Benchmark Home series begins this weekend

Mar 26th, 10. The 6th year of the Benchmark Homes series kicks off this weekend with the Woollaston 3rd Tasman Classic on Sunday. 

Update: Benchmark Homes team dominates opening Benchmark Homes series

The Benchmark Homes series starts a little later this year, but the seven round series still promises to offer great competition as well as the fantastic opportunity for riders to experience European style teams based racing with support vehicles, managers etc.

Benchmark Homes' Daniel Barry won the series last year while other winners of this prestigious series have been eight-time tour of Southland winner, Olympian and Commonwealth Games cyclist Brian Fowler, Robin Reid, Paul Odlin, and master-grade cyclist and dual Olympian Chris Nicholson.

Benchmark Homes is both the prime sponsor of the series, and a sponsor of one of the teams. Team Manager Tony Laplanche said, "After 50 years involvement in the sport, [I believe] team racing is the best thing that ever happened to cycling in this country. It develops young riders, teaches them how to work as a team and gives them opportunities to ride overseas".

Subway Avanti Pro Cycling team manager Greg Hume agrees, "The Benchmark series is an excellent opportunity for young riders to gain an understanding of team ethics, plus the experience and skills necessary to survive in the international cycling scene. These skills include pacing a team leader back to the bunch after a mechanical, and mounting chases at the head of the peloton on the instruction of the team leader".

The series, and each race, is open to any BikeNZ registered rider who wants to put together a team of between 5 and 10 riders - although on any given day, no more than 7 can be men.  

Round 1: Woollaston 3rd Tasman Classic

Start finish at Woollaston Estates, Tasman. 9am start, The men will complete ten laps for a total 160km, and the women 7 laps for 112km.  The field at 120+ riders is a record entry for this event.   Course maps are available on the Tasman Wheelers website.

According to Tasman Wheelers president Malcolm Saunders, the riders to watch for are the Subway team led by Gordon McCauley, along with with Hayden Godfrey who won the Club Nationals Senior mens race in October on this same circuit. Robin Reid and Chris Nicholson, both former winners of the Benchmark Series will be looking for podium places, as will Paul Odlin, who placed 2nd in the Le Race last Saturday when he outsprinted McCauley in a close finish.

In the women's race Gabby Vermunt, Kumho Tyres, won the Women's Club Nationals also on this circuit, with Karen Fulton of Tasman Wheelers placing 2nd on that day.

Benchmark Homes series 2010

• Round 1 28 March, Nelson Woollaston 3rd Tasman Classic
• Round 2 18 April, Hokitika Beachfront Hotel Hokitika Classic
• Round 3 9 May,  Hanmer Ocean Ridge 4th Hanmer Springs-Kaikoura
• Round 4 15 August, Taitapu Aquados 4th Tour of Selwyn
• Round 5 11 Sept,  Cust 4th Parry Field Lawyers open
• Round 6 26 Sept,  Rangiora KPMG Accountants Trophy
• Round 7 16 October, Oxford 'The Star' 6th Oxford Grand Prix

Team comments

Subway Avanti Pro Cycling

Current National time trial champion Gordon McCauley, who has five Benchmark round wins to his credit and has finished second overall on two occasions, is a hot contender this year.

"Gordy has openly stated that winning this series is one of his main objectives this year. He has the experience and hunger to win, but he also has the strategic support of his experienced UCI (International) Subway – Avanti sponsored team," Team Manager Hume said.

Ultimo Jamis Cycling Team

"The team has done very well in this series in the past three years so we will be looking forward to continuing this trend with a strong team to tackle the first round," said Team Manager Stephen Taylor.

"Joe and Anthony Chapman will lead a very strong team that includes Mike Naylor, James Gibson and Andy MacKay. The boy's are well up for the challenge of two big races in the one weekend [Graperide on Saturday] so look out for a strong showing from the boy's in the Red & Black!!"

"We are focused on enjoying the team concept, coffee and performing well in our targeted events," Team Manager and Marketing Manager for Warmup Kelly Chapman said.

"We have a good bunch of guys that train a lot together and we're really looking forward to the team focused Benchmark series, next weekend's Tour of Canterbury and Tour de Lakes, the Canterbury champs and then the Club Nationals. It's crunch time with the seasons key events all lined up and we're hopeful of a strong showing."

"We're realistic about where we sit in the scheme of things; the guys all work hard in various jobs, most have families and cycling is something we do for fun, when and where we can fit training and racing in – we're certainly not a Subway – Avanti or Benchmark type of team, but we enjoy racing and competing at our own level."

Mico All About Plumbing

"Our team is ready to race three times this weekend at the Graperide in Blenheim and the Rotorua-Taupo 100k Flyer on Saturday and the first round of the Benchmark series in Nelson on Sunday," said Team Director Steve Elden.

"We have added riders and sponsors to boost the team and looking forward to showing our sponsors' colours from one end to the other of NZ this week. Louis Wright, an up and coming U19 rider from Matamata and Lee Evans, a fresh U23 from Wellington have joined the team. Both riders are part of the development plan to progress and grow with us as the team grows over the session and into 2011. We are real believers in supporting the young riders as they progress and develop into the sport and on to the international stage. These are two riders to watch in the future."

Confirmed teams for Round 1

Full start list for Round 1