Southland cyclist lands pro contract with Spanish team
“He is a complete cyclist, who climbs well and who also excels in one-day races. We will help him grow."
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Southland’s Josh Burnett has signed with professional Spanish cycling team Burgos BH.
The 23-year-old will follow in the footsteps of fellow Kiwis Aaron Gate and George Jackson who have already been part of the Burgos BH team.
The 2022 SBS Tour of Southland winner has signed with Burgos BH until the 2026 season.
Burnett started his two-wheel career competing in BMX and on the mountain bike.
In 2021 he joined the MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project road team which was founded by fellow Southlander James Canny.
He won several titles and medals in national and continental cross country (XCO) championships before his success in the Tour of Southland.
Burnett joined the Bolton Equities Black Spoke UCI ProTeam and in that first season as a professional he won a stage of the New Zealand Classic, also finished second overall, and finished eighth in the Tour of Hainan in China.
However, the New Zealand team disappeared and Burnett returned to the continental category with the MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project.
Burnett has continued his impressive progression with the highlight this year being his victory in the Tour de Beauce in Canada.
He became the first Kiwi in 34 years to win the Tour de Beauce.
Burnett said he was very happy to be back in the professional peloton next year through the signing with Burgos-BH.
“After the Black Spoke team closed at the end of last year, that was my main goal this season and I'm really excited to be racing with George [Jackson] again.
“I have greatly admired the steps the team has taken in recent years. It is undoubtedly a project that I am delighted to be part of.
“I'm looking forward to learning a lot and helping my teammates on some of the toughest stage laps and one-day races over the next two years,” Burnett said.
Burgos-BH sporting director Damien Garcia said MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project did a good job training young New Zealanders and he was pleased Burnett was now joining the Spanish team.
“We've had a good experience with the two New Zealanders we had in the squad this year.
“This year, Josh has won several UCI races, both road and gravel, most notably the Tour de Beauce, which is a famous event in North America.
“He has only been on the road for three years, having previously competed in BMX. He is still young and has a lot of talent, so he is a bet on the future,” Garcia said.
“He is a complete cyclist, who climbs well and who also excels in one-day races. We will help him grow, as he has great physical potential.”
Congratulations CHAMP.