By Ross Karl
The national track cycling team's hitting the road in the New Zealand Cycle Classic as part of their preparation for the London Olympics.
The Manawatu wind makes it a pretty tough task for top road cyclists, so it’s not much fun for track riders like Aaron Gate.
"Most of the time we’re inside so it’s normally not an issue, but it definitely was today," he says.
Gate, Sam Bewley, Marc Ryan, Shane Archbold and Myron Simpson are using the classic to get kilometres into the legs.
"This is a really important part of the season for us," says Gate. "It’s doing all the foundation work that we can layer our speed, power and strength work on top of going forward, so we’re going our best for the world champs in April and ultimately the Olympics in early August.
Gate is the best of the Kiwis after today’s 143km second stage from Palmerston North to Apiti, and back, in just over a minute behind the leaders - Australians Jay McCarthy and Darren Lapthorne.
They broke away this afternoon, with McCarthy taking the stage win and Lapthorne the yellow jersey.
"Hopefully [McCarthy] decides to take three easy days now and I can follow his wheel, but I can’t see that happening at all," says Lapthorne.
Tomorrow the riders tackle a similar course, but in the opposite direction.
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