London Olympic cyclist Westley Gough has won the prologue in the testing Tour de Pays de Savoie high in the French Alps today.

Gough and the BikeNZ endurance track squad are competing in the challenging four-day tour in the Rhone Alps near the border of Italy and Switzerland as part of their preparations for the Olympics.

The Hawkes Bay rider was fastest around the 3.8km prologue circuit in Chambery as the New Zealand team all impressed, with teammates Marc Ryan second, Shane Archbold fourth, Aaron Gate seventh and Myron Simpson 10th.

Gough clocked 5:07.36 for the 3.8km circuit with fellow team pursuiter Ryan two seconds back.

“It was a fairly twisty and hilly course. I liked it,” said Gough. “I'm not here to win the overall. I'll try to do my best but the course is too hard for me. "

Gough was a busy man in today’s prologue presentations, collecting the stage winner’s yellow jersey the orange jersey as tour leader, the points leader’s jersey as well as accepting the award for the leading team.
The Tour de Pays de Savoie is a UCI 2.2 rated tour, considered among the toughest of tests in Europe for young riders under 26 years.

Tomorrow’s first stage of 127km takes in three category climbs with a mountain top finish on the Col de Solaison at 1500m. Stage two is 160km with a daunting six category climbs culminating with the Cormet de Roseland, an ascent of 1000m over 19kms while the final stage of 133km, which crosses into Italy with a double ascent of the Mont Cenis, with the road over this pass built originally by Napoleon.

The tour forms the last of the current road block for the squad before a training session on the track at the UCI’s World Training Centre in Switzerland. There is a further block of road racing before the full squad heads to the velodrome in Bordeaux for final preparations for London.

Results, Tour de Pays de Savoie, 3.8km prologue: Westley Gough (NZL) 5:07.36, 1; Marc Ryan (NZL) 5:09.92, 2; Tim Wellens (BEL, Lotto-Bellisol) 5:10.64, 3. Also New Zealanders: Shane Archbold 5:13.13, 4; Aaron Gate 5:18.61, 7; Myron Simpson 5:21.54, 10; Alex Frame 5:43.35, 92.

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Shimano MTB Grand Prix draws out endurance racing talent
The U23 Australian National 24H Solo Champion Mark Tupalski won round three of the SHIMANO MTB Grand Prix endurance racing series at Ourimbah MTB Park near Wyong on the weekend.

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

CYCLING
Vink finishes commendable fifth in prestigious tour in Germany
Christchurch cyclist Michael Vink has finished a commendable fifth place in the week-long International Thuringen Rundfahrt in Germany.

Monday, 17 June 2013

TRIATHLON
Companies invited to rise to the Challenge
Challenge Wanaka, New Zealand's largest annual triathlon festival, has launched the Challenge Wanaka Corporate Trophy – a brand new race category for corporate teams complete with a host of motivational, team building and promotional benefits.

Friday, 14 June 2013

TRACK CYCLING
Dawkins claims keirin victory in Paris
Southland's Eddie Dawkins has continued his strong form with victory in the Grand Prix cycling meet in Paris today.

Friday, 14 June 2013

BMX
Red Bull Framed Reactions 2013
For the first time in history a BMX competition took place at a course with moving elements and course-rider-interaction.

Friday, 14 June 2013

CYCLING
A new study reveals rampant doping on The Tour from 1994 onwards
A decade of systemic doping on the Tour De France begun in the mid 90s according to a controversial new French cycling magazine released today.

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

CYCLING
More cycling success for New Zealand riders
New Zealand cyclists have enjoyed podium success on both sides of the Atlantic over the weekend.

Monday, 10 June 2013

TRIATHLON
Crawford runner-up in Ironman Cairns
Wanaka’s Gina Crawford finished runner-up at Ironman Cairns today after a major battle with Olympic-distance convert Liz Blatchford today.

Sunday, 9 June 2013

TRIATHLON
Warriner and Docherty atop the podium in busy triathlon weekend
Sam Warriner has returned to the winners circle, taking out today’s Ironman 70.3 race in Cairns, Australia.

Sunday, 9 June 2013

TRIATHLON
Docherty Wins 70.3 Boise USA
Olympic Silver medallist Bevan Docherty has proven the move from ITU triathlon to the longer form of racing has paid dividends, winning Ironman NZ in March and today claiming victory at 70.3 Boise USA.

Sunday, 9 June 2013

TRIATHLON
Sam Warriner takes out Ironman 70.3 Cairns in style
Near perfect conditions set the day in Cairns early on today.

Sunday, 9 June 2013

CYCLING
In-form Vink on cycling podium in Germany
Christchurch cyclist Michael Vink has made a strong start to the latest tour race for the BikeNZ squad in Germany today.

Sunday, 9 June 2013

Endurance Sport news is powered by infonews.co.nz