Two of New Zealand’s most respected cyclists, George Bennett and Aaron Gate are among the 192 riders to tackle cycling’s biggest and most famous race when the Tour de France begins in Barcelona tomorrow.
It is a special day for Gate, who will join the dots on his celebrated career on the track and road, with his first Grand Tour on cycling’s biggest stage.
The 35-year-old becomes the 20th kiwi to start in Le Tour, having competed on the track in three Olympic Games, and a multi-world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
While Gate has won national titles on the road and ridden professionally mixed with his track focus, he ventured to the UCI WorldTour for the first time with XDS Astana team from 2025. Having relocated with his family to the training mecca of Andorra, Gate has now been selected for a UCI Grand Tour for the first time.
Meanwhile current national road champion, Bennett will start Le Tour for the sixth time, just behind Jack Bauer and Julian Dean who completed seven Tours de France.
Bennett, a two-time Olympian on the road, is starting his 17th Grand Tour at the weekend. The 36-year-old, who has been on the World Tour since Radioshack in 2015, will be a key member of the NSN Cycling Team under the directorship of kiwi Sam Bewley.
As the current national champion, he will wear his distinctive championship white jersey throughout the three-week race.
This year’s Tour will be one of the toughest with seven flat stages, four hilly and eight mountain stages which include five summit finishes and a double-ascent of the famed switch-back Alpe d’Huez.
Aaron Gate (Top) and George Bennett