Dutch delight in Italy

The big news in international cycling this week was a Dutchman won the Giro d’italia.

It is the first Grand Tour triumph for a rider from the cycling-centric Netherlands since the diminutive Joop Zoetemelk won the Tour de France in 1980.

Victory at the mountainous Giro is usually reserved for small, wiry men who climb the alps easily, but this year the tall and powerful Tom Dumoulin showed road cycling is a sport for all sizes.

In other international cycling news, Kiwi Regan Gough, a regular (past) visitor to Manawatu for junior racing, won the fourth stage of the ‘Ras’ in Ireland.

This long-standing week-long tour is a hard-man’s race, where riders are challenged by rough hilly roads and wet weather, much like our local geography.

Schools racing last Sunday at Colyton threw up some new winners and some old ones too. Under-16 rider Kyle Hoskin was the fastest school rider in A-grade, from Dylan Simpson and Adam Francis.

Aiden Jones won B-grade from Ben Irvine and Sam Russell, while in C grade Nathaniel Leask pipped Liam and Darcy Ainsworth on the line.

Holly Mcinnes led the charge home in D grade from Adam Wilson and Tyler Mumby.

Josh Mulcahy was the winner in E grade, Wilson Hannon second, and Seth Cousins third.

Ninety-five riders contested the five races, once again showcasing the popularity of School’s Road cycling in the Manawatu.

Coming up this long weekend is the Taranaki three-day tour, a race that’s been running for many years.

Those that do well up there around the mountain on Queen’s Birthday are usually those who can handle the cold and wet, and judging by the forecast, this year will be no exception.