Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team::..

Thursday, 02 February 2006

Heath Blackgrove

Country: New Zealand

Height: 5'8'

Weight: 143 lbs

Date of Birth: 12/05/1980

Place of Birth: Oamaru, New Zealand

Residence: Waimate, South Canterbury, NZ

Pro Since: 2005

In 2003, Blackgrove was also a member of the New Zealand Pursuit Team that took home Gold at the Sydney World Cup and took sixth place in the same event at the World Track Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. One of his greatest career
achievements to date occurred in 2004, when he represented New Zealand in the road race and time trial at the Olympic Gamesin Athens, Greece.

From an early age, Blackgrove was coached by Colin Ryan, a New Zealand sprinting legend who has remained a mentorthroughout his career. He has also trained under respected Aussie track coach, Charlie Walsh, whom he credits for adding a new
dimension to his training, focusing on bigger miles, strength and power and helping him make the jump to the pros.

An all-round cyclist and team player, Blackgrove is strongest on rolling to hilly terrain and in time trials. Before joining Toyota-United, his career was based overseas, racing for Belgian teams Beveren and Jartazi Ravor. Despite success in both the United States and in Europe, his favorite race is still the one that takes him home - the Tour of Southland. It is a six-day event run in the south of New Zealand and one of the only New Zealand races his schedule allows.

After an impressive start to the 2007 season (three wins in New Zealand), a leg injury suffered in the Amgen Tour of California in February disrupted his spring schedule. But it is hoped he will be able to return to full-time racing by May.

Team History

2006 - Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
2005 - Jartazi Revor (continental), Belgium
2003-2004 - Beveren 2000, Belgium (amateur)

2007 Results
1st Overall, Tour of the Vineyards
1st, Stages 3 and 4, Tour of the Vineyards
3rd, Stages 1 and 2, Tour of the Vineyards
3rd, New Zealand National Championship Road Race
2nd, Boulevard Road Race
1st, Stage 6, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
2nd, Team Time Trial, International Tour de ?Toona

2006 Highlights
1st Overall, San Dimas Stage Race
1st Overall, Valencia Stage Race
1st, Stage 3, Valencia Stage Race
1st, Stage 1, Central Valley Classic
1st, New Zealand Track Nationals, Team Pursuit
3rd, New Zealand Track Nationals, Madison
1st, Stage 4, Tour de Vineyards, New Zealand
2nd Overall, Tour de Vineyards, New Zealand
2nd Overall, Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic
2nd, Stage 1, Valencia Stage Race
2nd, Stage 2, Valencia Stage Race
3rd, Stage 1, San Dimas Stage Race
3rd Overall, Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic
3rd, Stage 1, Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic
5th Overall, Redlands Classic
6th, Garrett Lemaire (Ojai, CA)

2005
1st, Gistel, Belgium
2nd, Tour de Jura, Switzerland
2nd, Overall Le Triptyque des Monts au Chateaux, Belgium
3rd, Stage 3, Le Triptyque des Monts au Chateaux

2005 (Continued)
2nd, Circuit des Plages Vendee, Chantonnay, France
1st, Tour de Vineyards, 1st Stage 2 & 3
1st, Tour of Southland Teams Classification

2004
Four times second and third in stages, Powernet Tour of Southland
1st Senior Elite Men Road Race, National Road Championship, Hokitika
1st Senior Elite Men Time Trial, National Road Championships, Hokitika
1st Bellegem, Kermese, Belgium
New Zealand Olympic Team, Road Race and Time Trial, Athens, Greece
1st Zonnebeke, Kermese, Belgium
4th Westrozobeke Professional Kermese, Belgium
5th Overall Tour de Liege, 3rd Stage 4, 2nd Hill Classiment, Belgium
11th, Team Pursuit, World Track Championships, Melbourne, Australia
1st, Peter Stevens Memorial Road Race, South Australia
3rd, Archer International Grand Prix Road Race, England
2nd, Challenge de Hesbay-Trognee Road Race, Trognee, Belgium
1st, Ellezelles Kermese, Ellezelle, Belgium
2nd Overall and 1st in team classification, Tour d'Emirates, Dubai, UAE
1st, Prologue, Tour d'Emirates, Dubai, UAE
Overall Leader for five days, Tour d'Emirates, Dubai, UAE
5th, Team Pursuit, Moscow World Cup, Moscow, Russia
10th, Tour of Wellington
1st, Tour de Vineyards, Nelso, and 1st on Stage 2

Other Notable Results
2003 - 6th Pursuit, World Track Championships, Stuttgart, Germany
2003 - 1st Team Pursuit, World Cup Track meeting, Sydney, Australia
2003 - 1st Senior Elite Men Road Race, National Road Championships, Napier
2003 - 2nd Senior Elite Men Time Trial, National Road Championships, Napier
2002 - New Zealand Road and Track Team, Commonwealth Games, Manchester
2002 - 1st Under 23 and 3rd overall GC - Powernet Tour of Southland
Nine other New Zealand National road and track titles, from U-17 to Senior Elite

Last Updated ( Monday, 28 January 2008 )

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