CYCLING

Christie crowned New Zealand road champ after nearly calling it quits in 2015

By Aaron S Lee

The newly crowned national champion says he was ‘going to quit the sport’ after losing ride with Avanti in November.

What a difference two months makes for the freshly crowned Big Save New Zealand Road Cycling National Championships elite men’s winner, Jason Christie (Kenyan Riders Downunder, Mid-South Canterbury).

After not being re-signed with the Avanti Racing Team (now Avanti-IsoWhey Sports) in November even after winning the Tour of Okinawa (UCI 1.2), the 25-year-old was going to walk away from the sport.
 

“Avanti didn’t offer me a new contract,” the Christchurch native told NZ Bike after the 180-kilometre race in Napier on Sunday. “I didn’t really want to stay there either because I never really had an opportunity there to go out and win races or anything like that.

“To be honest, I was actually going to quit the sport, which makes the win even more special.”

Christie used his frustration as motivation, and the 2011 national time trial champion, who also finished sixth at the Under-23 UCI individual time trial world championships behind winner Luke Durbridge (AUS) that same year, was not surprised by his championship result.

“I really wanted to actually win the race,” said Christie, who finished seventh behind winner and former Avanti teammate Patrick Bevin (Cannondale) in the time trial on Friday. “I trained hard for this.

“I didn’t have the best time trial a couple of days ago, and I was still a bit tired and didn’t feel great out on the road even yesterday. I was just hoping for a good day.”

Christie attacked on the penultimate climb of Bluff Hill, holding off the valiant chasers and more fancied riders to claim his first national road race honours.

He was in the peloton as a break went early in the strong winds on the 80km country circuit near Taradale, but made his move when the riders returned to begin the inner city circuit that included the climb up Bluff Hill.

“I went with Jesse Sergent to chase the break on our first lap back in the town from there I was able to ride through the groups to the front,” said Christie.

“I felt strong up the hill on that second to last climb and was just able to ride away and from there I had to work hard to keep away.

“I said to a few friends that I was coming here to win but I didn’t really know how to on a new course.”
As far as any hard feelings toward his former team, Christie said “not at all.”

“I used to dream about getting a WorldTour contact or Pro-Conti ride,” he admitted. “I tried talking to teams but never had the opportunity, so I just came to [Kenyan Riders Downunder].

“Now I don’t care anymore, if it happens it happens,” Christie added. “I just go out and beat these guys anyway.”

African Continental team Kenyan Riders Downunder (KRD) is the amalgamation of Kenyan Riders and Pro Team Downunder, and Christie has been given the green light to race for results in 2016. Something he is keen to take advantage of this season.

“We start the New Zealand Cycle Classic in 10 days, then the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race followed by the Herald Sun Tour,” explained Christie. “Hopefully we will have a lot of Asia Tour races as I like racing in Asia and the team has given me permission to ask for starts so hopefully it will be a good year for me.

As for representing the country on the road this year, Christie has already contacted his new team regarding designs.

“I’ve actually already sent an email to the team requesting to design the kit myself,” he said. “It’s a great honour to wear the national champions jersey and I want to do the colours proud.”

As for a matching bike like last year’s champion and former Avanti teammate Joe Cooper, who finished ninth on the day, Christie jokingly said: “I might get a bike painted too, but if I do I’ll get a decent paint job so it looks really good!

Schreurs won the U23 road race title (4:35:20) over recently crowned U23 time trial champion Hayden McCormick (ONE Pro Cycling, Waikato BOP) in second (+2:01) and Liam Aitcheson (Southland) in third (+12:19). 

Aaron S. Lee is a cycling and triathlon columnist for Eurosport and a guest contributor to NZ Bike Magazine