PureBlack Racing continue impressive form in Philadelphia

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PureBlack Racing continue impressive form in Philadelphia

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 5 May, 2011 – PureBlack Racing continues to show they can compete at the top level of cycling in America with a typically aggressive race in Philadelphia today where James Williamson placed sixth in a photo finish sprint.

James Williamson (left in the frame) at the sprint finish

PureBlack Racing’s Glen Chadwick set the pace at the start of the race and was solo off the front as the race went into its second lap. He was soon joined by four other riders in a break which stretched out to close to nine minutes and wasn't reeled back in until the ninth lap in the ten 14.5 mile lap race.

“We came here to race at a whole new level and punch out against Pro Continental and Pro Tour teams. We really stepped up with the whole team working to give us what we consider to be an outstanding result at this level of cycling,” said Carl Williams, Sports Director of PureBlack Racing.

As the peloton gathered in the breakaway group Glen Chadwick, who had ridden hard off the front all day, retired and the rest of the PureBlack Racing team was right at the front on the last climb up Manayunk wall. The team repeated the effort on the last of the three final circuits up Lemon Hill as they began to position themselves for a sprint finish.

With 1km to go Tim Gudsell, James Williamson and Mike Northey were sitting nicely in the sprint train lining up for the finish when two SpiderTech riders and a Jamis rider collided on the inside line taking Gudsell and Northey down with them in a pile up of about eight cyclists. James Williamson continued on to finish sixth in a sprint finish won by HTC rider Alex Rasmussen.

“Traveling around the race circuit in the caravan was an amazing experience today,” said Greg Cross, Business Director, PureBlack Racing. “The crowd was huge and spread out almost right around the whole course in the middle of a major American city. The Manayunk Wall and Lemon Hill crowds were ten deep by the end of the race and the support and encouragement for all teams and riders was huge.”

For more information on the team and racing schedule see www.pureblackracing.com

ENDS

About PureBlack Racing:

PureBlack Racing is New Zealand’s first international professional road cycling team, launched in 2010, with the aim becoming New Zealand’s leading international UCI ProTour road cycling team. Lead by America’s Cup yachtsman, Star Class World Champion and Olympian, Carl Williams and investor and entrepreneur Greg Cross, PureBlack Racing will compete in the UCI’s US Continental Tour in 2011 with the ultimate aim of becoming a ProTour Team with entry to the Tour de France.

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