Gordon in the bunch as ‘big boys’ dictate

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE’S Callum Gordon remains in 19th place overall — one minute 19secs behind leader James Oram — after a frantic finish to stage three of the New Zealand Cycle Classic yesterday.

Gordon, riding for Team Skoda Racing, was officially 58th in the 136km stage from Masterton to Martinborough, but was part of the peloton who crossed the line headed by Alex Frame of the English-based JTL Condor team.

“The pace was super-fast from the get-go — about 50 kilometres an hour for the first hour — and there was no chance for me to make an attack,” said Gordon.

“The big teams dictated the race from the start and weren’t about to let anyone get away.

“I ended up sitting in the bunch, which is pretty average riding for me (Gordon loves nothing better than attacking). There was a bigh bunch sprint at the end but it was too dangerous to get up. There were heaps of riders going all over the place. We (Gordon’s team, Skoda) kept the under-23 leader’s jersey (held by Alex West), which is a team goal.”

Gordon is aiming for a top-20 overall finish.

“I’m feeling a little bit tired at this stage of the race but the goal is top 20 so it’s all about the last two stages.”

Frame and the other 69 riders who made up the peloton all received the same time of 2 hours 47 minutes 18 seconds in yesterday’s stage.

That meant Oram of the New Zealand National Team retained the yellow jersey – 10secs ahead of Sam Crome of IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness, with Steve Lampier of JTL Condor another two seconds back.

Stage three took riders from Masterton to Martinborough where they fought it out on a fast and furious eight-lap circuit around the town’s vineyard and town square lined with spectators. A breakaway of four riders got to as much as 3mins 10secs ahead but were reined in.

Frame, the only Kiwi rider in the JTL Condor team and a member of the New Zealand track cycling pursuit team who won gold at the 2015 world championships, headed home Team Sapura’s Mohammad Abd Halil, with Oliver’s Real Food Racing’s Sean Whitefield third.

The New Zealand National Team claimed fourth, fifth and ninth placings.

Today’s 143km stage four of the classic is known as “The Five Towns” stage.

It starts in Masterton and takes riders through Carterton, Greytown and Featherston before heading around Lake Wairarapa and back to Martinborough.

The classic finishes tomorrow.