‘This is why we race’

Gordon and his Team Donen/Serk teammates, who played a pivotal role in his win.

PROVING yourself at home is one thing. Stepping up to the proverbial plate 11,000 kilometres away and smacking one over the fence is by far another. Gisborne cyclist Callum Gordon did just that with his thrilling victory in China’s Tour of Salimu Lake, and the 21-year-old feels it’s momentum that will only build.

Gordon, a member of Team Donen/Serk, won the general classification title of the five-stage tour by just one second. An intermediate sprint bonus got him across the line after he trailed by a second heading into the final stage.

The victory moved him a little closer to his ultimate mission of making a living out of pushing pedals. It also justified and acknowledged the huge amount of work the young man has put in as he ticks off boxes towards some lofty goals.

Gordon, who earlier this year took overall honours in New Zealand’s 140km national road race, went to China with the intention of getting himself noticed by other teams. He competed in two shorter races before the Salimu Lake event.

“The day I landed in Shanghai, I travelled seven hours straight to Thousand Island lake where the Skoda HEROS Qian Dao Lake Gran Fondo was held,” Callum told The Herald. “This was a two-day event, with two stages — 75km and 138km.

“For the first day I was feeling pretty good from the gun. I attacked from the line and went out on my own for a few k’s. I could see the group was catching so I eased up. Once we left some riders around the 40k mark I went off again, with one other taking my wheel. We worked well up until the final metres where I just sneaked in front of him to claim the yellow (jersey) and stage honours.”

Day 2 was “a little more interesting”, he said, Organisers brought in a professional as a guest rider, and it became fairly evident he was not there on holiday.

“I was still feeling pretty good, and so were a few other guys who missed the break the day before. As I was a solo rider, I was a big target. Everything I tried got shut down and eventually, as I tired, a break got away from me. Knowing that I couldn’t do it by myself, the day was done. I was happy to place high in the bunch finish and claim sixth. For me, it was a good tour and a great first race in China.

“My second race was held in Huai’an — a six-hour bus ride north of Shanghai. This was an 80km loop around a very scenic lake called White Horse Lake. I placed fourth in a very competitive field.”

From there it was on to western China and the Salimu Lake race as part of a contingent featuring multiple nationalities — Kiwi, Australian, Slovakian, American, Italian and Chinese.

Gordon was 10th in the opening stage but despite trailing the leader by 1 minute 13 seconds was confident of making up the deficit. Stage 4 was a climber’s stage up to an altitude of 2300 metres and that is where Gordon is at his best.

Feeling the pressureHe closed the gap over the next two stages, highlighted by teammate Luke Pledger moving into the yellow jersey. Pledger fell away on stage 4 but Gordon, as planned, made his move to rocket up the rankings to second overall. The day got even better as the overall leader was penalised for “getting a tow” from a teammate, who had already been disqualified but was allowed to continue racing. It reduced Gordon’s deficit to just one second, and while he was feeling the pressure, he knew he had the men around him to finish the job.

“There was a little weight on my shoulders, that’s for sure, with Luke just losing the yellow on the hill stage. But I couldn’t let this affect me. I couldn’t let the jersey go after we had all come so far to get it. It was one of those days where everything seemed to work perfectly. We had a team plan and stuck to it. I needed two seconds to gain the yellow jersey and the only way to do this was getting first or second in one of the four sprints. We tried for the first and second sprint but couldn’t get up there as it was just too hectic, so it came down to the third because everyone knows I’m no (Peter) Sagan. I wouldn’t have had a show in the final sprint.

“Luckily I had former world track champ Michael Freiburg and one of Australia’s finest criterium racers in Luke in front of me to place me right in line for second place. When I got the two seconds I needed, the celebrations started with two laps still to go. The whole team were buzzing.”

Top of the podiumGordon finished the stage 35th but the sprint effort had sealed it for him and he got to stand atop the podium, pop the top off a bottle of bubbly and savour one of what he hopes are many similar moments.

“Results like these are why we race. It really shows how far I’ve come in the last year. It shows the passion and commitment I’ve been putting into achieve these goals. I’m really excited about the future and what I have to offer.”

Gordon has been enjoying the sights of China since his victory and raced in the Ocean Cup Pingtan China International open race on Sunday. He placed 18th in a field of over 2000, 1 minute 24 seconds behind the winner. His Salimu Lake victory made him a marked man so any team moves were quickly shut down.

Gordon returns home on Friday.