Christchurch professional cyclist Laurence Pithie will become the 19th kiwi rider to contest the famed Tour de France starting next week.
Pithie, 22, is the only New Zealand rider in the 112th edition of the iconic annual sporting contest, which begins in Lille, in northern France on Monday and finishes 3,339kms over 21 stages later, on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
He rides for the much-vaunted Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe team, with his role to support the team’s big hope, Slovenian Primoz Roglic, a four-time Grand Tour champion who has yet to conquer the Tour de France.
After initially turning professional as a teenager with Groupama-FDJ based in France, Pithiemoved to Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe team who had Tour de France plans for the kiwi from the get-go.
“It comes down to form and how you are going but the plan was to be ready and fit for the Tour. I did altitude training camps and I am in good form. To get the call-up was pretty awesome, “ said Pithie.
“It’s my first Tour de France and sure it is a little bit daunting but I am super-excited.”
Pithie comes off a strong performance in the key lead-up race of the Criterium du Dauphiné, and has today completed a tough altitude camp at 2,400m in Andorra, where the kiwi resides.
“The Dauphine has definitely given me confidence. I went in with good form although not knowing how I would stack up. But I got better as the race went on and it was a big confidence-boost for me,” said Pithie.
“The TDF is a different race and a lot longer. I need to take the opportunity with both hands. My favourite part of the sport is racing, so now all the hard work I have put in over the last month especially will be put on show.”
Pithie’s role is to support Roglic who has stage wins on the Tour but not the overall honourswhich have been dominated by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma) over the last five years.
“He (Roglic) is super-strong and has great experience in Grand Tours so I will be racing every day to protect him and give him the best possible chance of going for the yellow jersey,” said Pithie.
Pithie, who turns 23 years midway through the Tour, will have his father on the sidelines to cheer him on.
“It will be great to have Dad there. I have also had messages from people back at home who are coming here to watch. So I am looking forward to some support from the kiwi contingent over here and the people back home.”