Savings & Loans confirm Wellington start

Australia's Savings & Loans professional cycling team has confirmed its participation in January's Tour of Wellington, with the team unveiling it's rider lineup. The South Australian outfit will be lead by Olympic gold medallist Brett Aitkin and reigning Australian Road Champion Russell Van Hout.

"We had a very good SunTour race recently and we are racing all the big races in Australia between now and January, so we should be on top form for the Trust House Cycle Classic," said team manager Steven Cunningham.

Joining Aitkin and Van Hout at the New Zealand event is former Australian national champions David Pell and Adiran Laidler, and rising talent Will Dickenson.

Tour of Wellington race director Jorge Sandoval was pleased with the announcement that the UCI continental team would take part in the event. "I was at the international SunTour race in Australia in October and this team was one of the most competitive in the race," said Sandoval. "One of their riders finished second in the overall classification and they are one of the strongest teams in Australia. Van Hout is good enough to be the fourth Australian rider to win this race in 20 years".