CASEY TOMKINSÂ http://www.ararat.yourguide.com.au
ARARAT – Ararat cyclist Nic Sanderson has been signed to professional United States cycling team Jelly Belly Pro Cycling.
Sanderson’s cycling career suffered a crushing setback in 2006, when a minor medical condition saw him part ways with a prominent Belgian ProTour team.
After Sanderson’s relationship with the Davitamon-Lotto cycling team ended, he returned to Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport’s cycling program, completing a season with the team in Italy last year. The 23yearold has spent the last five years with the AIS, training alongside some of the country’s most promising cyclists.
The setback two years ago makes the year-long signing to the San Diego based Jelly Belly Pro Cycling team particularly rewarding.
“It’ll be a new start, and it’ll be good to get back into it,” Sanderson said.
The 12 rider team is made up of nine Americans, one New Zealander and two Australians.
Sanderson said he was `really looking forward to going to the States’.
“The (cycling) scene over in America is getting bigger and bigger so I can see myself staying there for a while,” Sanderson said.
Mick Thornbury from the Ararat and District Cycling Club said he was delighted to learn of Sanderson’s signing to the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling team.
“We’re just absolutely rapt he’s been signed to the team,” Thornbury said.
“He puts in the hard yards which makes him so deserving of being signed with the team.”
Sanderson flies out to America on January 30 and starts an intensive training camp two days later. His first event with the Jelly Belly team will be the Amgen Tour of California held in mid-February.
The eight day race covers around 1226 kilometres of Californian coastline from Stanford University to Pasadena.
During the season, the team will race mainly in America, but will also travel to Asia for some competitions.
Sanderson plans to fly back to Australia for a week in March to compete at the Bendigo International Madison.
Sanderson is looking at a pretty tight schedule of team commitments over the next couple of months and is looking forward to the experience.
“I just hope to put a really good year together and maybe sign a bigger contract in the future,” Sanderson said.
