Avanti signs Leary

Elite New Zealand mountain biker Nic Leary signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Avanti bikes. The timing couldn't be better for Leary, who is departing for seven-week training and racing trip to Canada, which will culminate in two rounds of the UCI World Cup, before she heads back to the southern hemisphere for the World Championships.

"It is pretty cool to be representing a New Zealand company internationally," said Leary, who entered her first race in 2007. She's quickly been working her way up the ranks of the sport. In 2009, she was second in both the New Zealand national cross country and marathon championship. She is also the current New Zealand Xterra off-road triathlon champion.

In the short term, Leary's focus is on mountain bike and Xterra worlds, but looking ahead, she has her eye on a spot on the Olympic Games team in 2012.

"I'm just trying to be the best athlete I can be. For now I'm chasing international experience and competition to develop to my full potential. And have a lot of fun, competing in cool races along the way."

Leary is also sponsored by DT Swiss and Kenda.