|
Apr 14th, 10. The Beachfront Hotel Hokitika Classic on Sunday is Round 2 of the teams based Benchmark Homes series and the teams are geared up ready for action.
This weekend NZ's elite riders have another double date. Round 4 of the National Points Series (Around Brunner) and Round 2 of the Benchmark Homes Series, both on the West Coast of the South Island.
Saturday's 130km Around Brunner ride is open to riders of all levels and this year has attracted almost 1,100 entries including 50 elite competitors.
Sunday's Beachfront Hotel Hokitika Classic provides a new circuit for the Benchmark Homes series and offers elite riders from around New Zealand the opportunity of a weekend full of top-level cycle racing.
Starting on Sunday at 10am in Cass Square, the Beachfront Hotel Hokitika Classic 136km race, two and a half lap circuit, ends with a sprint along Weld St to the Cass Square finish in Hokitika.
The Benchmark Homes team stacked the podium in Round 1 in Nelson almost three weeks ago and the team are hoping to do the same again, but there are a few teams hoping to change that situation this weekend.
Benchmark Homes
"We are gunning for a victory again," said Benchmark Homes team Director Brendan Hart.
"We are going to ride to our strengths. The young boys are up to the task. The last round results showed they are really hungry to win and the sprint photo finish in Nelson proved they have the commitment to win."
The Benchmark team was able to make it a clean sweep with Under 23 riders James McCoy, Josh Atkins and Will Bowman taking the 1st three places in the Woollaston Estate Tasman Classic Round 1 in Nelson.
McCoy is well aware of the prestige of filling the podium solely with orange and white (Benchmark Homes team colours).
“No other team has ever recorded such a result in the series, let alone from a 17, 18 and 19 year old. This just adds to our team dynamic," said McCoy.
Subway Avanti
"Consistency is the key to winning any of the classifications on offer," said Greg Hume, Subway-Avanti team manager.
"We are aware of the importance of strengthening the overall position of our best placed rider Matt Gorter (4th overall) but attention will also be given to the team's remaining members to collect points to ensure they are not left behind in the race for the overall title. The more riders Subway-Avanti can place towards the top of the leader-board, the more options become available as the series nears completion."
Ultimo Jamis
Ultimo-Jamis rider Thomas Hubbard will be joining his team after returning from a six week scholarship to the USA. In his first weekend back he won the U23 title at the Canterbury Champs road race.
2010 Tour of Canterbury Champion Anthony Chapman will spearhead a strong five man team which includes his brother Joe (a stage winner at the Canterbury Tour), James Gibson 2010 Tour de Lakes Champion, Andy MacKay and Hubbard.
"This will be a good hitout for the boys and will be a real test for Anthony who unfortunately had a bike accident a little over a week ago," Team Director Stephen Taylor told RoadCycling.co.nz
"With Tom back on the team and the great results Anthony, James and Joe have had in the past two weeks I feel very confident of a great result".
Bici Vida
A new addition to the Benchmark Homes series is Bici Vida. Although three of their riders are racing in America at the moment the New Zealand based team is still going strong.
Team Director Carl Williams told RoadCycing.co.nz the Benchmark Series plays a big role in the development goals of the team over the winter months. Bici Vida's team includes new recruits Paul Odlin and Shem Roger along with Alex Ray, Taylor Gunman, Scott Wilder, Mark Langlands and Colin Cornberg.
"We want to support the Benchmark Homes Series as they provide so much for the teams. The guys are really looking forward to it, they are doing Around Brunner on Saturday too," Williams said.
Tasman Wheelers
In the women's race, Jeannie Kuhajek is the defending title holder and showed her class with a sparkling win in the opening round on her home territory at the Woollaston Tasman Classic.
"I'm stoked, I'm stoked! I'd say that winning round one is one of my most exciting wins... the best part about the win is that it was a team effort. My teammates got me into great position going into the last hill and delivered me to the line. Awesome!" said Kuhajek.
Tasman Wheelers team manager Malcolm Saunders said, "We have Jeannie and also Karen Fulton, the 2008 Benchmark women's winner. We will be looking for a good result on Sunday."
Mico / All About Plumbing
Mico / All About Plumbing, a first season team, have two new names added to this weekend's roster. Last year's Euro/Belgium based rider Josh Brown is leading the team in Saturday's Around Brunner warm-up event and NZ U23 Champion Tom Findlay (ex-Bici Vida) is joining the team as a guest rider.
"I have known Tom since his early day of riding back in Palmy. He is off to Holland in a few weeks so contacted me to join us for a couple or races prior to leaving NZ. I know he is more than capable of supporting or leading the team so we were more than happy to help him out" said Team Director Steve Elden.
Steve Armstrong joins returning riders Benchmark Cat 2 leader Lee Evans and newly crowned Canterbury U19 road Champ Tom Littlejohn.
"Tom, Josh and Lee are the main riders for Sunday. We don't have a game plan yet and we won't till we have raced on the Saturday," said Elden. Lee is leading the Cat 2 so no doubt they have him there to defend that position.
Sunday will also see the Mico/All About Plumbing women, Kylie Rochford and Julia Grant, racing for the lead in their category. Grant was 2nd in Round 1 and is fresh off her Tour of Canterbury win two weeks ago.
She will be a marked rider but Steve Elden is confident she can repeat her last round result or go one better.
"It really comes down to how many of the other teams are having their men protect the women during the race. They all start together so the women with the most men in support, win. I would love to see woman's racing in NZ having their own race so they can have a real go at it!" Steve Elden said. "It's coming and when it does it will improve the numbers and level of woman's racing".
CYB Racing Team
Local Hokitika talent in the CYB racing team sees Cathy Hamer and Cat 2 rider Kevin O'Donnell keen to use their local knowledge to dominate their respective categories.
Brent Allnut, Canterbury Championship title holder and winner of the Around Brunner race last year is back and keen to show his class to local supporters.
Benchmark Homes Series 2010
- Round 2 - 18 April Hokitika Beachfront Hotel Hokitika Classic
- Round 3 - 9 May Hanmer Ocean Ridge 4th Hanmer Springs-Kaikoura
- Round 4 - 15 August Taitapu Aquados 4th Tour of Selwyn
- Round 5 - 11 Sept Cust 4th Parry Field Lawyers open
- Round 6 - 26 Sept Rangiora KPMG Accountants Trophy
- Round 7 - 16 October Oxford 'The Star' 6th Oxford Grand Prix
The lure of a series aimed at elite team racing is attracting National attention with 18 team entries from Auckland to Southland entered to date.
|
