Rubicon’s Patrick Bevin signs with Bissell Pro Cycling Team

May 13, 2010 by editor

Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic and Piece of Cake winner Patrick Bevin (Rubicon-Orbea) signed his first pro contract today with the Bissell Professional Cycling Team.

Bevin holds the U19 New Zealand and Oceana Road Champion titles in his home country. In 2009, Bevin won the U19 Road Championships in Australia, and he boasts career highlights from top New Zealand races such as the Tour of Southland and the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. Since coming to the United States this year, Bevin has dominated the early season races, proving himself as a well-rounded rider who can also sprint with the best. Bevin’s strong results in New Zealand this summer launched him into January’s Singapore International Criterium, where he finished 6th. Recently, Bevin won two stages and the overall at the Cherry Blossom Cycling Classic and placed 5th at Tour of Gila, Stage 4.

“Patrick has shown outstanding results as a junior rider, and his transition to the elite level has been very promising,” said Bissell team manager, Glen Mitchell. “We first took note of his abilities while racing against him in the Tour of Southland last year, and we have been watching him closely since then. The opportunity to bring him to BISSELL presented itself and we are very excited to have signed him to the team. His strength in the sprint finish is a welcomed skill and one that we will target for improvement as he integrates into the team and the pro level of the sport.”

Bevin told RoadCycling.co.nz that his short time with Rubicon was crucial in taking the next step in his development.

“I am very lucky to be in the position I am in and have had a huge amount of people support me, both back home and in the USA, to get here and I am very appreciative of all the support I do get,” Bevin told Road Cycling NZ.

“I would also like to extend a huge thank you to everyone in/behind the Rubicon organization,” he said. “I have stepped off the plane and added more to the development of my cycling career in the last eight weeks than I could have dreamed of. Dave and Norrene (Godfrey) do a fantastic job — with just the two of them — running a team with ambitions like they do. I have been taken into a roster, taken into a home, and despite my short stay, it was an enjoyable time with the team.”

Career Highlights:

2010:
* 1st place, Rev Cycle Classic
* 1st place, Tour of Vineyards, stage 1
* 1st place, Tour of Vineyards, stage 2
* 1st place, Cherry Blossom Cycle Classic, Stage 1
* 1st place, Cherry Blossom Cycle Classic, Stage 4
* 1st place, Cherry Blossom Cycle Classic, General Classification
* 1st place, Tour of Dungeness Road Race
* 1st place, Mason Lakes Road Race #3
* 1st place, Piece of Cake Road Race
* 4th place, Tour of Vineyards, General Classification
* 5th place, Tour of Gila, Stage 4
* 6th place, Singapore International Criterium

2009:
* Bike New Zealand Junior Road Cyclist of the Year
* 1st Road Race New Zealand U19 Road Race Championships
* 1st Road Race Australian U19 Road Race Championships
* 1st Road Race Oceania U19 Road Race Championships
* 1st place, Tour of Southland, stage 4
* 1st place, Tour of Southland, stage 7
* 1st place, Tour of Southland, overall sprint classification
* 1st place, Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Classic
* 2nd place, New Zealand Elite Criterium Championships
* 2nd place, New Zealand Time Trial U19 Championships
* 2nd place, Australian U19 Road Race Championships
* 4th place, Team Pursuit World Junior Track Cycling Championships
* 10th place, Madison World Junior Track Cycling Championships