, Roman van Uden and a clutch of other rising New Zealand riders.

- NZPA