SA young gun signs for Barloworld
13 September 2006
Team Barloworld, the South African-sponsored professional continental cycling team, has penned a contract with the promising young South African rider John-Lee Augustyn.
The 20-year-old Augustyn, who will join Team Barloworld in 2007, has had an impressive 2006 season after scooping the under-23 South African Road Race title, the Tour de Lesotho title, and taking the award for the best climber in the Tour of Japan.
South African under-23 team
Currently with Team Konica Minolta, Augustyn has also been selected for the South African under-23 men's team that will compete in the World Road Race Championships in Salzburg, Austria later this year.
"I'm very excited to join Team Barloworld, this is one of my dreams coming true," Augustyn said. "They are a strong team and I look forward to riding with the experienced riders like Degano and Cox, from whom I can learn a lot.
"More importantly, I am
honoured to ride under the guidance of one of the most respected and professional team managers in the world - Claudio Corti.
'I have a great passion for cycling'
"I have a great passion for cycling and, as a climber, I see myself getting stronger with every race," Augustyn said. "What I'm most excited about is that Team Barloworld's success has been built around the team's brand philosophy of personality, values, team work and individual excellence.
"They see themselves as competitors who are professional and passionate and they believe in integrity, teamwork and relationships."
Team Barloworld's 2006 stalwarts Enrico Degano (Italy), Ryan Cox (South Africa), Alex Efimkin (Russia) and Hugo Sabido (Portugal) have signed their contracts with the team for the 2007 season.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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