CYCLING

Formidable Colombian Hill Climbers Ready To Take NZ Cycle Classic

By NZ Cycle Classic

Organisers of the New Zealand Cycle Classic have received an early Christmas present with confirmation that professional team Sapura Cycling, who are based in Malaysia, will contest the 30^th Anniversary of the event to be staged in the Wairarapa next month.
 
Sapura Cycling, which is managed by former Spanish professional cyclist Sergi Escobar who had an illustrious career in the pro circuit and claimed a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games, has confirmed it will contest the UCI 2.2 five stage cycle tour being held from January 22^nd – 26^th 2017.
 
The team is made up of two Colombian riders and three riders from Malaysia including seasoned pro Victor Nino Corredor, a Colombian climber who has competed in some of the hardest stage races in the world. Among his credits are the King of the Mountain title in the 2014 Tour of China; a third place and fourth place in the Tour of Langkawi in 2012 and 2013 and standout rides in the tours of Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala.
 
Corredor will lead the charge and be well supported by Colombian climbing specialist Wilmar Peres, a previous winner of the Tour Funza and Tour Boyaca and third place finisher in the King of the Mountain in the tortuous Tour of Qinghai in the north of China; and three Malaysian riders also have experience racing in the tours of Borneo, Korea, Japan, Iran and also the highly ranked Tour of Langkawi.
 

New Zealand Cycle Classic Race Director Jorge Sandoval is thrilled with the news and says it will be a privilege to have a team of such high quality riders taking part in the event.
 
“We have never hosted Colombian riders in New Zealand before and we are in for a treat because they are both specialist hill climbers,” says Sandoval. “I know how hard these races in Asia are and the Colombian races are well known to be the hardest, hilliest bike races in the world.  I look at their riding CV and am impressed to see where they have raced for the last few years. It will be an honor for me to have them in my race. This is one of the biggest coups in my 30 years of running the tour.”
 
Today’s news follows last week’s announcement that Olympic and world champion rower Hamish Bond will race alongside New Zealand cyclist Michael Torckler in the Blindz Direct-Swift Carbon team.
 
Sandoval says the New Zealand Cycle Classic field is already looking like being bigger and better than previous tours and he is looking forward to announcing more international teams over the coming weeks. Sapura Cycling team will arrive in Masterton on Friday 20^th January.
 
“The better we can make it, the more international exposure the race and New Zealand will receive. The appearance of the Colombian riders in our tour will create a strong interest from cycling fans around the country. It's going to be big," Sandoval says.
 
The New Zealand Cycle Classic is a five-stage, elite international men’s road cycling race staged entirely in the Wairarapa. It is the only Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) sanctioned race to be held in New Zealand in 2017.
 

It begins on Sunday, 22^nd January 2017, with a 121km stage taking riders from the Wairarapa’s biggest town of Masterton to the spectacular coastal community of Castlepoint. The following day riders will complete a 147km hilly route that finishes atop of the steep Admiral Hill in Gladstone, while stage three sees riders travel from Masterton to the wine village of Martinborough and then complete eight laps of an 8km circuit. Stage four is new and will see riders head south down SH2 travelling through all five of the Wairarapa’s characterful townships before concluding with a fast and furious finish near the Martinborough Square. The fifth and final stage is based just west of Masterton and will see riders complete a fast and furious 12 lap, 10km circuit.
 
Being held simultaneously is Huri Huri: Wairarapa’s Bike Festival which celebrates the Wairarapa’s bike-friendly roads, tracks and trails; the people that ride on them and the bikes they ride.  The 2017 Festival (www.hurihuri.co.nz) has a variety of events and activities held across the region, catering to all levels of involvement in biking and to all ages.
 
For more information please visit www.cycletournz.com.