Christie wants crack at Games
Jason Christie is urging Cycling New Zealand to take him to the Commonwealth Games, after the ‘‘weekend warrior’’ bounced back from a crash in the time trial to beat five World Tour professionals and win the elite road national championships in Napier yesterday.
The 27-year-old, who remains without a professional contract in 2018, outsprinted LottoNL-Jumbo star George Bennett, Hayden McCormick and Michael Torckler in a thrilling finale to the 171km road race, where there were four riders left fighting for victory.
McCormick finished runner-up, with Torckler edging Bennett for third.
Christie has been a consistently high achiever at New Zealand’s premier road race, winning the event in 2016 and finishing second last year. He also finished third in the time trial on Friday, recovering from an early spill to get himself on the podium.
‘‘I was pretty sore and I’m still pretty sore now. I was struggling with getting into the car. I can’t really lift my left leg that well,’’ Christie said.
The Marlborough rider is hoping the latest result may finally be the one that sees him selected for the Commonwealth Games, especially now that Bennett and Michelton-Scott riders Jack Bauer and Sam Bewley have ruled themselves out of contention while Alex Frame, Tom Scully and the injured Patrick Bevin also remain in doubt due to their World Tour commitments.
‘‘It’s not the be-all and end-all of cycling but it’d be pretty amazing to go,’’ he said.
‘‘I feel like I’ve put my hand up over the last few years, being consistent here.
‘‘But there’s still been no consideration to go to worlds but I hope there will be. At the end of the day it’s up to them, they’re the people that do the selecting and they make the call at the end of the day.’’
Christie also hopes the result could lead to a professional contract, having been left ‘‘high and dry’’ when his previous team folded in 2017.
‘‘The problem is cycling is forever changing. It’s difficult to get a gig at the best of times. Teams fold, new ones come up. Sometimes it’s just who you know.
‘‘I wouldn’t say it’s completely out of the picture but I’m at the age now – I’ve raced for teams for the past few years – where I don’t want to just go to a team to go to a team. You want a team that will be good for you and be a good environment.’’
The women’s road race, staged on Saturday, was won by Michelton-Scott rider Georgia Williams.
The 24-year-old, who was 4min 41sec better than runner-up Sharlotte Lucas, also won the women’s time trial with former rowing star Hamish Bond victorious in the men’s time trial.