CYCLING

Double World Champion To Debut In Trust House Team Cycling Series

By NZ Cycle Classic

A who’s who of the country’s top male riders will battle it out in the elite grade during this Saturday’s second round of the Trust House North Island Cycling Series in the Wairarapa.

The race, which has attracted almost 200 riders from around New Zealand, will see riders race from Masterton to Martinborough and it has attracted double world champion Campbell Steward. Stewart from Palmerston North, will ride alongside his team mate and team leader of Skoda Racing, Nick Bain who is also the leader of the under 23 grade after race one. The pair will be joined by Robert Stannard who also represented New Zealand at the recent junior world championships.
 
Team Skoda Racing was formed only a couple of weeks ago with their aim to focus on achieving results at a national level and providing a development pathway for leading U23 and junior riders. They have lined up some of the best up and coming road riders in New Zealand with their riders’ average age being only 18 years old.

Team Skoda Racing owner Brad Tilby is aware of this weekend’s race terrain.

“The next round of the Trust House North Island Series will be really tough,” Tilby said. “No big climbs in this race but very undulating and if windy, there will be lots of cross winds, hard on the riders.  We will have a solid line up for the race with Nick Bain heading the team as well as double world champion Campbell Steward and Robert Stannard who also represented New Zealand at the Junior world championships a couple of months ago.


Photo courtesy of NZ Cycle Classic

The trio will be up against the leader in the elite grade following race one which is New Zealand professional and current New Zealand club champion Michael Torckler, riding for the Blindz Direct.
Masterton Jack Sowry, fresh from his racing at last week’s Tour of Tasmania in Australia, should be in top form after winning the Most Aggressive Rider in stage four of the tour last Saturday. Sowry is racing for the GMC Team.

In the Mitre 10 Masterton sponsored master’s grades, South African rider, Wellington based Hannes Venter riding for the Total Home Theatre team, leads the Masters one grade closely followed by Masterton Tararua Builders team rider Lyle Cumming in second place.
 
The two local teams, Trust House-Happy Valley Cycles and Tararua Builders teams are presenting a full line up for race two with eight riders per team.  Tararua Builders is leading the Mitre 10 Masterton Teams Masters one grade after race one.
 
Mitre 10 Masterton Masters Grade two is led by last year’s winner David Meo from Team Kiwivelo.
Race two in the Trust House North Island Cycling Series is being held on Saturday, 17th October 2015 and starts at 10am. It will see riders race from Masterton to Martinborough via Gladstone, Ponatahi and Longbush Road. The start and finish is at Manaia Road.