Former stage winner takes back seat

Former stage winner takes back seat

(Tuesday 05 November) The past 12 months have been a rollercoaster ride for Rotorua cyclist Clinton Avery.

During last year’s Tour of Southland Avery starred for the Ascot Park Hotel Kia Southland team, winning the fourth stage from Tuatapere to Te Anau and putting in a commanding performance throughout the week.

This year he’ll take a back seat, riding in the team van and offering whatever advice and support he can.

It is a big change for the talented road cyclist, but it is one that has been enforced by health issues that hit particularly close to home.

“I raced in the Tour of Canada earlier this year and ended up with a few irregular heartbeats,” he explained.

“The doctors said I should be okay to race but, given my younger brother passed away from a heart attack during a bike race at the end of last year, they suggested I shouldn’t race until I had been given the okay from a cardiologist.”

“During the race I could feel the heartbeats… it was three or four irregular beats per normal one. Since I’ve been off the bike for the past five weeks I haven’t experienced them. I’m putting it down to stress and end of season fatigue, but I’ve had an MRI since I’ve been home am still waiting to discuss it with the cardiologist.”

Coming south for the SBS Bank-sponsored Tour of Southland was something Avery was determined to do, regardless of whether he was on his bike or not.

Now, he’s preparing to view the race from a very different angle; sharing his insight and experience with a strong Ascot Park Hotel Kia Southland line up, that includes Hambrook brothers Kieran and Sean, Southland’s Tom Scully, as well as Andy Hagan, Dion Smith and Australian rider Lachlan Norris.

“Everyone is motivated,” he said.

“We always come to this tour with the attitude that everything is a bonus. We’re all about having a good time and making things fun and exciting. We always tend to put a reasonably strong team together and Pete (Ridsdale) and Bobby (Murrell) are great – it makes you want to give something back, whether that’s winning stages or jerseys.”

“We’ll take the week as it comes. Dion Smith and Tom Scully have got some speed in there for the sprints, so we’ve got those cards to play if it comes down to a bunch finish. Kieran Hambrook is keen to get in the breakaways, so we’ve got that card as well.”

The stage Avery won last year – from Tuatapere to Te Anau – was part of a double stage that has this year been merged into one, with riders starting from Riverton and cycling straight through to Te Anau. It is a change Avery believes is for the better.

“With double stages if the weather is bad, you just get warm then you have put your wet kit back on and get going again and nobody really wants to do that. One stage makes it easier for everyone – from the riders to the management and physios – it’s just easier to deal with,” he said.

Team manager Peter Ridsdale said Avery’s support and experience would be invaluable during the week.

“Having Clinton come down with that technical expertise and support the team is a real benefit,” he said.

“I’m quite happy to sit in the driver’s seat and let Clinton make the calls. We’re quite lucky as our mechanic Bevan Mason is also a cyclist, so we’ve got good knowledge there. We also have all of the resources of the hotel (Ascot Park) behind us, so the boys usually put on some weight during the week.”

ENDS

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