@Ian Hell yeah, they are. Lavery should do a great job as Group B's main sprinter, while Adam will hopefully do well in the mountains.

@Shonak & mvhoogdalem The team would be to OP, at least in the future, with both of them in it. We did need a climber though, so Adam was the first choice.

@Sutty Yeah, it's great. I couldn't believe just how easy it was to win those NCs, however the other races won't be as easy/succesful. (I've already played a fair bit)

@Shonak Nope, the NZ Cycling Classic is up before that.

@Welker It has indeed, much better than expected.

It's only three days untill my first race, and training is going well! I'm getting more and more excited about riding my first official event in four years, never mind it being my first ever pro race. It's a hard life as cyclist, so much i can already say, even without having a race day under my belt. It also has it's good sides though, like riding in a stunning scenery, at least while we're in New Zealand, and yesterday afternoon we also went surfing on Aikito Beach, which was great fun! WE have even been promised that on our transfer to Auckland Airport after the race, we'll stop of to see Hobbiton from the Lord of the Rings!

Meanwhile in Australia, Alexandr Kolobnev took a really nice win on the Old Willunga Hill, which secured him the GC win at the Santos Tour Down Under. Tom Veelers also won the points jersey.

@Hobbit I see it was a good idea to bring Hobbiton in to this.

@Sutty Well, you'll find out soon.

My first ever Pro Race Day! It was like the Dublin U-16's Championships, just much, much more special. I stood on the ramp, took a deep breath, let everything that had happened in my youth cycling career pass by, from the first time I rode in a race, to the day I was told I was banned for four whole years. Then I was ready to let that chapter behind me forever, and really enter the world of professional cycling. I rolled of the ramp as the last rider of our team, determined to push as hard as i could over the course of the 6 km prologue. I wasn't expecting much, since time trialling isn't my best discipline, but I can go hard for a few kilometres, which I need of course as a sprinter, so I wasn't entirely surprised finishing 5 seconds down in 12th as our teams best finisher. It's great to have my first race under my belt, but now i'm only all the more excited for tomorrows first road stage, where I can see what it really means to be a pro cyclist.

@Ian I'm sure he can do it. NZ Cycling Classic not exactly being the biggest race of the season will surely help too.

@Sutty Over the moon after having even made some green jersey points in his first ever pro race.

@Shonak It is, especially considering he isn't exactly a time trial specialist.

@mvhoogdalem I'm sure he'll do it

My first real road stage was today. And what a stage it was! We had brought four sprinters, Nico Eeckhout, Sam Bennet, Pieter Ghyllebert and me, and said we'd see how it goes. I was feeling good, so Nico and Sam lead me out, and I gave it my all, and actually took the lead. In the end I got passed by somebody, I can't even remember who because I was so high on adrenaline, but I hung on to finish 2nd on my first ever road stage. Behind me were riders like J.J. Haedo and Ian Wilkinson! The look on their face was shell-shocked. In fact, Juan Jose came up to congratulate me, and said: „Well done, Sam!“. He didn't believe me when I said I was Jack, and Sam had to come to prove him that i had finished 2nd, not he.