Talented duo flying flag for South
CYCLING
YOUNG Queenstown road cyclist Reuben Thompson and Invercargill flyer Corbin Strong are part of a junior side looking to make an impact in the New Zealand Cycle Classic which starts today.
Finn FisherBlack, Laurence Pithie and Thompson are all contracted to World Tour development teams in Europe this year.
They will be joined by track riders Strong and Regan Gough and esport rider Ollie Jones to form the Cycling New Zealand team.
The New Zealand Cycle Classic is a UCI level twosanctioned event and the sole Oceania UCI stage road event in Australia or New Zealand.
All six Australian races usually run early in the year, including the Tour Downunder, but were cancelled because of the Covid19 pandemic.
“Cycling New Zealand is thrilled that longtime organiser Jorge Sandoval has been able to present this important multistage race which has given so many of our riders the experience of a UCIsanctioned race,” Cycling New Zealand’s Graeme Hunn said.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for us to give our young talent a chance before some of them head to Europe to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the sport.
‘‘It is exciting that all of them are excited at lining up for the New Zealand Cycle Classic and should provide some fireworks for the tour.”
FisherBlack (19), who is the junior pursuit world recordholder, is set to join the development team of JumboVisma in
Europe later this year, while double junior track world champion Pithie (18) and Thompson (19) will ride for the development team of GroupamaFDJ.
Jones was fourth in last month’s inaugural UCI Esport World Championship while Strong, the points race world champion, and Gough, the 2017 team pursuit world champion, are part of the Olympic track team.
Strong, who won the under23 honours in the Tour of Southland, has also signed for Dutch development road team, SEG Racing Academy
The New Zealand Cycle Classic will begin with a team time trial today in Masterton.
The second stage tomorrow covers 158km with five climbs before returning to Masterton. Stage three features a multilap street circuit in Martinborough on Friday before the gutbusting stage four, which finishes with a 10km ascent of Admirals Hill near Gladstone on Saturday.
The final stage on Sunday moves to Wellington for a criterium centred on Lambton Quay.