Big meeting for cyclists | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

HUNDREDS of cyclists will converge on the roads of Taranaki this weekend with the running of the 25th annual POWERCO Tour of Taranaki Cycle Race.

The race hosts grades A - D in the Senior Ranks and Under 17 boys and girls in the Junior Ranks.Racing begins at Normanby with a seven kilometre time trial for all gradesat 9am on Saturday morning, In the afternoon riders A and B graderiders will then ride a distance of 89.18 kilometre in the backblocksof Hawera with C and D and Junior Grade riders riding over 62kilometres.Racing then moves to Stratford on the Forgotten Highway where A andB grade riders will race over a distance of 71.51 kilometres andreturn, which includes Douglas and Strathmore Saddles. Riders will alsocontest King of Mountains and Sprint Jerseys over these stages. C andD and Junior riders will ride over a distance of 61.23 kilometres.

In the afternoon all riders will do the Huiroa Block, an approximate distance of 49.57kilometres, with A grade commencing at 1pm from the TET Stadium inStratford.

On the Monday riders will then compete from Lepperton and all gradeswith the exception of under 17 girls will do a small loop of theLepperton district before heading out over the Tarata Saddle.

The A grade will see some awesome racing with the peoples championGordon MacCauley competing - Gordon is renowned for his attachingstyle and never-give-in attitude.

NZ Development squads which feature Stratford’s Nick Sutton and New Plymouth’s Denay Cottam will also provide awesome racing.

NZ development camp is being held at the same time from Stratford.

In the A Grade other riders that should feature are Morrinsville’s Elliot Crowther  and Subways Joseph Copper.In the B Grade, New Plymouth’s Tony Brownrigg should be a strongcontender.

In the C grade local man Brohn Torckler would be a hotfavourite with his exceptional time trialling skills and overallfitness.

C Grade being the biggest grade, showing the huge increase in recreational cycling that is occurring.

In the D grade MP Trevor Mallard will the one everyone is watching, onTrevor’s entry form he stated that he had never rode in a bike racebefore and has picked one of the hardest tours in the country to attempt.

Under 17 Development riders for the Boys should see Kristoff Ford fromthe Nelson Area show his class.

Racing in this field will be extremelycompetitive and riders will be out to prove there places in teams inthe build up to Racing Canberra.

In the girls section Auckland’s Devon Hileyand Georgina WIlson will be favourites.