Sergent earns trial with Radioshack Pro Tour team

World pursuit medallist Jesse Sergent is set to join Pro Tour team Radioshack for the rest of the season.

The Manawatu cyclist is currently competing in the Cascade Cycling Classic in the US for his Trek Livestrong Under-23 team, but has received a stagiere by the team’s big brother – cycling’s terminology for work experience.

Sergent will join Radioshack next week although he will still be granted timeout to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

 “I’m hoping this works out and it leads to something next year,” Sergent said; “It’s a fantastic opportunity which has been a real goal since coming to the US.”

Sergent said he had been working very hard in his second year with Trek Livestrong and is looking forward to the opportunity.

He won the prologue stage of the current tour and was second in the individual time trial, and recently won the time trial stage in the Tour of Gila over Tour de France riders Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie.

BikeNZ High performance Director Mark Elliott said it was outstanding news for Sergent and he is confident the young kiwi will show his wares in the coming weeks for Radioshack.

“Jesse is a very classy young rider with a outstanding potential. It’s great for Jesse and also further recognition for the BikeNZ programme.”

Sergent is expected to be named early next month in the New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Games and will join the track team for pre-Games preparation in Bordeaux next month. He has yet to be informed what racing he will be doing for Radioshack in the next six weeks.

Elliott said that two other New Zealand riders were in the running to receive stagier invitations in the coming weeks.