RACE REPORT STAGE FOUR
Aaron Gate helped his New Zealand National team maintain their dominant form at the UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic in Carterton today – winning stage four in a nail-biting sprint finish.
Gate, a multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist, current World Track Champion and Halberg Award finalist, was supposed to be setting up his teammate George Jackson for the stage win in the Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton sponsored event. However, Jackson was involved in a small crash on the final corner heading into the finishing straight – meaning that Gate had to hold his nerve and maintain his position in the final fast and furious bunch sprint.
He won the 122km stage in 2hrs 45 mins 3.1secs – a whisker from Bailey O’Donnell (Oxford Edge) and third placed Adam Chapman (RushVelo-Ridley).
At the finish line, after checking in with his bloodied teammate Jackson who had grazing to part of his body, Gate said: “It’s bittersweet today … we wanted to get George up for the sprint and he unfortunately crashed. I was just lucky that I was able to hold on from the corner when I was just trying to set him up. No one else was able to come around, so luckily, it was a nice bonus win for the boys, for the week.”
Today’s 122km stage was a new stage for this Tour, so provided all teams with a bit of an unknown quantity. Called the “Carrington Circuit” located in the Carterton district of Wairarapa, it began with a neutralised start from Masterton and headed south where riders completed several laps of a figure eight style circuit that wound around the district’s rolling farmland and through the back of the township.
With valuable points up for grabs for the classification jerseys and very little separating riders at the top of the General Classification table, the pressure was on from the get-go.
Several small breakaways formed prompting the peloton to react, but it wasn’t until around 30km, that five riders managed to get ahead – eventually extending their lead to one minute. This breakaway consisted of Ryan Christensen (NZ National team), Thomas Sexton (St George Continental), Ryan Cavanagh (KINAN Racing team), Toby Evans (Couplands Booth Group) and O’Donnell.
They stuck together while the peloton chased hard, driven by Gate, who was determined to protect the Yellow Jersey. At one point the peloton splintered with riders trying to bridge across to the breakaway, but time and time again, they were unsuccessful.
Around 100km, Christensen and Sexton dropped back into the main group and then with 20km to go, Cavanagh, Evans and O’Donnell could only hold onto a small lead before being absorbed by the peloton who were racing hard, despite hot and windy conditions. They were aided on by small groups of spectators dotted around the course enjoying the exciting racing.
With the peloton back together as they neared Carterton, QFS Cycling team, CCACHE x Par Kup, New Zealand and Coupland riders drove it forward. Everyone was jostling for a position as they rounded the final corner into the finishing straight however a crash took out a small number of riders including Jackson, who at the time was being set up for the final sprint by Gate.
Gate described today’s stage as “relentless”.
“We had George slip into the first move – and they were absolutely motoring those guys – we were lucky we were able to sit back and let the other guys do the chasing. We had Ryan flying our flag and again we took up the chase but weren’t fully committed as we weren’t about to chase a teammate down, but we had to protect the Yellow Jersey also. We then had some help chip in, in the last lap, to really bring them back and it was all on for the sprint.”
Gate said the time bonus he received today will be a handy addition to the tally ahead of the tomorrow’s fifth and final stage, a circuit being held in the centre of Wellington city –Jackson’s home town.
“Hopefully George can rest up and he can finally get his chance at that stage win tomorrow if he pulls up alright,” said Gate.
Meanwhile young Whanganui rider Finnegan Murphy (Southern Cross) rode strongly to retain the U23 Jersey; Australian Liam White (CCACHE x PAR KUP) maintained the King of the Mountain Jersey, Cavanagh was rewarded for his superb work in the breakaway being presented the Most Aggressive Jersey and O’Donnell took out the fiercely contested Sprint Ace Jersey from Gate.
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 4 ofthe UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic, supported by Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton:
- Aaron Gate (New Zealand National team), 2hrs 45 mins 3.1 secs
- Bailey O’Donnell (Oxford Edge)
- Adam Chapman (RushVelo-Ridley).
Classification Jerseys:
- Fagan Motors U23: Finnegan Murphy (Southern Cross)
- FMG King of the Mountain: Liam White (CCACHE x PAR KUP)
- Wiz Wireless Sprint Ace Jersey: Bailey O’Donnell (Oxford Edge)
- The Mobile Communications Services Most Aggressive Rider: Ryan Cavanagh (KINAN Racing team)
- Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton Yellow Jersey: Aaron Gate (New Zealand National Team)