Menzies salutes the crowd (Image credit: Mark Zalewski)
The Big Australian
Having started racing later in life, Australian rider Karl Menzies joined Advantage Benefits/Endeavor, a developmental team, in late 2004. As a team captain, Menzies is enjoying his racing in the US and recently sat down with Cyclingnews' Mark Zalewski to talk about racing Stateside.
Australian Karl Menzies has been enjoying his first full year of North American racing on the newly formed Advantage Benefits/Endeavour pro team. He, along with countryman Richard England joined the squad directed by former pro Robbie Ventura - the pair met the veteran sprinter after racing around Wisconsin against him at last year's Superweek. When Ventura retired and became director of the team, he got in touch with the two and brought them to the US to ride with this pro team; a team very much focused on development. "They were just outstanding," Ventura remarked about their performance last year.
For most new pro teams and their neo-pro riders, the gap between being a top amateur team and an average professional squad can be enormous. However, for Menzies and the new Advantage Benefits/Endeavor team, the first half of the season went well. The team consistently placed riders in the top ten at races like Redlands, Joe Martin, Cap Tech and Nature Valley, where Richard England won the fourth stage, and San Dimas, where Menzies placed third overall.
Unlike most of his fellow riders, Menzies is not what some would call 'young' in terms of cycling. The 28-year-old has been racing on the road for many years and brings that experience to the team as a leader. He also brings physical and mental strength, which contributes greatly to his role as a role model for riders coming through the ranks.
