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New Zealand cycling has received a much needed boost on Monday, with a deal being struck to send a fully funded women's team to compete in the US.
A team of seven will head to the American summer to compete on the tough professional tour.
They include Commonwealth Games mountain bike silver medallist Rosara Joseph and Olympians Sarah Ulmer and Michelle Hyland.
Also joining them is one of the country's most promising young cyclists Lauren Koredyk.
"If this didn't come along I'd be probably riding in the rain a lot, suffering through the domestic season in New Zealand," the 18-year-old from Tauranga told ONE News.
The team, known as Jazz Apples, will be coached by Susy Pryde and will be an all-Kiwi affair, including the sponsor ENZA.
It comes as a welcome relief to the cycling community following the alcohol-fuelled incident involving three track riders at the Commonwealth Games in March.
Marc Ryan and Tim Gudsell were put on probation by Bike NZ after the pair, along with Liz Williams, was involved in a drunken incident at the athlete's village following the end of their cycling programme.
The man responsible for the sponsorship deal, David Nelley from the Oppenheimer Group, admitted the controversy was discussed.
"It did come up for quite heavy consideration but then once we found out the endurance athletes were quite a different block of riders really we had no qualms," said Nelley.
Coach Pryde said the incident did not really factor into the deal.
"They appreciate and love cycling. There was no stopping the whole thing really and I don't think something like what has just previously happened was going to jeopardise it."
The team's first race is in Colorado at the end of the month.
