Tour Of Wellington 2010

Just back from a very enjoyable Tour of Wellington. They say winners are grinners and we sure are smiling.

I always wanted to build a team of elite level riders and take them to this tour. I hadnt been back since Bryce Shapley got 2nd in 2000. So it was time. I build the team with Wade and Clinton as my first choice riders and though them developed a team that would back each other and pass on any personal ambition if needed. We added George Bennett who was racing with Wade all year in France and is a beautiful climber with many wins in France already for some one so young. Clinton suggested that Mike Torckler would be good to have also. I didnt know Mike but knew he has been U23 TT champ and can climb like the wind. That left one more spot and I suggested Aaron Strong as another climber and some one with a great deal of knowledge and has raced in teams with both Clinton and Wade at the Tour of Southland. So the team was set and I approached Jorge Sandoval about being in one of his Sponsored teams. He agreed and we started as the Cardno team.

From the start the guys from Cardno were in touch offering a team car and setting up anything we needed at the stage finish. These guys become part of our team and we were proud to be part of team Cardno. It was great to have the corporate managers in the car and teach them about the dynamics of racing when they could see it evolve, its just not a ride from one place to another. The level of commitment that the team put out on the road has made a great impression on the Sponsors and they are keen to do it bigger and better next year. I sense a partnership developing here.

Race tactics for us was simple. Loss no time on the first day and save everything for Admirals hill. We had a plan that Michael would attack on the second to last climb and use this to go for stage victory. The back up was George to hit it on Admirals. And with Aaron also we knew we had a great chance to surprise some people in this tour. The race went just to plan, Mike closed a gap on the climb and then attacked to take a 5 second lead of the Drapac rider. This stage also saw team Cardno with 3 riders in top 10 and this set up our victory in the teams classification.

From this point George had to put aside dreams of the U23 comp as he had to be Mikes right hand man. Clinton, Aaron and Wade then proceeded to kill themselves over the next 2 stages to ensure that Mike stayed Yellow and as long as we had three finish in or close to the main peloton we would have Teams sorted also.

Great results,
Michael Torckler 1st Overall and 3rd KOM
George Bennett 2nd U23 and 9th overall
I dont even know where Wade and Clinton finished as its not important, they did a huge job.
Aaron was a DNF but not before he gave the team everything he had.

And me Now a UCI 2.2 tour winning DS