FINAL RACE REPORT – STAGE FIVE
Aaron Gate did the “black jersey proud” in Wellington today, claiming the UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic title and in the process entering the tour’s history books becoming the fourth rider to win the title more than once.
Gate bided his time today in the circuit race held around the inner-city streets of Wellington city, overcoming challenging gusty winds and spurred on by a large raucous crowd, to win the fifth and final stage in a sprint finish. Thomas Sexton (St George Continental) was second and Bailey O’Donnell (Oxford Edge) third.
Gate described today’s race as very hectic.
“It was a pretty hectic day actually … I just wanted to get one of my team mates up for that final stage and had Kiaan (Watts) on my wheel coming through the last few corners and then he just yelled go! I thought he was there, but he actually had feathered his brakes a bit to open up for me to go … and I looked around and saw he wasn’t there and thought I’d better step on it as it’s not him that’s going to be coming around me, it will be someone else and so I just held on with Tom Sexton and Bailey (O’Donnell) chasing me down, so it was pretty cool to take a fourth one,” Gate said.
Gate, a multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist and current World Track Champion who earlier this week was named as Halberg Award finalist, capped off an absolutely dominant week by being presented the Yellow Jersey by race director Jorge Sandoval. It was his fourth stage win in this year’s tour, sponsored by Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton, racing in the black and white colours of the New Zealand National team, while his teammate Kiaan Watts won stage two, in Martinborough.
Despite the New Zealand National team’s consistency this tour, the Cross Country Rentals Team’s Classification Jersey went to Australian Team BridgeLane who performed consistently within the General Classification (based on the top three).
Whanganui rider Finnegan Murphy (Southern Cross) remained in control today to retain the U23 Jersey; Australian Liam White (CCACHE x PAR KUP) maintained the King of the Mountain Jersey and Craig Oliver (MitoQ New Zealand Cycle Project) who constantly went off the front in today’s circuit race was presented the Most Aggressive Jersey.
Bailey O’Donnell, who won two out of the three sprint stages in today’s stage and placed second in the other, retained the Sprint Ace Jersey.
After the race Gate thanked the crowd that lined the Lambton Quay in Wellington.
“It was unreal out there today … honestly I want to give Wellington such a huge cheer for turning out like that.”
New Zealand Cycle Classic Race Director Jorge Sandoval says Gate becomes the fourth person in the tour’s history to win it more than once.
Sandoval said Brian Fowler won the Tour from 1989 – 1992; Ric Reid won it in 1994 and 1996 and Hayden Roulston won it in 2006 and 2007. Gate has previously won the Tour in 2019.
The 2024 Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton NZ Cycle Classic has been made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton, Mobile Communications Service, Wizwireless, Fagan Motors, Gollins Commercial, FMG, The Sign Factory, Tailwind, Cross Country Rentals, and Wellington City Council. Their backing underscores the commitment to fostering and promoting top tier cycling events in the region.
Provisional Results from Stage 5 of the UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic, supported by Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton:
1. Aaron Gate (New Zealand National team)
2. Thomas Sexton (St George Continental)
3. Bailey O’Donnell (Oxford Edge)
Classification Jerseys:
4. Fagan Motors U23: Finnegan Murphy (Southern Cross)
5. FMG King of the Mountain: Liam White (CCACHE x PAR KUP)
6. Wiz Wireless Sprint Ace Jersey: Bailey O’Donnell (Oxford Edge)
7. The Mobile Communications Services Most Aggressive Rider: Craig Oliver (MitoQ New Zealand Cycle Project)
8. Cross Country Rentals Teams Classification Jersey: Team BridgeLane
9. Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton Yellow Jersey: Aaron Gate (New Zealand National Team)