Team Skoda Return to the Classic

Juggling the rider’s roster will see Team Skoda Racing putting their best cyclists forward when they return for the 2020 Gravel and Tar UCI 1.2 Classic.

The top NZ cycling trade team will travel to the Manawatu in January for its fifth outing at the event, a race in which they have had success in the past.

Race director Steve Stannard said the team was always the first NZ to get an invite having competed since the inception.

“They’re fully professional in their approach and always come with a team capable of winning.”

Team Skoda will be out to replicate their 2017 performance where they won the teams classification and had three riders in the top ten.

Team Director Brad Tilby said “We love this race and have come here since its’ inception 5 years ago. It is the first race on the calendar for us and we want to start the year off well. “

While the Team Skoda roster hasn’t been announced, the current crop of World-level juniors transitioning to the senior ranks will likely start the race.

“We have some exciting new riders coming on for 2020 and we will again send our very best team to the race.“ Tilby says.

Having just won the Elite Criterium Nationals with young rider Laurence Pithie, Skoda are looking to continue their late 2019 season form through to 2020 with the Gravel and Tar.

The Gravel and Tar Classic starts in Feilding Square and finishes at Memorial Park in Palmerston North on Saturday, 25th January 2020.