wins stage one, named finalist in Halberg Awards –
Multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist and current World Track Champion Aaron Gate has enjoyed a dream start to this week’s five-day UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic, being staged in Wairarapa and Wellington.
Not only did Gate, a previous winner of this Tour, win the 158.1km stage in 3hours 31mins 47 secs with Bailey O’Donnell (Oxford Edge) finishing second and Gate’s teammate Logan Currie third; but he also picked up the green sprint ace jersey and then learned he had been named a finalist for the for the Sportsman of the Year award in the annual Halberg Awards.
“I was just told that (Halberg) so that is something I am pretty excited for,” a surprised Gate said at the finish line in Masterton. “It’s always a massive honour. It’s a fiercely contested competition and it’s always pretty cool to be amongst other sportsman of that calibre … definitely a massive honour!”
It was clear the news resonated with crowd that huddled around the podium to watch all the jersey presentations, with Gate receiving a large round of applause.
“I came into this one with some confidence, having won it before … I kind of knew what it took. The training I’ve been doing over the summer has been very track specific and although the velodrome is flat, this is kind of similar … sort of one minute punch to the line, which is what I’ve been training for, it was good to be able to put that to good use and win a stage.”
Today’s stage began in Masterton, heading northeast with the riders racing on rolling, rural roads. There was some fierce competition in the early stages with numerous attacks from Campbell Pithie (Couplands Booths Group), Matt McClune (IBuilt Racing) and Ollie Jones (Southern Cross Racing), however nothing really stuck until around 50km when a breakaway of four riders formed.
This breakaway included James Krzanich (Southern Cross Racing), Liam White (CCACHE x PAR KUP), Pithie and Camden Feint (Oxford Edge) who at one point had three minutes on the peloton. The quartet rode strongly, until they were caught with 18km to go on the return into Masterton.
It was then that Gate, supported by his teammates, timed his race to perfection leading the bunch up a short hill climb finish to cross the finish line 1.5 seconds ahead of O’Donnell.
Gate said his team was lucky there was cohesion amongst the other teams who “wanted to have a crack today but also not lose the opportunity for GC throughout the week”.
“It can always be a mixed bag, this first stage, so it was lucky we had that cohesion amongst the teams that missed the break.”
It was also a good day out for Australian team CCACHE x PAR KUP, formally the Oliver’s Racing team who have registered for 2024 as Australia’s only UCI track trade team.
White, who won Stage 1 of the 2023 Tour of Tasmania, was rewarded for his breakaway efforts claiming the King of the Mountain Jersey with teammate William Heffernam claiming the U23 jersey.
Coupland’s Pithie won the Most Aggressive Jersey.
Gate said he is now hoping to return the favour to his teammates when they take on stage two of the Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic tomorrow. This is a 127km stage from Masterton to the pretty wine village of Martinborough and concludes with a fast and furious circuit passing vineyards, olive groves and farmland.
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.
DETAILS:
The UCI 2.2 Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton New Zealand Cycle Classic 2024
Stage 1: Wed 10th January
158km, start time 10am at the Copthorne Solway Resort Hotel
Masterton – Alfredton – Masterton
Stage 2: Thurs 11th January
127km, start time 10am at the Copthorne Solway Resort Hotel
Masterton – Martinborough circuit
Stage 3: Fri 12th January
127km, start time 10am at Johnston St, Masterton
Masterton – Admiral Hill
Stage 4: Sat 13th January
144km, start time10am at the Copthorne Solway Resort Hotel
Carrington Circuit, Carterton
Stage 5: Sun 14th January
Wellington Circuit, Lambton Quay
Start time 1pm
ENDS