The bike shop that inspired Bennett

‘‘How did George go last night?’’

It is a question commonly asked by the crew at Villages Cycles as they arrive to work each morning.

George is, of course, LottoNLJumbo rider George Bennett. The same George that is currently competing at his fourth Vuelta a Espana and was recently challenging the sport’s biggest names at the Tour de France. The same George used to work at Village Cycles, a bike shop on Richmond’s main street.

According to Bennett, the local bike store can play a major role in any cyclist’s career. It is generally where a young rider will purchase their first bike, receive their first sponsorship deal and it provides a forum to chat about the sport they love.

Jack Bauer, who grew up in Golden Bay, said The Quiet Revolution in Takaka was where his passion for biking started. As a young boy he would dart across the road whenever his mother went grocery shopping. He would beg the owner for magazines and occasionally, when he had saved up his pocket money, would make a small purchase.

Bennett recalled similar stories when looking back to where obsession for cycling started, at Village Cycles.

‘‘It was like Christmas going in there,’’ he said. ‘‘It plays a massive part in a career. It’s where you meet guys, it’s where you get advice, it’s where you start training from and they help out with things. Your first sponsorship is from a bike shop and they give you 20 per cent off or something and it’s the happiest day of your life and it all goes from there.’’

Well before developing into a WorldTour pro, Bennett actually worked in the shop. As well as employment, the previous owner, Jim Matthews, also gave Bennett his first sponsorship deal, which set him on the road to stardom.

‘‘Jim always looked after me and eventually he would get me a bike every season and would get me kit and just look after my stuff. I remember not just bike racing advice but life advice and I still remember many of the things he said and it’s the same with [current owner] Robin [Reid].

‘‘You see how many young guys are rocking around in Village Cycles kit and they go in there and Robin looks after them and helps them develop into potentially great cyclists.’’

Although it is a business, Reid said there was more to a store than just selling bikes. He said it was set up as a place for riders to get inspired, hoping they could become the next George Bennett.

‘‘What he’s doing is good for cycling in New Zealand. It’s bigger than just Richmond now. The amount of feedback I get now from people who are well and truly outside our region, about how well he’s doing and the inspiration that he’s giving people throughout the country, is probably almost bigger than what it is here,’’ Reid said.

‘‘I think we probably take it for granted because he’s such a down to Earth, approachable guy and he spends so much time interacting with the local cycling community and the young guys are just used to having him around and racing against him.

‘‘You don’t really think about it too often because to most people he’s just a normal club member where really he’s turning into the greatest road cyclist New Zealand has ever produced.’’

As a sign of appreciation, Reid has covered the side of his shop with a giant photo of Bennett competing at his first Tour de France. The photo was taken by Graham Watson, a world renowned cycling photographer who has made Nelson his second home.

‘‘I’ve known George for a long time obviously but it’s quite noticeable when he’s back and spends a bit of time in the shop because all of the other staff really enjoy having him around and get a real lift and inspiration from it. They are not really road riders as such themselves but they have become hugely interested in that part of cycling because of George really.’’

Bennett was pretty chuffed when he saw what Reid had done with the photo outside the shop and, before commencing the Vuelta a Espana, said he was sent a picture of it from his family.

‘‘My niece and nephew, who I haven’t seen in five months, I got a picture of them sent to me of them standing outside the bike shop. I thought it was pretty cool and it’s nice because it’s a cool shop and it’s cool that people are getting something back from all the work that they have put into me over the years,’’ Bennett said.