Cycling: Kiwi team to race in China at Tour of Quanzhou Bay

A Team Skoda rider in action. Photo / @cammackenziephotos

One of New Zealand's elite cycling teams have a chance to improve New Zealand's international road cycling stature.

Team Skoda Racing are jetting off to China to race in the Tour of Quanzhou Bay - an internationally ranked UCI 2.2 race.

The race is a new addition to the Asian UCI circuit and will be contested over three days, from December 2-4. The tour will consist of three stages with the stage two hilltop finish likely to decide the general classification.

While New Zealand riders regularly participate in such races for their overseas-based teams, it is a rarity for a New Zealand team to be present.

Team Skoda, who have recently raced at the Tour of Southland and the Tour of Tasmania, prioritise the development of young New Zealand riders in an attempt to get them professional contracts, and their team for the Quanzhou race consists of promising young talent.

Alex West - Tour of Southland Under 23 jersey winner - will lead the team, following a season in which he rode the Under 23 Giro d'Italia.

Joining West will be Tour of Southland team mates Joel Yates and Max Jones, Auckland riders Connor Brown and Ben Hamilton, and mountain biking convert Jack Compton.

Hamilton competed at the World Championships in Norway this year, while Compton joins the team after competing in the 2017 Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns, before focusing on building his road skillset this spring.

"China has always been a part of the world we have really wanted to race in," says Team Skoda manager Scott Fairbairn.

"For us, China was the next step in the development for the team. The level of racing has increased significantly over the last few years in China and we are excited about testing ourselves against some of the best in the region. We understand that top ranked team Mitchelton Scott will be at the race and this will be a great chance to benchmark our riders against their line-up."

"We will go to the tour with a good mix of riders. For the overall, we will look to Alex and Jack to carry the team hopes given the profile of the tour across the three days. We will take our chances on the two flatter days with the likes of Max and Ben hunting out breakaways and for the sprints we have two capable guys in Joel and Connor."

The Tour of Quanzhou Bay takes in three stages around the wider Quanzhou area. The race will feature a flat first stage (88km), followed by a hill top finish (111km) on the second day and an inner city circuit (91km) on the final day.