Torckler confirmed for NZ team to contest NZ Cycle Classic

Torckler confirmed for NZ team to contest NZ Cycle Classic

Former New Zealand Cycle Classic Tour winner Michael Torckler has been confirmed as the sixth member of the New Zealand National team contesting the five-stage UCI 2.2 event which begins in the Wairarapa tomorrow.

Race director Jorge Sandoval confirmed this morning that hill climbing specialist Torckler will join team mates James Oram, Luke Mudgway, Hayden McCormick, Taylor Gunman and Joel Yates for the tour which gets underway from the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park in Masterton at 10am tomorrow morning.

Torckler, who won the title in 2010 with a brilliant ride up Admiral Hill, is shown to be in great form after finishing third place in the recent national road cycling championships held in Napier and recording a stage win up Coronet Peak in November last year.

Sandoval says this will be the first time in the Tour’s 31 year history that four previous winners will be on the start time. He will be joined by Michael Vink (2014 winner), Taylor Gunman (2015 winner) and Joseph Cooper (2017 winner & defending champion).

“Having Michael in the tour really changes the outcome as he will be right there against the best hill climbers in the Queen stage up Admiral Hill on Saturday,” say race director Jorge Sandoval.

The NZ National team is made up of:
James Oram
Luke Mudgway
Hayden McCormick
Taylor Gunman – winner NZCC 2015
Joel Yates
Michael Torckler – winner NZCC 2010.

Please note: Keep up to date with the latest race action from the 2018 New Zealand Cycle Classic. A 30 minute package will be shown each night from around 9.00pm on the channel below and via Facebook/NZ Cycle Classic. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcNX6p6VIfEhqeGbeQls2lA.

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