Gate chases points honours in Germany

New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate is will chase for the sprint points jersey in tomorrow’s final stage of the Thuringen Rundfahrt in Germany.

He won the first intermediate sprint in today’s queen stage, a 193km monster with five categorised climbs and now trails German Michael Humbert by four points going into tomorrow’s final stage, a 163km with a steep climb on each of the four circuits around the city of Weida.

Dutch rider Wilco Kelderman, who moved into the yellow jersey after winning the time trial yesterday, followed this with victory today to take a telling advantage into the last stage.

Ashburton’s Jason Christie rode strongly to finish in the peloton five seconds back, and is now in 37th place on general classification, 5:58 behind.

The rest of the New Zealand team worked to protect Christie and also help Gate to gain maximum sprint points.

Meanwhile Kaytee Boyd continued her strong form to finish in the peloton on the penultimate day of the Nature Valley Grand Prix in USA.

The Waiuku rider, part of the BikeNZ endurance track team based in the US, finished in 12th place in today’s 122km Menomonie Road Race over some telling climbs in Wisconsin.

Colavita Forno rider Leah Kirchmann took out the stage in small bunch sprint with Boyd in the peloton 1:13 behind. She is now in 16th place overall, 2:05 behind the leader.

The best of the kiwi riders today was young Wellington prospect Emily Collins, who finished high up in the sprint finishes this week, but also held on in the peloton for 10th placing today for her Vanderkitten Focus pro team.

New Zealanders Jo Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) and Rushlee Buchanan (Colavita Forno) were also in the main bunch 1:13 down with Buchanan now third in the young rider competition and in 10th place overall on general classification, 1:39 behind the leader.

Rosara Joseph and Lauren Ellis were in the second group at 1:20 behind the winner with Jaime Nielsen at 3:37.

The grand prix concludes tomorrow back in Wisconsin for the Stillwater Criterium which includes a solid climb on each lap.

The BikeNZ track sprint group enjoyed some good form on the first day of the Cottbus Grand Prix in Germany today.

Auckland’s Sam Webster was best in the flying 200m in seventh place, clocking 10.380 with Southland’s Matt Archibald setting a personal best 10.589 with Simon Van Velthooven solid in his return to racing after injury. Webster finished 10th overall after recovering from a crash.