Injured Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling's Vink battles on

Subway – Avanti’s Michael Vink was badly injured on the first day of racing in the Powernet Tour of Southland with team management thinking his tour was over, but after four days he is still racing.

Vink was the worse injury after a mass pile up at speed as the bunch approached Bluff on Monday, but each day he is back on the start line to do all he can for his Subway – Avanti team mates.

After the crash he was put in an ambulance with team management convinced his tour was over, but he asked for his bike and managed to climb the tough assignment that is Bluff hill to finish just under the cut off time.

“It was impressive stuff and inspired the team,” Team Manager Hayden Godfrey’ said.

“He has stables in his leg and lots of bruising but each morning is ready to race with the boys.”

Each night the team’s massage therapist spends extra time with the New Zealand Under 23 representative, who will race for Lance Armstrong’s Live strong Under 23 team next year and was third up Bluff Hill in last year’s tour, getting him fit enough to race the next day.

Vink is second last on general classification, one hour and fifteen minutes behind tour leader Yates.

Ends

Notes
• The Subway – Avanti Pro Cycling Team is New Zealand’s only UCI Continental team receiving UCI status in early 2009.
• http://www.youtube.com/user/SubwayAvanti  
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For more information please contact:

Hayden Godfrey
021 464482
www.subwaycycling.co.nz

John McKenzie
enthuse ltd
021 384 730
03 384 7338