Tour shakedown has plenty of international experience

One of New Zealand’s oldest surviving road cycling classic events, the Gore to Waikiwi, is run today and features riders with international experience.

The 78km handicap event is a highlight of the Cycling Southland spring road racing season and has produced some great performances over the years.

Names such as Greg Henderson and Tim Carswell feature on the fastest time trophy, as does Glen Thomson who has made a welcome return to the local racing season this year.

Thomson, a 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist on the track in Kuala Lumpur, knows the event well and his experience out in the marks should prove invaluable.

Created by the Waikiwi Amateur Cycling Club in the early 1960s, the Gore to Waikiwi Classic has survived the test of time.

There are few other road cycling classics in the country that can boast the long and colourful history that this event possesses.

The in-form Luke Macpherson is a strong contender but is likely to meet strong opposition in the form of Matt Zenovich and Josh Haggerty who have both recently returned from a season riding in Europe.

All three scratch riders will be using the event as a shakedown to the upcoming Tour of Southland which will starts on November 1.

The race starts at 1.30pm.