PureBlack Racing's Development team wins 'most aggressive rider' jersey in first Australian Tour

While PureBlack Racing’s Pro team is taking the US racing scene by storm their Development team have made their mark in their first Australian Tour, the Tour of Gippsland, with Alex Ray winning the Most Aggressive Rider jersey. Ray also recorded PureBlack Racing’s first ever win on Australian soil winning yesterday’s stage.

The five day Tour of Gippsland, which covers 520km over nine stages, had a field of close to 160 riders from New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia. It is the fourth event in the National Racing Series (NRS).

“Coming into the last stage it was nice to have only one stage for the day, a 44km Criterium, to finish off the tour. We had three of the team in contention for the Most Aggressive Rider jersey which is awarded to the rider who is at the front of the race more than any other rider,” said Carl Williams, PureBlack Racing’s Sports Director.

PureBlack Racing’s plan was to attack aggressively with James McCoy, Louis Crosby and Alex Ray. Each of the riders had a chance to win the jersey, along with three riders from other teams, all on the same points.

The GC riders fought it out on the sprint stages with the last few remaining seconds up for grabs. Every other lap PureBlack Racing took the bunch through the finish and made sure they spent the last ten laps on the front. McCoy took a few laps, as did Crosby, breaking away for a few laps at a time, which generated a real crowd buzz. Ray then took his turn at the front and attracted the commentator’s call.

“The team tried everything they could to get a break away, but the big teams of eight riders were letting nothing get away,” said Benny Devcich, Team Manager for PureBlack Racing.

PureBlack Racing’s Alex Ray was rewarded with the overall Most Aggressive Rider jersey for the tour.

“Winning a stage and four Most Aggressive Rider jersey’s is a pretty good return from our first tour in Australia, particularly as we only had five riders. On Overall GC Louis Crosby was our top performer finishing in 13th,” said Benny Devcich.

Two more riders will join PureBlack Racing’s Development team for the Tour of Geelong in ten days’ time.

PureBlack Racing’s US based Pro team will contest their final American tour for this year at the 2011 Tour of Utah, 9 – 14 August. The team which has been located in Boulder, Colorado since March will be returning home after the Tour of Utah to prepare for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia.