Madison Genesis are set to open their 2017 campaign in the warm New Zealand sunshine at the New Zealand Cycle Classic. Now in it's 29th year the NZCC is the only UCI accredited international event held in New Zealand and sees teams battle over a 5 day tour of the country.
Many of the satges in this years tour should be favourible for a bunched sprint so it is possible that a sprinter might just wear the overall leaders jersey. While a a short sharp climb at the end of day 1 will test the riders fitness at this early stage of the season, it is the hilly terrain on day 2 which will likely prove decisive. Stages 3 through 5 are largely flat and likely to be pretty fast.
Madison Genesis will be competing with a team of five riders. While 26 year old Richard Handley is expected to carry GC hopes for the team, strong support from Matthew Holmes & Jonathan McEvoy should enable the team to keep their options wide open. The tour is a continental event and as such Madison Genesis are expecting a solid showing in the team competition. With this in mind the team have also selected their latest prospect the Rowen Roleur.
Madison announced earlier today that they had captured the services of a once highly regarded British prospect Dafydd Llewwllyn Thomas. The young Welshman from Rowen, North Wales, was known as the Rowen Roleur during a promising early junior career; only to have faded from junior competition as so many prospects have done before. DLT is currently a second year university student studying architecture but has committed to a limited program for the small British team in order to provide some much needed depth. Thomas is just the 14th rider Madison have announced for the year ahead. There is some talk of Thomas being the next great champion. Do Madison Genesis have the next great rider? or will he fade into the Peleton. Only Time will Tell.
The New Zealand Cycle Classic has been an annual sporting fixture for the past twenty nine years and is recognised as the premier international road cycling event in New Zealand.
Each year the Cycle Classic unearths new talent, and a number of those riders have gone on to win stages in the Tour de France, the Tour of Italy and world championships among others.
The Wairarapa region is one of the best areas for cycling in New Zealand. It’s really “the best place to ride a bike” in New Zealand and we are very privileged to stage this international event in the wonderful region of Wairarapa once again
Stage 1 - Masterton to Castlepoint.
The first stage race of 2017 should see the opening stage as something of a prologue to the critical, and possibly decisive, Admiral Hill climb to finish stage 2. At just 121 Kms over rolling terrain of New Zealand this stage is designed to welcome the peleton of riders escaping the northern hemispheres winter. There is the early intermediate sprint after just 53 Km but with no time bonuses on offer I doubt there will be a great deal on competition for it. The three category three climbs in the final 30 Km will have a greater impact on the standings as they test the rider early season fitness.
The locals are suggesting that this first stage could prove decisive as the exposed route could see strong side winds throughout the day. The tricky downhill finish will no doubt catch some of the teams out today. The Lotto Kern Haus entry looks to be the pick of the field, while local team IsoWhey will be sure to push them hard. Madison are aiming for top British team of the four entered into the twelve team field.
New Zealand Cycle Classic Stage 1
Masterton to Castlepoint - 121Km
As the UCI continental teams lined up for this early season stage race in Masterton, Wellington most of the riders looked apprehensive ahead of the day in the saddle. While the stage wasn't daughnting the strong side winds would make this open stage a difficult ride for most who haven't ridden in some time. There was a first day back vibe to the peleton as the flag dropped and the years first tour action got underway.
It took less than 6Km for the race to start as new boy Thomas made a break for it. Tokunda joined the Madison rider and a few other followed to form a 5 man break away. Driven by Thomas the break away soon had a four minute gap to the peleton before they eased back and began working together. Passing through the days intermediate sprint at 53Km the lead group were just 2'18 ahead of the peleton and the lead was looking good to last into the first of the days climbs. IsoWhey were driving the pace of the peleton but having to work hard to close the gap, while favorites Lotto KH were content to ride in the middle of the field despite not having a rider in the break which contained 5 teams. Thomas went through the sprint uncontested as the breakaway group worked their way towards the climbs, Ferreira of W52 was second on the road with Gazvoda of Adria Mobil in third.
70Km into the stage and the break still held a 2' advantage. Working together the 5 men at the front were matching the power of the 55 man chasing peleton. The Adria Mobil rider had shown the greatest prowess over climbs in his career but no push to break the lead group was made, still working together Gazvoda lead the group over the climb at Langdale Road. Jeremy Cameron had driven much of the day at the front of the peleton and was spent. Loosing contact with the peleton on the climb the IsoWhey rider fell and brought down 4 rider including Vermeulen (Roubaix). All five riders rejoined the race but with an accelerating peleton they would have to work extremely hard.
Entering the last 20Km the breakaway group still held a 68" lead over the pack but their advantage seemed to be dwindling fast. Although the group were still working together the exposed course and strong side winds through the New Zealand farmland had taken it's toll and the catch was seeming increasingly likely. On the second of the stages three climbs Ferreira made his attack sensing the imminent catch. Madison rider Thomas & strong climber Gazvoda went with the portuguesse rider splintering the group. Again the Czech climber lead over the climb as the breakaway group, now reduced to 3 riders, pushed on trying hard to avoid being caught. The Welshman Thomas drove the group on before launching an attack from the front, first Gazvoda then Ferreira cracked under the attack but their tired legs were no match for the advancing peleton. Thomas' attack may have been short lived but his 117Km break had announced his presence on the world stage. Thomas was caught at the top of the third climb just 1.5Km from the line after a heroic display.
The attacking rides from the breakaway on the final two climbs of the day had splintered the field into a series of small groups. The strongest or maybe just fittest were still their to sprint for the line. Jeremy Leveau of Roubaix took the stage with a lunge at the line defeating Spanish rider Veloso and Katransik of Adria Mobil. Madison Genesis rider Thomas was rewarded as the first man home for his team crossing the line in 9th place.
Having given everything in the break Gregor Gazvoda finished 1'40" back in 45th, ahead of Tiago Ferreira. Tanzo Takuda, who rode in the initial break, finished a further 19" back with fellow escapee Donald Mukaj of Amore + Vita. IsoWhey's Jeremy Cameron picked himself up after his fall and came home 3'29" behind the sprint finish to ensure all 60 riders finished the day.
Leveau leads the pack at the end of stage 1 but with 20 riders tied in the lead of the general classification it is still anybodies race. With no time bonuses or points to fight over every second counts in this tour and tomorrows undulating stage could blow the field apart.
The Wairarapa region brings us a second stage in this years New Zewaland Cycle Classic.
Stage 2 Masterton - Admiral Hill
If yesterdays stage was made for the Baroduer within the peleton, today's must be a punchers dream. The constantly changing gradient should result in a day of attacks & counters as all those riders with a hope of general classification glory know today has the potential to dash their dreams for another year.
The 151Km stage once again ends in a series of climbs to test the riders to their limits. After a tough day in the saddle yesterday there is a category 1 climb today which could shred the field. Lotto KH man Freienstein is a hot favorite but watch OnePro Cycling to push the German team all the way, and Sporting could be in the mix too. The climb at Tupurupuru comes after 131Km but the double climb of Admiral Hill to finish the stage will be the decisive moments on the stage.
With cloudy skies there is an outside chance of rain but with a mild 24C the riders won't object too much.
New Zealand Cycle Classic
Stage 2
Masterton to Admiral Hill - 151Km
As the whisps of cloud gathered into something resembling a blanket the 60 strong field assembled to tackle the most challenging day of the tour. With 57 riders still within 2' of the lead Admiral Hill would be a determining factor in this years tour. Gazvoda launched an attack within the first 3Km of the stage showing impressive recovery skills, and for the second stage there was a 5 man breakaway working together at the front of the race. Determined to make up time Emiel Vermeulen was in the break having been brought down yesterday.
With a eye on the stage win and no riders in the break OnePro, Lotto KH and IsoWhey all drove the peleton. When the lead was stretched out to 3' Madison Genesis took to the front at around 15Km into the stage. Dafydd Thomas set the pace for the next 25Km or so driving the peleton on and bringing the breakaway back by around a minute.
A third of the way through the Stage Madison Genesis have a four man unit working hard at the front of the peleton to reel in the escapees. With riders from IsoWhey, W52 & Lotto Kern Haus all assisting the gap is closing. Over the second climb of the day the break was reduced to 1'30" only for the gap to increase again on the proceeding section of the stage.
Entering the final 60Km Handley called Thomas into action again and once more the Welshman pushed the pace at the head of the peleton. With the advantage at 2' Lotto moved to the front, working with Madison the two teams drove a hard pace trying to cracked the large peleton on the two key climbs of the day. The lead was melting away with just under a minute as the peleton passed the 30Km mark. Most of the break had surrendered to the relentless Madison pace only Amore Vita rider Zmorka was left out front & alone as the rain showers began.
By 25Km to go the rain was heavy, the first ascent of Admiral Hill was just 5Km away and the lone rider at the front was in sight of the peleton. IsoWhey & Madison working together forced the pace and the peleton began to splinter, just 49 rider were left chasing lone Pole out front. With the catch made on the climb Madison Genesis continued to force the pace, working so hard they inadvertently form a three man breakaway on the steepest section. The peleton was starting to shed riders at a regular rate.
The Madison escapees slowed the pass allowing the peleton to catch them entering the final 15Km. Entering the last climb Handley gave the order to push on again and destroy the field that was left. Madison Genesis domestiques responded and ramped up the pace. The British outfit still had 5 riders at the front of the peleton, although challenged by 4 riders from Sporting. All of the remaining teams were lucky to have 2 riders together in the disorganized and disintegrating peleton. The lead group had been reduced to 28 riders, while the favorites remained near the front Madison Genesis leader Handley still had 4 team members to call upon. Towards the rear Suguru Tokuda was forced to abandon after nasty fall in the tricky conditions; the five other riders involved were able to continue.
The stages final 8.5Km would be the second crippling climb of Admiral Hill. Gunman, McEvoy & Thomas set a terrifying pace for team leader Handley dropping everyone except the two pre stage favourites. Freienstein & Domagalski gradually dropped Handley who had held on better then the rest of the field. Entering the final kilometer the 3 Madison riders were ahead but weakened by the climb, bunched with the favorites and starring into a sprint for the line. With the last kilometer upon them Dafydd Thomas blinked first and tried to break for the line, it proved to be inspired as he held off the faster finishing riders around him to claim a narrow stage victory.
With 5 Madison riders in the top 7 finishers they truely dominated the stage. Their reward is a nearly 4 minute lead in the teams competition and 4 of the top 6 riders in general classification. Thomas hold the young riders jersey with a 53" advantge over compatriot Mathew Holmes. Overnight leader Leveau lost 1'52" to lie 12th Zmorka's hugr breakaway effort saw him eventually finish 15'44" behind the leaders.
I absolutely love your reporting style, very fluent. These are great reads! Now Im hoping for some emotional attachement with the squad. This story has huge potential!
Stage 3 - Masterton - Martinborough
Masterton will see the stage start for the third straight day. With brilliant sunshine and scorching temperatures expected for todays action it will be an energy sapping ride for the entire field. After the energy and exertion of yesterdays climbs produced high drama, today will likely be a bunch sprint. The largely flat stage could lend itself to a strong break away by a small group of baroudeur, but after the strength destroying climbs in stage 2 it will be tough.
Watch for the strong men to battle it out, especially Veloso who will be looking to close the slim gap in the standings. I'm sure French man Leveau will push hard to hold onto his points lead too. Don't be suprised if it's a German rider crossing the line first however, Freienstein or Huppertz would be a reasonable punt.
The star of the first two stage Dafydd Thomas of Madison Genesis will be testing his recovery skills to the max today after two exhausting days in the saddle. The stage is over terrain the Welsh man will not favor as well. The Madison team will be hard pressed to repeat such a dominant display as yesterday though. Pressed on whether Thomas expected to be wearing the leaders jersey at the end of the stage he said he was here to do a job for the team and that wasn't to race for the tour win when we started. Today's action might just determine how flexible Madison are willing to be in there approach.
New Zealnd Cycle Classic
Stage 3
Masterton to Martinborough - 136.1Km
The stage started with a now customary break away with just 2.1Km gone. Six riders from six teams made a run for it and for 40 Km they stretched the lead out to 4'21". OnePro finally got the chase organized and pushed the peleton pace at around the 50Km stage.
Before Half way we saw Thomas good to his word collecting water bottles for his team. The peleton reached Martinborough at the halfway point of the stage with ten loops of the town to go and 2'24" to make up on the break. The Martinborough loop was plagued by side winds and the peletons progress was halted somewhat. Wibatech & OnePro forcing the pace were able to hold the gap.
The stages decisive moment came 37.4Km from the finish. A mass crash took 24 riders out of action briefly and splintered the peleton. Madison Genesis riders Holmes & McAvoy collided near the front of the peleton and those following had nowhere to go, both Madison riders were injured and forced to abandon shortly after the incident.
As the race reformed Thomas found himself in the now reduced peleton with a large group of stage & race favorites one minute down the road. Who in turn were 2'20" behind the initial breakaway. Over the next 7Km Thomas showed great strength to bridge the gap to team leader Handley and the only remaining Madison domestique bringing water bottles as he did.
Entering the final 20Km the breakaway still held a 2' advantage over the group of favorites who were themselves 2' ahead of a recovering peleton. By 10Km out the breakaway is clearly going to succeed they have stretched their advantage to over 2'30" but the chasing peleton has reformed and the long lead train is strung out with JLT, W52 & OnePro driving hard on the front trying to claim a stage victory for their men.
As the teams at the head of the peleton tried to form their sprint trains out ahead Tokunda made an attack. The break all responded and battled out an epic sprint after a hard days riding. There was a three way photo for the stage win which was eventually awarded to the Sporting rider Fernandes from Zmorka and Lotto man Schomair. Local rider Patrick Lane had to settle for sixth. Wibatech rider Stepniak lead a disorganized peleton streaming through 2'21" behind the stage victor.
Race leader Thomas came home 30th to retain his 16" advantage over nearest challengers Veloso & Domagalski. Following Holmes withdrawal Thomas is all but guaranteed the young riders prize with a 1'34" lead in the standings.
