SPORT 13
www.age.co.nz Wednesday, January 6, 2021
STAGE ONE
New Zealand
CYCLE CLASSIC 2021
Jan 13 Jan 17
WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2021 Distance: 10km, Teams’ time trial Finish Location: Mitre 10 MEGA
STAGE TWO
THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021 Distance: 158.1km. Finish Location: Manuka St outside Masterton Golf Club
STAGE THREE
FRIDAY 15 JANUARY 2021 Distance: 127km. Finish Location: Cambridge Rd, Martinborough
STAGE FOUR
& WELLINGTON Experience a thrilling atmosphere
SATURDAY 16 JANUARY 2021 Distance: 125.6km. Finish Location: Top of Admiral Hill, Gladstone
Watch top Kiwi riders in action More details at www.cycletournz.com
SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 2021 Distance: Criterium is one hour + 3 laps Finish Location: Lambton Quay, Wellington
STAGE FIVE
WAIRARAPA leads the world with NZ CYCLE CLASSIC Despite Covid-19 restrictions preventing many international riders from competing in next week’s New Zealand Cycle Classic, there is still plenty of international interest.
Cycling New Zealand Athlete Development Lead and National Road Selector Graeme Hunn is excited these racing opportunities have remained available despite the disruption and the opportunity this presents for more NZ riders to take part.
Wairarapa will host the ÿ rst UCI-sanctioned road cycling event in the world next week and race director Jorge Sandoval is excited. The ÿ rst four stages of the New Zealand Cycle Classic will be held in the Wairarapa from Wednesday, 13 January while, for the ÿ rst time in 10 years, the ÿ nal stage will be held in downtown Wellington on Sunday, 17 January. As part of this ÿ nal stage – a fun, community event called Cycle The Golden Mile will also be held (see next page for more information).
“We commend the perseverance by the race organisers to keep these events on the calendar despite the challenges they have faced and especially the impact travel restrictions have on their ability to host international riders.
The New Zealand Cycle Classic is a UCI level 2 sanctioned event and the sole Oceania UCI stage road event being held in New Zealand this month after all six Australian races usually run early in the year, including the Tour Downunder, were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The UCI, the world body, granted dispensation to Masterton-based race director Jorge Sandoval to hold the ÿ ve-stage event and allowed full sanctioning status and o° cial UCI points to be given to riders, without the mandatory number of international teams competing because of border restrictions.
“These events are aspirational to our young domestic riders and are a critical development opportunity and with the exceptions made by UCI more young riders can now take part and they will be joined on the start line by some of our World Tour and international professional riders who have remained or returned to New Zealand due to the cancellation of other races.”
Two other events being staged in Manawatu – the Gravel and Tar Classic and Gravel and Tar Femme – have also received dispensation.
New Zealand Cycle Classic race director Jorge Sandoval is looking forward to delivering this month’s event in a memorable way.
“This is my 34th NZ Cycle Classic and despite all the issues we and the world have with Covid-19, my team and I are working very hard to ensure the 2021 NZ Cycle Classic is once again the premier multi-day cycle race in New Zealand,” said Sandoval. “This is a fantastic opportunity for young up-and-coming kiwi Jorge Sandoval. cyclists to take part in a UCI PHOTO/DAVE event right here in our own LINTOTT country and see what it is like. I am grateful to all our sponsors for their continued support and we invite the cycling community to participate in the special cycling events in the ÿ nal day in Wellington, including children and local riders which will take place before the ÿ nal stage around downtown streets in the Capital.” Sandoval will welcome 14 teams to the Tour next week including New Zealand’s only UCI continental team, Black Spoke Pro Cycling Academy lead by 2019 Tour winner Aaron Gate; Australian-based St George Continental which has six Kiwi riders on its list including 2014 Tour winner Michael Vink and the New Zealand National team lead by Finn Fisher-Black. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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