Cyclists off to fly the flag for Gisborne at Age Group Road National Champs

WITH THEIR WHEELED STEEDS: Four Gisborne club cyclists are off to the age group champs. They are (from left) Neil Robinson, Nan Baker, Peter Blake and Craig Hoskin (Craig is pictured in the following photo in this gallery). Picture by Paul Rickard

Four cyclists from the Gisborne Cycling Club will contest the Age Group Road National Championships in Waipukurau this weekend.

Nan Baker, Neil Robinson, Craig Hoskin and Peter Blake will fly the flag for the Gisborne district.

Of the Gisborne riders, 45-to-49 age group competitor Nan Baker has the best results from recent championships.

Over the past five championships she has won six gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

The time trial is her speciality, and she looks good for another placing in the 16.9-kilometre event.

The next day she will ride the 66km road race and the undulating course should suit her.

It is 61 years since Neil Robinson rode his first national championship, in Auckland.

He will starting in the 75-to-79 age group, doing both the 16.9km time trial and 66km road race.

Over the past five age group championships he has won three gold and six silver medals. Only once has he been out of the medals.

He has ridden many championships over the years and reckons this probably will be his last. His wife Marion says she's heard it all before.

Craig Hoskin will ride only the 98.1km road race. He has won two bronze medals in past championships and hopes to add to his tally.

While in Wellington last week he had a fall off his bike while out training but says he is OK.

Hoskin is at the end of his 50-to-54 age group and will surely be tested.

Peter Blake is a new member of the Gisborne club, having started his cycling career in Invercargill in his teens.

He will contest the 35-to-39 age group road race over 98.1km and has produced some strong rides with the club in recent events.

This age group is one of the toughest and usually has the biggest field.

The championships were originally to have been held in April but due to the Covid-19 pandemic they were moved to July.

The 500 cyclists who have entered are looking forward to getting back into racing and hoping for good weather.