Kingmaker
Admiral Hill Classic test
Admiral Hill looks set to return to its place as New Zealand Cycle Classic kingmaker.
The much-anticipated climb has been returned to its position on stage four of the five-stage tour, having been moved back to stage two for the 2017 edition.
It is also restored to its full distance of 10 kilometres after a dispute with a landowner meant the climb had to be more than halved to 4.9km last year.
That should make Joe Cooper’s (Bennelong Swisswelness) attempt at back-to-back tour wins a lot tougher. He was 14th on the shortened Admiral Hill stage last year, but made up one minute on leader James Oram on stage four into Martinborough to snatch the yellow jersey from his grasp.
Tour director Jorge Sandoval said both the timing and length of this year’s Admiral Hill stage meant the winner would definitely come from the first few riders
across the line.
‘‘Last year we didn’t go to the top, we only went halfway. This year, for the first time in four years, we are going right to the top. It’s a hard ride to the top.’’
His tip changed on Friday with the late inclusion in the race of Kiwi-turned-aussie Robert Stannard (Team Skoda).
The 19-year-old has been up Admiral Hill a few times and after a year of racing in Europe, Sandoval anticipated he would be stronger than ever, although he was sure the youngster wouldn’t have it all his own way.
‘‘A big contender for me is someone from Joe Cooper’s team, or Joe himself. He rode a very good race at nationals, even though he didn’t win.
‘‘They’re one of the most professional teams in Australia and until Robert Stannard came into the picture I thought the winner would come from one of those riders, but having Robert there has changed the whole race.
‘‘Every year when we finish at the top of Admiral Hill, whoever wins that stage wins the tour. Robert has flown up there, leaving everybody behind over the last three years when he’s come to my other races. He knows the area.’’
Oram adds an intriguing element as well, given he was second up the shortened Admiral Hill climb last year, before holding yellow for two days only for Cooper to take it from him on the penultimate stage.
He is boosted by the late entry of former New Zealand Cycle Classic Tour winner Michael Torckler to the New Zealand national team alongside Luke Mudgway, Hayden Mccormick, Taylor Gunman and Joel Yates.
The Switzerland national track team also adds intrigue. They could be a force on the flat and when it comes to sprint finishes.
owerful English team JLT Condor have also returned and should be in contention for stage wins.
There are two other former champions in the race aside from Cooper, with Kiwis Michael Vink and Taylor Gunman riding for the Brisbane Continental Team and the New Zealand national team respectively.
This will be Sandoval’s 31st running of the race and he said at this point he had allowed himself to get excited.
‘‘For the last seven, eight months it’s just up and down. Meetings everywhere trying to convince people to support me.
‘‘Now, a few days before the race, as a cycling fanatic and organiser, I get really excited because I see riders getting ready for it, I pick up riders from the airport who are really looking forward to the race.
‘‘In the end, everything fits all right and every year we come out with a bloody good bike race.’’
Stage one starts today with a 122.5km ride from Masterton to Alfredton and back.