Azerbaijan team to boost New Zealand Cycle Classic

A thirdinternational team, the Synergy Baku Cycling Project of Azerbaijan, will makeits debut in the New Zealand Cycle Classic in Manawatu next year.

The team ispart of a government-led strategy to improve the standard of the Azerbaijanicyclists and its domestic racing scene.

Themulti-national squad includes well-travelled New Zealand rider Rico Rogers.

ThoughAzerbaijan's first professional team is in its opening year, the team has hadnumerous wins in UCI events (14) in Asia and Europe, with Rogers among thevictors.

Leading theteam in Palmerston North will be Australian William Walker, previously with theRabobank pro team on tours of Italy, Spain and Germany, which should make himamong the favourites to be the overall winner of the classic from January 29 toFebruary 2.

Seasonedprofessionals Daniel Klemme, and brothers Christoph and Michael Schweizer, ofGermany, are also part of the Project alongside another Australian, PatrickLane, who was second behind New Zealander George Bennett on generalclassification in the 2010 classic.

Teammanager David McQuaid said he chose to start the team's year in New Zealandbecause in January and February "a core section of our squad",including the Azeris, are based in Melbourne with team head sporting directorJeremy Hunt.

"Raceslike the NZ Cycle Classic and the Herald Sun Tour, plus good trainingkilometres in the area, should see us arrive at early season races in Asia ingood condition," McQuaid said.

"Weare a development team, and will be for some years to come. Our project inAzerbaijan will take time. The average age in the squad of 17 for 2014 is 25."

Racedirector Jorge Sandoval previously announced two other newcomers to the classicin British team Rapha Condor and OCBC, of Singapore.

"It'llbe interesting to see the Azerbaijan team going head to head with Rapha Condorand OCBC," Sandoval said. "Looking at the Germans in the team I'dexpect the Azerbaijan squad to be very strong on the flat and in the mass bunchsprint finishes."

Sandovalalso has two Australian national road series squads making their debuts in NewZealand, Satalyst Giant and Data#3 Symantic.

Others fromacross the Tasman are still to confirm their lineups, besides the New Zealandteams.

The Giantsquad contains Pat Shaw and Kane Walker, both former members of the overallwinning squad at this year's Cycle Classic, and Theodore Yates, Mitch Cooperand Jackson Mawby.

TheQueensland-based Symantic team of Jacob Kauffmann, David Melville, Alex Grunke,Adam Allen and Kyle Bridgwood will be taking part in their first overseas race.

ANN.Az