Jan 15th, 10.

Jorge Sandoval tests Admirals Hill in the Rice Mountain Classic

Race Director Jorge Sandoval, who has been running this tour for many years, continually tries to add something new to challenge the riders and provide the spectators with exciting racing. He hopes adding the Rimutaka Hill climb will do just that.

"This is my 23rd tour and I try to make it better every year so I hope riders, spectators and all the sponsors enjoy the event and see that we have improved in many ways," Sandoval told RoadCycling.co.nz.

"Having permits to race over the Rimutakas is a big thing," he said.

Stage two is similarly difficult with the steepest hill in the Wairarapa, Te Wharau, to climbed for a second time, this time after 125km. Then, just when the riders are looking for relief, there is still another 12km to the stage's end at the summit of Admiral Hill.

The climb up Admiral Hill has tended to decide the overall tour winner in the past, but this time stage three from Masterton to Pahiatua, and return, includes five climbs and may prove to be the decisive stage.

The five climbs will offer plenty of opportunity for the wearer of the tour leader's yellow jersey to be challenged. Over the five days there are 64km of serious climbing.

Top Class Field

The field for the Trust House Cycle Classic includes teams from New Zealand and Australia and based on some of the riders and their performances, this year's tour is shaping up for a display of intense racing.

"This year's field is one of the best in the tour history. I will only compare it to my 1995 Auckland to Wellington cycle classic in quality so it should be a great event," said Sandoval.

With riders like Heath Blackgrove, winner of the 2009 Tour of Southland, Tom Findlay, Under 23 National title holder, and Jack Bauer the new NZ National Road Champion among the kiwis competing, this is going to be an interesting battle against the strong international teams.

The Australian teams competing include Genesys Wealth Advisers, Apollo Cycles, Madonagh Blake Mace, Shortis Cycle Team, and Fly V Australia.

Fly V Australia won more than ninety races in Australia and the United States in the last nine months of 2009. This UCI Continental Team has riders with current or past national titles, major USA tour victories, and past Trusthouse Classic wins. They will be looking for more titles for their trophy cabinet.

Sandoval is delighted with the continued high calibre of the Australian riders, and the professionalism of their teams.

"They are very close to the leading European teams in terms of their setup, which will help ensure the classic is bigger and better than last year," Sandoval said.

Radios banned in this year's tour

This year's Trust House Cycle Classic will be different from previous tours as radios have been banned meaning teams won't be able to communicate with riders during the race.

The UCI are planning on introducing radio bans and all races in the future, and Sandoval has decided this starts in 2010 for the classic.

"This is something which needed to be done a long time ago. In tours such as mine, only the top riders have them, and this is unfair to the rest of the field," said Sandoval.

"I also believe having team radios stop riders thinking for themselves, someone has to tell them what to do. They should know what's going on in the race and act," he said.

"Eddy Merckx, kiwi Jack Swart and many other great cyclists never used them but were clever enough to read a race and know where to be and what to do."

Best Viewing Spots

Thousands of fans will be lining the streets to watch the Trust House Cycle Classic, and many will take the best vantage points early to ensure the best viewing. RoadCycling.co.nz asked Sandoval what he felt were the best viewing spots for the tour.

"This year we have the Rimutakas so I think spectators will be spoilt for choice really," he said.

"My idea is to bring racing to the public and make it easier for spectators to go out and watch the tour."

"I think Kaitoke hill just out of Upper Hutt, the Rimutakas, and Admirals Hill are excellent places to see the suffering if that's what people want to see," said Sandoval.

The race concludes on the afternoon of January 31 with the traditional criterium on Wellington's lower Lambton Quay.

"The final stage in Lambton Quay which always attract lots of spectators is also a must!," he said.

Related articles on the Trust House Cycle Classic

• Full results
• Team lists
• Torckler crowned Trust House Tour Champion
• Fast paced stage sets Torckler up for final tour defence
• Sprint Ace wins stage but Kiwi retains yellow
• Attacks expected in Trust House tour today
• Torckler gives Kiwis something to cheer about
• From Tour Down Under to Wellington tour
• Defending champion stakes his claim
• Summit fun on Rimutaka Hill
• Five NZ champions for Trust House tour
• Kiwi Aussie showdown looming
• Defending champion back for Trust House tour

Related Articles

• NZCT women's tour ventures to the Manawatu
• NZ tour considers radio ban
• Radio debate: Open letter from a reader
• Rimutaka climb back in Trust House Cycle Classic

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