A fresh start for Joe

2011 is shaping up nicely for JC. For the full story head on over to Joe's blog. Check out the smile after taking home the White Horse award for 2010...

Christmas Party

Plenty of Christmas cheer at the GP end of year lunch at Scopa yesterday.

Apart from all the usual banter there was the serious business of presenting the White Horse award for 2010. The White Horse went to JC for his outstanding ride at the Tour of Southland this year. Joe won the King of the Mountains classification and took a stage win to boot. Not only that, Joe won the Tour of New Caledonia for a second successive year. Exciting times for the young fella as next year Joe will be riding for a team in France. He will be on the start line at the Tour de Vineyards and Trusthouse Cycle Classic early in the New Year before heading to Europe in February.

As 2010 draws to a close we would like to acknowledge the support of our amazing sponsors: Rocket Espresso Milano, Caffe L'affare, Ricoh, Armstrong Prestige, J Tomlinson & Co and La Gazzetta Della Bici.

And we'll be looking smart in the New Year in our new GP Racing Team t-shirts courtesy of Rocket Espresso, L'affare and Ricoh. Check these out...

Rice Mountain Classic

Hot, hot, hot best describes the racing at the Rice Mountain Classic held in the Wairarapa yesterday. A field of over 100 riders were on the start line to test their climbing legs at Wellington's premier one day road race.

Great to see the very pro looking Pure Black team in town, the new Wheelworks team, riders from the Hawkes Bay and a top womens field.

Full results should be up on the PNP website very soon. Be sure to check out the great set of action shots by Adrian Rumney on Flickr too.

1989 Tour de France

Nice photo set by Benjamin Werner on Flickr capturing the mood before the infamous final stage of the 1989 Tour.

"In 1989, I was young, I liked cycling and the Tour de France was still much more innocent and fascinating than today. On the last day, Laurent Fignon and Greg Lemond were going to fight for the final victory on the last stage. I suddenly decided to go to Versailles; it was not very crowded and I could enter the starting area. Here are some pictures from that day." Benjamin Werner

Parting thoughts

Reflecting on the weekend while waiting in Christchurch airport for the flight home to Wellington.

Armstrong Festival of Cycling

Thrilling racing, stunning weather and top results by some of the GP team made for a great weekend away at the Armstrong Festival of Cycling held in Christchurch over the weekend.

JC continued his streak of fine form to take a hard-fought second place in a 2up sprint with Hayden Roulston at the Long Bays Classic on Saturday.

On the first major climb of the day (Gebbies Pass) Joe broke away with Roulston and Subway Avanti team mate Michael Vink. Once the leading trio had established a gap, Vink counter-attacked allowing Joe to sit on Hayden for a few kilometers before the final climb up Evans Pass.

On Evans Joe attacked several times, but Roulston ever attentive, never let him out of his sights and they crested the top together for the 8km flat run into the finish. With 750m to go Joe attacked out of the final hairpin corner, however Roulston anticipated well again, jumping on and sprinting past to take the win.

Davis put in a storming ride for 21st place. Tucked into the next group on the road behind Roulston, Joe, Vink and Yates, Davis was vying for a top ten result. Not known for his sprinting prowess, Davis finished in the middle of the group with Pure Black team leader Glen Chadwick taking the sprint for 5th. Backy finished 35th dropping off the pace on the final climb up Evans.

In the recreational event Jono sped in for 31st place, less than 30 seconds behind the winner, Ben Longworth. Next to finish was Kirky in 44th place, followed by Tom, 57th (dropped chain on Evans) and Rick, 72nd.

A superbly organised event, everyone agreed that they would be back for another crack next year. Huge thanks to Rick Armstrong, who kindly invited the GP team down.



On Sunday morning we headed out early for a ride up Dyers Pass and along Summit Road, a good hangover cure for sure. If ever in Christchurch be sure to ride this loop – see map above. Plenty of climbing and the views from the top are breathtaking. Joe and James Williamson led the way, taking it easy on us as they were both racing at the criterium later in the day.

Carnival atmosphere at the inner city centre criterium with celebrity tandem and support events throughout the day, culminating with the mens elite criterium. Great to watch some of New Zealand's best cyclists turn it on around the tight street circuit. Intense racing with an average speed of 44km/h for winner Mike Northey who narrowly won from Tom Scully in a close sprint. Criterium photos below.