Tour de Ranges 2014 Photos – New Zealand Cycling day 4

Feeling somewhat jet lagged I set off with Chris from New Zealand Road Cyclist for the 2014 SRAM Tour de Ranges cycle sportive just to the South of Auckland in Clevedon. With race numbers and cycling kit picked up and with an excellent New Zealand coffee inside me thanks to All Press NZ coffee i was (kind of) ready for the 110 km sportive and my first proper ride on the New Zealand Roads.

The sportive itself was a large loop around the Hunua Ranges and along the beautiful coastline of the Firth of Thames. (View the route here)

With a total climb of 1000 metres it was always going to feel fairly flat to me which I have to say was no bad thing. After attacking Snake hill (described as a mini Alpe d’Huez by the organisers) at approximately the 70km my legs finally started to feel a bit heavy much to the delight of Chris who was enjoying putting me into some jet lagged pain after his efforts on his first day up Alpe d’Huez last year.

My legs finally went on the last climb up McNicol Road. I tried to get out the saddle to follow Chris but immediately realised that it was a bad idea as both legs cramped up. Chris maintained a 100 metre gap until the finish line just doing enough to ensure that I would not catch him up. He was visible delighted at the finish line to have got one over on me.

Summary

Great event / great weather / great scenery and my first 100km ride since the Gran Fondo Roma last October.

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