Top talent for Trust House cycle classic

Jamie Morton
An all-star team of high-flying international cyclists has been snapped up for next month's massive Trust House Cycle Classic.
Race director Jorge Sandoval said the Drapac Porsche Cycling Team is arguably the best in Oceania and the five-day tour, which traverses Wairarapa, will be its maiden appearance in New Zealand.
The team is registered as a Continental Team by world cycling body UCI and its stop in Wairarapa is scheduled alongside races in Asia, Europe, Australia and North America.
Mr Sandoval said it will be a privilege to have a team of "such high quality riders" taking part in the event, which runs from January 21 to 25.
"I wanted to have this team here for years but because of their reputation, they are never short of invitations to other bike races to Asia or the Middle East at the same time of our tour, now they are coming and should be a top contender to give Australia another win in the 22 years Tour of Wellington history.
"So far this year the team has completed the Tour of Qatar, Tour of Langkawi, Tour of Taiwan, Tour of East Java, Tour of New Caledonia, Tour of Okinawa, Tour of Kokkaido and Australian Herald Suntour," he said.
"Additionally between June and August this year the team competed in a series of UCI races and one day kermesses in Belgium and Germany."
The team is led by 1999 Junior World Champion and current South Australian champion Glen Bates.
For the last two seasons, he rode professionally for the Swiss team LPR, competing in ProTour events including the Tirreno-Adriatico, Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Lombardy.
He will be joined by fellow Australians Peter McDonald, Pip Grinter, Mark O'Brien and Thomas Palmer.
"I have seen this team in action on other overseas tour, they are very professional," Mr Sandoval said.
"They are coming to Wellington very well prepared with a full team of riders, masseurs, mechanic and coach.
"Obviously they want to do well and collect valuable UCI points. There will be other top riders in the tour but if this team ride as they should, they have to be top contenders to take the title to Australia once again," Sandoval said.
More top overseas teams will be confirmed next week, he said.
The classic commences on January 21, with a Teams Time Trial in Hutt City and will finish five days later with the Wellington circuit down in Lambton Quay.
The tour crosses Wairarapa from January 22-24, with stages two, three and four held in Featherston-Martinborough, Masterton and Gladstone respectively.
Stage three is widely regarded as the one that would sort out the best riders from the rest.
A 125km ride that included more than five major hills will set the stage up perfectly for a major test.
In the last 20km of the stage, riders still faced the steepest hill of the day, the 1.4km Te Wharau hill and then the 12km Admiral hill for a top of the mountain finish.
"The tour is now recognised overseas as the best cycle race in this country," Mr Sandoval said.