Le Race National Event, Preview

Le Race has a long tradition on New Zealand's cycling calendar and will offer the teams a chance to go for both a prestigious victory on a tough mountain race and to prepare themselves for soon to be kicked off domestic cycling season.

The race from Christchurch to Akaoro (about 100km length) features some tough ascends, as well as a long tricky downhill finish and (probably) heavy crosswinds, too.. former race-winners are Sam Horgan and two-time champion Michael Vink (both riding for Team Budget this year). The best Kiwi domestic teams will line up against a few Aussie teams like Budget, Avanti or Charter Mason and a national selection from New Zealand.

Beautiful landscape..
..and a tricky downhill finish: Le Race!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Cooper_zps7f5c0602.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Joe Cooper (Avanti Racing)
Avanti lines up with a Kiwi-duo Cooper/Gunman and some strong support in riders like former NRS-champion van der Ploeg.. the team is aiming for a stronger focus on New Zealand, so that's why they are here.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL_Torckler_zps2969572c.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Michael Torckler (New Zealand National)
Torckler is currently enjoying his trip to some events in New Zealand and Australia and should be amongst the top-favorites for sure. Fairly good climber, who has finishing speed as well.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Girdlestone_zps8952e244.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Keagan Girdlestone (Charter Mason)
South African born "new Kiwi" Girdlestone will focus on both the Australian NRS and some events in New Zealand this year. A promising climber, who represents an up and coming team from Down Under!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL2_EvansBrad_zps31b0442d.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Brad Evans (Calder Stewart)
Evans will be one of those guys to watch out for in the Kiwi domestic cycling scene these days. Known as a good climber, he already said, that Le Race is one of his main targets this year..

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL2_Williamson_zps54fdd063.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]James Williamson (NZ Cycling Project)
Podium'd Le Race back in 2008 and will aim for a similar or even better result now, seven years later. The Kiwi veteran, also one of the better climbers here, should be a real threat like Evans.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL2_Vink_zps26638c49.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Michael Vink (Budget Forklifts)
Winner of this race in 2010 and 2013, one of his team's several Kiwis faces some tougher competition this year. Anyway, he knows how to win this and will be a threat just like teammate Horgan..

Le Race

James Williamson (NZ Cycling Project) took out the Le Race 2015 thanks to an outstanding solo-attempt 22km before finish, where he attacked a group of favorites and held off Brad Evans (Calder Stewart) and Michael Torckler (NZL) til the line!

Heavy crosswinds (50-70kmh) and 35 degrees would make this an extremely tough day in the saddle, but the spectators would not regret to show off at the track: an early escaping group with Wes Gough (Budget) and Gordon McCauley (GMC Dev) would be swallowed by the bunch just when the first top-favorites would kick off their first serious attempts about 25km before finish.

Initiated by Williamson, a group of 6 riders with Torckler, Brodie Talbot (Budget) and Keagan Girdlestone (Charter Mason) would put some pressure on other favorites like Joe Cooper (Avanti) and Evans.. Williamson though looked extraordinary strong, when he launched another move just a few minutes later.

He established a 30"-gap on Torckler, who dropped the others trying to hang on.. Evans then went to attack the reduced bunch, overtake Torckler and trying to bridge across Williamson! Some more attacks by Cooper (14km to the line) or Talbot (9km) would make for a thrilling race with small groups on the chase.. empty-handed though, as Williamson held on to a 15"-gap on Evans and 44" on Torckler/Cooper, who fought a nice battle for the final podium spot!

The break of the day with good ol' Gordon McCauley!

Williamson kicks off the favorites' moves 24km before finish!

And he goes again trying to drop Torckler and the others..

Avanti working hard to pull back the leading two..

..and Cooper finally jumps behind Evans/Torckler 14km to the line!

Talbot and Lovelock-Fay trying to follow Cooper..

Evans fighting his way to the finish with still a gap..

..and no chance to catch up to solo-winner Williamson!

Torckler beating Cooper to take the third place..

Girdlestone attacked late to complete the Top-5 ahead of Lovelock/Talbot!

#FINAL RESULTS

1	James Williamson	NZ Cycling Project	2h50'32
2	Brad Evans	Calder Stewart Team	+ 15
3	Michael Torckler	New Zealand NT	+ 44
4	Joe Cooper	Avanti Racing Team	s.t.
5	Keagan Girdlestone	Charter Mason Giant Racing	+ 1'22
6	Mitchell Lovelock-Fay	Avanti Racing Team	+ 1'40
7	Brodie Talbot	Budget Forklifts	s.t.
8	Sam Crome	Charter Mason Giant Racing	+ 2'02
9	Daniel Fitter	Charter Mason Giant Racing	s.t.
10	Luke Fetch	Avanti Racing Team	s.t.

Mersey Valley Tour Preview

The Mersey Valley tour is run around the hills and valleys behind Devonport and Ulverstone situated on the north-west coast of Tasmania. The event races to the gateway of one of Australia's premier holiday destinations, Cradle Mountain.

Rated as one of the hardest tours on the NRS calendar it comprises three stages. Stage one is a flat, very fast time trial along the Forth Valley. Stage two is on the afternoon of the same day, running from Forth to a mountain top finish in Moina, with the final five kilometer climb averaging 8%. Stage three starts in Sheffield, the town of Murals, one of Tasmania's must-see tourist hot spots. It comprises three laps of an incredibly tough circuit with two big bergs. The second hill, with a gradient of 11%, will test everyone (especially if it happens to get windy).

Come on down and see what Tassie has to offer.






Tasmanian fellow Nathan Earle took out last year's NRS opener thanks to an impressive victory on the queen stage on second day. It was his second win of that stage in two years, while Adam Semple won this event back in 2013. Both won't be racing in the NRS anymore though.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_OBrien_zps4070731d.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Mark O'Brien (Avanti Racing)
Winner of this race back in 2012, O'Brien is still aiming for the overall NRS-victory after being on the podium for three consecutive years now. This race should suit him well as the great climber he is.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Roe_zps457900ee.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Timothy Roe (Budget Forklifts)
Like O'Brien, also Roe had a quite good showing in the Herald Sun Tour and proved his strength once again. Those two may be amongst the very top-favorites for both this event and the NRS this year!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_MeyerTr_zps4fa00757.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Travis Meyer (Drapac)
Drapac won't ride every event in the NRS this year, but will have some serious contenders nevertheless: Meyer (who will already aim for the ITT), Norris, Crawford or Anderson will make for a strong squad.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Cooper_zps7f5c0602.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Joe Cooper (Avanti Racing)
But also Avanti will of course line up with an extraordinary strong team here: Cooper (as the best TT-specialist) will aim for yellow on first day. There's also New Zealand Cycle Classic-winner Dyball.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Canty_zps2eb1c341.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Brendan Canty (search2retain)
One of the up and coming riders in the NRS, Canty made some impressions in mountainous local races last season. This made him earn a spot on one of the well established teams. Watch out for this climber!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Cupitt_zpsc4e56da6.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Michael Cupitt (Budget Forklifts)
Last year's 4th in this opener, Cupitt is one of those good climbers hoping for a chance to go on their own when the top-favorites and team-captains struggle. Definitely with a chance for podium.