Kiwi cyclist secures pro contract

World track cycling medallist Jesse Sergent is the latest New Zealander to secure a Pro Tour contract.

Sergent, 22, of Feilding, has landed a contract with Lance Armstrong's Team Radioshack after competing for the past two years for their Trek-Livestrong under-23 team.

He becomes the fifth New Zealander riding for a major team, including Radioshack teammate Sam Bewley, Julian Dean, Greg Henderson and Hayden Roulston.

Sergent is delighted with the news and excited about the future.

''The last two years with Trek-Livestrong has been really great and right now I am enjoying my time on trial with Radioshack,'' he said.

''My immediate focus is on preparing for the Commonwealth Games (in India next month) but this is very exciting. It's given me plenty of incentive to work hard this summer to prepare myself for the Pro Tour which is a dream come true.''

Sergent won a silver medal in the individual pursuit at this year's world championships and was a key member of the New Zealand team who won bronze in the team pursuit.

He recently won the time trial stage in the Tour of Gila ahead of highly regarded American stars Dave Zabriskie and Levi Leipheimer.

He is a former junior world champion in the team pursuit, won a bronze medal in the same event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and holds the New Zealand record hold in the individual pursuit.

BikeNZ high performance director Mark Elliott said Gough's promotion underlined the advances being made to the organisation's cycling programme.

''Jesse is a class act and it's rewarding that our riders who are producing world quality performances on the track within the BikeNZ programme are getting professional opportunities on the road,'' he said.

''Jesse has been assured that he will be able to still ride the track in line with his goal of the (2012) London Olympics and I am sure he will be a real asset to the Radioshack organisation.''

- NZPA