Opening-day win for Roman Van Uden at Tour of Toona

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Opening-day win for Roman Van Uden at Tour of Toona

Auckland, New Zealand, 7 July 2011 – PureBlack Racing’s Roman van Uden has won the opening-day in the 2011 Tour de Toona - the Altoona Sunset Individual Time Trial in Pennsylvania. The team made their mark in spectacular fashion on the first day of the four day stage race with a further five PureBlack Racing riders posting top-ten times in the 4.2km Time Trial.

22-year old van Uden won the Time Trial finishing in 5 minutes, 5 seconds and 6-tenths of a second, which was more than two seconds ahead of the men's runner-up. Team mate Tim Gudsell took out fourth place in the competitive field.

“The course today was just perfect for me. It was extremely technical with over 20 corners including one particular section that was very tight and twisty,” said van Uden.

Carl Williams, PureBlack Racing’s Sports Director said, “At the beginning of our US season we were struggling to put one of our riders in the top 10 because we are just not used to prologues in New Zealand. The result today again shows just how far the guys have come in our racing programme up here.”

Van Uden and the team were riding today for a team member who has returned home to New Zealand to be with a very ill family member. “This is a very special victory for Roman and the whole team,” said Williams.

PureBlack Racing’s team for the tour is Glen Chadwick, Tim Gudsell, Dan Barry, Mark Langlands, Scott Lyttle, Shem Rodger, Roman Van Uden and James Williamson. The tour is a return to the NRC in America after racing in the Tour de Beauce in Canada at the end of June.

Tomorrow’s stage is a hilly 117km stage with an 8km climb to a mountain top finish.

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

ENDS

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