NZ Cycle Classic 2022

FEATURE SUPPLEMENT 13

www.age.co.nz Monday, January 3, 2022

STAGE 1

New Zealand

Jan 5 Teams’ Time Trial

10km circuit beginning and finishing at Mitre 10 Mega, Masterton. 6pm start.

CYCLE CLASSIC 2022

STAGE 2

Jan 6 158km stage

10am start from Masterton to Alfredton return. Finishing outside the Masterton Golf Club in Lansdowne.

STAGE 3

Jan 7 127km stage

10am start from Masterton to the wine village of Martinborough.

Jan 5 Jan 9

STAGE 4

Jan 8 137.2km “Queen Stage” Around Gladstone with a new hilltop finish on Te Wharau Hill.

& WELLINGTON

STAGE 5

Four exciting stages throughout Wairarapa

Around Lambton Quay in Wellington.

Jan 9 Circuit

Fifth and final stage in Wellington City More details at www.cycletournz.com

Bennett bolsters ‘stacked’ NZ National Team contesting NZ Cycle Classic

THE 2022 NEW ZEALAND Perseverance has paid off for UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic race director Jorge Sandoval after it was confirmed that current national champion George Bennett will line up in this week’s event.

CYCLE George Bennett (UAE Team Emirates) is part of a fivestrong New Zealand National team featuring 2019 national champion Shane Archbold (Bora Hansgrohe); 10-year World Tour veteran Sam Bewley (Team Bike Exchange); development rider in WorldTour team Groupama th th FDJ Laurence Pithie and exciting young prospect Xander White.

George Bennett is looking forward to returning to Wairarapa. Credit: SWPix.

CLASSIC

Advertorial

New Zealand’s top road cyclists will race for the yellow jersey in the 35th UCI 2.2 New Zealand Cycle Classic. Over the years, this major sporting event has unearthed new talent and helped up-and-coming riders step onto a global platform. Top lead out rider Julian Dean, Chris Jenner, Robbie McEwen, Hayden Roulston and George Bennett have all claimed this yellow jersey while more recently Aussie Ben O’Connor, who won this Tour in 2016, went on to win a stage in the Tour de France. Who will be next?

Cheer on your favourite team Thrilling circuit racing Gut busting hill climbs

Zealand Cycle Classic and it’s Jan 5th: just so exciting,” says Masterton based Sandoval, who organises the five-stage elite men’s road cycling race being heldJan in 6th: Wairarapa and Wellington from January 5-9 2022.

New Zealand Cycle Classic in

Photo Credit: Dave Lintott/Lintott Photography.

most enduring and respected

Teams’ Time Trial 2011. domestiques, it is outstanding.” 10km circuit beginning and finishing at Mitre 10 Mega Masterton “Asstart a former yellow jersey winner In December, Bennett returned 6pm of this Tour, I’m excited to home to New Zealand for the 158km stage. 10amBennett start from to Alfredton return. welcome George backMasterton summer and was excited about Finishing outside the Masterton Golf Club in Lansdowne to Wairarapa and look forward reconnecting with friends and to seeing him tacklestart our big hillMasterton Jan 7th: 127km stage. 10am from wine village familyto in the his hometown of of Bennett, who moved from Dutch Martinborough stage, which sees riders climb a Nelson. While looking to enjoy team Jumbo-Visma to UAE Team total of 2784 metres of altitude. he says heawould Jan 8th: The 137.2km “Queen Stage” aroundhimself, Gladstone with new be Emirates last year, has ridden With George racing alongside equally focused on training for hilltop finish on Te Wharau Hill in 14 grand tours and has three Shane, one of the best leadthe New Zealand Cycle Classic around on Lambton Quay in Wellington professional WorldTourJan wins9th: to Circuit out sprinters the WorldTour

January 5 – 9 2022

Sandoval says it is one of the Four exciting stages strongest teams that has ever contested the New Zealand Cycle throughout Wairarapa Classic, which began in 1988 and was then won by Darien Rush. “On paper this is fi thenal strongest Fifth and stagehis in team I’ve seen contest the New Continued on page 14 credit. He previously won the and Sam, one of cycling’s Wellington city Visit www.cycletournz.com for more details

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