The Blackburn Brightstar Bicycle Superstore Team

Bicycle SuperStore, in conjunction with Blackburn Cycling Club, have formed an alliance to build an elite men’s cycling team for the ongoing Victorian Super Series Teams Road Racing Series, and in 2008 Brightstar joined as naming sponsor.

“We will race, train and win as a team, with all members prepared to sacrifice their place in a race for the good of the team”. We aim to be one of the top 5 elite cycling teams in Victoria, to develop under 23 riders into successful elite riders, to ‘export’ our riders to institute teams with a view to supporting riders through to professional contracts and to support our riders across all avenues, helping them to represent Blackburn Cycling Club around Australia and the world. The team also supports Blackburn’s Junior riders through sponsorship of club awards.

The team currently consists of two managers, Jo Leaper and Brett Curren, with three levels of contracted riders, full time, part time and associate riders. We hope to develop a second squad of riders with time.

BBN Team

From the left: Matt Davis, Tom Leaper, Stefan Kirsch and Andrew Roland.

Team Manager : Jo Leaper and Brett Curren.

The 2008 squad consists of:

 Full Time Riders  Tom Leaper, Team Captain  Matthew Davis  Andrew Rolland (u23)
 Part Time Riders  Stefan Kirsch  Kane Walker  Ed Vawdrey
 Associate Riders  Fabio Calabria  Michael Cupitt  Jamie Goddard
Tom Leaper

Occupation: Civic Transport, Victorian Sales Manager
Racing since 1993
Brief History: Began riding after high school, completed University degree in Commerce and won the Australian National Road Series in 1998, earning an AIS scholarship in 1999. Turned professional with Italian Team Panaria/ Fiordo (2000-2001), American team Navigators (2002). Retired 2003 and returned to racing 2007.
Career Highlights: Giro d’Italia 2000-2001, World Professional Road Race Championship 1999-2001
Major Victories: Australian Road Series 1998, Gran Premio del Marmo (Ita) 1999
Aim: To win a state or national level road race, such as Melbourne to Warrnambool. To develop and support Brightstar team members to be the most successful Club/ Bike shop team in Victoria.

Tom’s other interests include golf, tennis, AFL and spending time with family and friends
Matt Davis

Occupation: Nurseryman
Racing since 2005
Brief History: I began cycling in 2005, while trying to recover from 3 knee operations
Aim: Be as competitive as possible
Open Results: 1st Fred Icke 2006, 5th Rob Vernon 2007
Cycling heroes: Australian riders Phil Andersen
Motto: Pain is only temporary; memories last forever

Matt’s other interests include Snow Skiing, Travel, Wedding Planning

Stefan Kirsch

Occupation: Marketing Projects Specialist
Racing since 1993
Brief History: Started doing triathlons, got into road racing as cross training and liked it after a while. Back into racing from 2005 after some time off to go fishing.
Favourite tour: Colerain
Favourite day race: Lang Lang and Shepparton 150 classic,
Aim: To be in the top 30 at the Melbourne to Warrnambool, to do the Tour of Tasmania, help build the team up for consistent good placing in teams racing.

When not on the bike Stefan likes to spend time with family, work on holiday house and invite friends to a BBQ.

Andrew Rolland
Occupation: Student
Brief History: Started swimming when I was young and got into triathlons in 1998 through that, then started doing cross country in 2000 to help with my run leg, stopped doing triathlons in 2003 but continued doing cross country through till 2004, also dabbled in water polo, athletics and rowing. In 2005 I started to take cycling seriously and got into racing
Favourite race: Melbourne to Warrnambool.
Favourite training ride: Anything that goes via the bakery in Emerald and involves coffee and an apple scroll the size of my head.
Kane Walker

Occupation: Casual Labouring work
Racing since 2005
Brief History: I used to do a few of the Great Victoria Bike rides. Then my dad suggested i got to one of the club races. I did well and it has stemmed from there.
Favourite tour: 3 Day Tour of Gippsland
Favourite day race: Bay crit series
Aim: To see how deep the rabbit hole goes and one day find myself getting paid to ride.

When not on the bike I like to: spend time with family, play computer games, draw and cook
Ed Vawdrey

Racing since 2005
Favourite race: Bay2Bay
Cycling hero: Stuart O'Grady
Aim: stay healthy, race hard, top 3 overall for BBS team.

When I'm not on the bike I like to relax and have a beer with mates, play poker and go travelling