Last year’s winner of the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece, the holder of the blue flag of the general classification athlete of Bolton Equities Black Spoke spoke exclusively on the official site of the event www.hellas-tour.gr about his experience last year, the challenges of the current season and the his future plans, which include this year’s PPC Cycling Tour of Greece (May 2-6).
In 2022 the cyclist from New Zealand continued with the air of the winner of the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece and had one of the best seasons of his career, both on the road and on the track.
In the first category, he scored five victories, among them the jersey of the general classification of the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece and the 1st stage of the event with a finish in Chania.
On the track, he swept the firsts at the Oceania championships (4 golds, 1 silver), took the bronze medal in the omnium at the World Championships, saving the best for the year finale.
In particular, he won four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games hosted in Birmingham (3 track, 1 road), a feat that no other New Zealand athlete had achieved until then.
Off the road, Aaron Gate sits high in the World Rankings and remains in the hunt for a ticket to the Paris Olympics. This year, he has already competed in the UCI Nations Cup in Indonesia, counting one second (Team Pursuit) and one third place (Madison). On the road, he counts 9 participations in National Championships and international races, winning at the beginning of the season the jersey of the individual time trial champion in New Zealand.
– 2022 was one of the most successful seasons of your career, with important distinctions both on the road and on the track. It all started with the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece and your first victory in the general classification of a 2.1 class Tour. What do you remember from the event and looking back where do you think the victory was decided?
“I raced aggressively in the first stage and with a lot of help from my teammate James Fouché, I managed to open the gap from the peloton. At levels, that it was not possible for him to catch me. Since then, I’ve been quite lucky because I’ve had a great team by my side, they’ve helped me control the remaining four stages and celebrate winning the blue jersey.”
– This year, Bolton Equities Black Spoke will once again be in the peloton of the Tour. Last year, speaking from the winner’s podium in Ioannina, you said that you would return in 2023 to defend the jersey. You will keep your promise
“Based on the current data of the team’s game plan, yes, I will keep my promise and play.”
– Bolton Equities Black Spoke this year upgraded to UCI ProTeam from UCI Continental Team. What changes does this differentiation signify for you (competitive/training), but also overall in the planning of the team.
“The most important change is the increase in matches compared to last year. In fact, we were given the opportunity to start the season earlier, with the matches in Europe. So it’s definitely harder to control your form. Of course, I hope this year too, to be in the right physical condition at the PPC Cycling Tour of Greece, and who knows, maybe I’ll win the general classification again”.
– What are your goals for 2023? As the team’s schedule has several races on the road, while there is also your bid to qualify for the 2024 Olympics on the track.
“I am focused both on the road and on the track. One complements the other perfectly and they help me to develop! Of course, yes, it is very important to collect enough points in order to secure a place for Paris and the Olympic Games. An important role in this effort will be played by the World Championship in Glasgow in August. In fact, the Tour of Greece is an important part of my preparation for this event”.
– In closing, we want you to tell us what you liked most about last year’s Tour and what you think needs to be improved to make it even better.
“Initially, there was a great diversity in the stages of last year’s event, with some magical landscapes of Greece being revealed during its duration. This year’s start includes an individual time trial, which is in my favor as I am the New Zealand individual time trial champion. In general, it suits my teammates as well.
Other than that, I think some small details with security can be fixed. I believe that this year, we will enjoy a perfect round”.
Source: Sport Fm
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