Young BikeNZ riders impress in Canada

Counties Manukau cyclist Oliver Hardy-Sheath was the best of the BikeNZ riders in the five-stage Tour de L’Abitibi in Canada.

Hardy-Sheath, who won the opening prologue, finished 15th overall on general classification in the five day event in Val D’Or, Ontario.

He finished 1min 5sec behind winner Arnaud Jouffray (FRA) in the international tour that included seven full country representative teams in the powerful field.

Next best was North Harbour’s Taylor Gunman in 28th place, 1m48s down on the winner with Auckland’s Sam Lindsay 33rd, Latham Croft (North Harbour) 35th and Hamish Presbury (Invercargill) 71st.

Next on the schedule is the UCI Under-23 Nations Cup Abitibi.

Results, Tour de L’Abitibi:

Arnaud Jouffray (FRA) 8:39.08, 1; Charlie Aris (USA) same time, 2; David Boily (CAD) at 8sec, 3.

New Zealanders: Oliver Harding-Sheath at 1:05, 15; Taylor Gunman 1:48, 28; Sam Lindsay 2:04, 33; Latham Croft at 2:06, 35; Hamish Presbury at 6:19, 71.