National Cycling Champion without NZ Trade Team

As of this Friday the elite cycling team under MICO PROTRAIN will cease to exist, a late in the piece call revealed that new ownership has declined to uphold the previously allocated funding. This was no reflection on the team management or the riders, but a change in marketing direction – the disappointment evident through a series of meetings with Mico that has made significant brand awareness gains through the cycling team.

Given the timing of this late development, it was reluctantly decided it is not feasible to extend the search for a key Brand to replace Mico, and as such it is with sadness that we close the curtains on this team.

This leaves NZ double U23 Champion Michael Vink and many others without their NZ trade team to support them for the coming 2012/2013 summer season.

Team directors Steve Elden and Richard Aitken would like to thank all of our sponsors and supporters who have funded and helped the dream over the last 4 years:

"The support from all has been significant not just in money terms to get this team to races up and down the country, but the backing of the team spirit through the highs and lows. There have been plenty of both, but we proved that budgets don’t win races – teams win races. And that is the legacy we hope we leave behind" Both Steve and Richard comment.

Both will still continue hard at work with Juniors to ensure the continued development of New Zealand riders.

We would greatly like to thank Mico, All About Plumbing Limited, Protrain, All-Proof Industries, Parry Field Lawyers, Chain Reaction Cycles, Capital Cycles, Mule Bar, Armstrong Sport – Pinarello, Vis-Com, and Tineli along with our many friends and family.

"A big thank you goes out the riders who made the commitments in the quest for success over the last few years. In our short history we can be proud of our achievements"

Current (Road and TT) NZ elite/U23 Champion Michael Vink, NZ Silver Medallist Jeremy Yates, 2011 Tour of Wellington mountain jersey winner Joe Cooper, 2011 NZ Silver medallist Serena Sheridan, Brad Carter, NZ 2011 U23 Club Champion Matt Wheatcroft ,  2011 NZ Club Champion Matt Sillars, Louis Wright, & 2012 NZ Club TT bronze medallist Dan Waluszewski .