MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 8 December 2023
The USA track endurance cycling team will make its debut at the Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic this January.
As part of the USA team’s build up to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, they have chosen to compete in the five-day tour being held in Wairarapa and Wellington from January 10th – 14th, with the view to set-up their track season with a strong aerobic endurance foundation.
Jono Hailstone, USA Cycling’sMen’s Track Endurance Coach says with the weather in New Zealand typically much better than America in January, coupled with the first Track Nations Cup being held in Adelaide, Australia in February, “New Zealand is the ideal location” to prepare in similar climatic conditions and time zone.
“The New Zealand Cycle Classic is a well-organized event, with a reputation for a high standard of racing, and attracting strong up-and-coming riders, with a number of previous winners going on to have successful careers in the world tour, therefore, it will provide a great development opportunity for our riders to be exposed to the unique style of southern hemisphere racing, and continue to develop their skillset and versatility as bike racers,” says Jono, a New Zealand citizen, currently living in Colorado Springs and coach of the US Men’s Track Endurance squad. He has previously coached the New Zealand Para-Cycling team and was assistant coach for the NZ Women’s Track endurance programme.
Jono says with his team eying up Olympic events ranging from the 4km team pursuit to the 4-event omnium (10km scratch race, 10 km tempo race, elimination race, 25km points race) and the 50km Madison, racing in the New Zealand Cycle Classic will help prepare them well.
“All of these (afore mentioned) events have a large aerobic component … a significant proportion of our training is done on the road, and many of the world’s best track cyclists are also top world tour professionals on the road. There have been several examples in recent years of teams performing exceptionally well on the track off the back of completing road stage races.”
The USA men’s team to race in Wairarapa and Wellington is led by Gavin Hoover, who was in the USA Team Pursuit squad that finished 4th at the Cambridge round of the World Cup in January 2019, before going onto finish 8th in the omnium at the Tokyo Olympics. He will be supported by Grant Koontz, Anders Johnson, David Domonoske, Brendan Rhim and one more rider to be announced.
Following the New Zealand Cycle Classic, the USA men’s team will move north to train at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome in Cambridge completing their final preparations for Adelaide Nations Cup. Following this they will return home and begin their build up to the Olympics.
The Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton New Zealand Cycle Classic race director Jorge Sandoval says even though American riders have raced his event before, it is the first time the Men’s team has competed.
“It’s hugely significant having the USA men’s team here and what a coup for New Zealand to have them train here as they build up for their Olympic campaign,” he says. “I’ve no doubt they will bring an extra flair to the tour, that we haven’t really seen before, and I encourage spectators to come and support them.”
The Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton New Zealand Cycle Classic will be held from January 10th – 14th 2024. The five-day Tour will weave through rolling country roads and the townships of Wairarapa before concluding in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington, in an exciting circuit race. Next year’s event is expected to attract a field of 120 international and national riders.
ENDS