Tight tussle tipped for cycling elite

Michael Vink celebrates winning the 2014 New Zealand Cycle Classic. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A POWERFUL New Zealand national squad should ensure an equally powerful overseas contingent is kept on their toes in the New Zealand Cycle Classic, which is being raced in Wairarapa from today through until Sunday.

Leading the charge for them will be Michael Vink, a six-time New Zealand road champion who headed the general classification in the 2014 edition of this particular event. Next month Vink will be heading to France to join the powerful ACNC Sojasun professional team and he should be close to peak form as a consequence.

Supporting Vink -- and not altogether out of the reckoning for individual honours as well -- will be the winner of the 2015 Tours of Tasmania and Southland, Brad Evans.

Also in the team are 21-year-old world track champion Pieter Bulling, another 21-year-old who has been based in France over the past three years and performing well on the European circuit in Hamish Schreurs, and Nick Kergozou, winner of a national track title in 2014. It will be a big surprise if the likes of Bulling and Kergozou are not prominent for the sprint ace title.

National road race champion Jason Christie is part of the Kenyan Riders Downunder team. He has twice been a stage winner in the NZCC and is quite capable of making a bold bid for the overall individual honours. The Trust House team is led by 2010 NZCC winner Michael Torckler who is part of an all-Kiwi line-up, which also includes Joshua Aldridge, Jason Thomason, Cameron Wynniatt and Paul Dunhoven.

For Wairarapa cycling fans the Sign Factory team will be watched with special interest as Jack Sowry is an important member of their squad. He will be aiming to make a decent showing in the battle for the under-23 spoils as will two of his teammates, Matt Webb-Smith and Shamus Christison.

Eighteen teams will contest the 2016 NZCC and race organiser Jorge Sandoval has every reason to be thrilled with the quality of the field for what is the only UCI tour event being held in New Zealand this year. It will be raced over five stages all of which have excellent vantage points for spectators.

A brief description of the stages is:

Stage one (today), Masterton-Gladstone-Masterton (122km):Start is in Johnstone St by Hullena Park at 10am with sprints coming on Gladstone Rd at 18.5km, 48.2km and 78.4km and King of the Mountain pointson Millars Rd at 36.1kmand 96.2km. The estimated finishing time in Dixon St, Masterton, is 1.10pm to 1.20pm.

Stage two (Thursday), Masterton to Martinborough (136km): Start is at 10am in Johnstone St by Hullena Park. Sprints are on Cambridge Rd at 46km, 80km and 96km and King of the Mountain at the top of Millars Rd at 36.1km. Estimated finishing time on Cambridge Rd, Martinborough, is from 1.10pm to 1.20pm.

Stage three (Friday), Masterton to Carrington circuit(130km): Start is on Norfolk Rd(500m past railway lines) at 10am. Sprints are on Haringa Rd at 20.2km, 44.2km and 68.4km and King of the Mountain at the top of Hururoa Hill Rd at 23.2km, 47.2km and 71km. Estimated finishing time on Haringa Rd, Carterton is from 1.20pm to 1.35pm.

Stage four (Saturday), Masterton to Admiral Hill (147km): Start is on Te Ore Ore Rd by Henley Lake at 10am. There will be a sprint at Langdale Rd at 43km with King of the Mountain points coming at the top of Limeworks Hill (111.8km) the top of Te WharauHill (133km) and at thefinish on the top of Admiral Hill. Estimated finishing time is from 2.20pm to 2.25pm.

Stage five (Sunday) Masterton-Alfredton-Masterton (122km):Start is on Te Ore Ore Rd by Henley Lake at 10am. Sprint will be at 32km and Kingof the Mountain at 44km. Estimated finishing time in Dixon St, Masterton, is from 1.10pm to 1.20pm.