Wikipedia

Bolton Equities Black Spoke

(Redirected from Black Spoke Pro Cycling Academy)

Bolton Equities Black Spoke was a New Zealand UCI ProTeam status cycling team focusing on road bicycle racing.[3] The team was run by ex-professional Scott Guyton and folded at the end of the 2023 season.[4]

Bolton Equities Black Spoke
Team information
UCI codeBEB[1]
RegisteredNew Zealand
Founded2020 (2020)
Disbanded2023
Discipline(s)Road
StatusUCI Continental (2020–2022)
UCI ProTeam (2023)
BicyclesPinarello
Components
  • Shimano
  • Giordana
  • Lazer
  • Pirelli
WebsiteTeam home page
Key personnel
General managerScott Guyton
Team name history
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • Black Spoke Pro Cycling Academy[2]
  • Black Spoke Pro Cycling
  • Bolton Equities Black Spoke Pro Cycling
  • Bolton Equities Black Spoke

History edit

Formation edit

The team was established in 2020 with the involvement of Australian commentator and former cyclist David McKenzie and high-performance coach Marc Prutton.[5]

Backing was provided by businessman Murray Bolton along with other sponsors, institutional supporters and suppliers such as the Armstrong Motor Group, Cycling New Zealand, Giordana, Lazer, Pinarello and Shimano.[6] Other sponsors and equipment suppliers have included Kiwivelo, Park Tool, Pirelli, Pro Bikegear, and Thule Group.[7] In 2022 Bolton Equities run by Murray Bolton stepped up to be the naming sponsor of the team.[8]

2022 edit

The 2022 season started with the New Zealand Cycle Classic where the team took Stage 1 of the race putting Regan Gough into yellow.[9] Stage 2 of the race only Mark Stewart was able to keep up with the front bunch and sprinted to second on the stage moving him into yellow.[10] Stage 3 was a mass sprint with Stewart home safely in yellow and Mitchel Fitzsimons sprinting to seventh.[11] The Queen stage of the Tour was Stage 4 finishing up Te Wharau Hill, Stewart took the stage attacking away from UCI WorldTour Professional George Bennett New Zealand National team and Ollie Jones (St George Continental Cycling Team).[12] The final stage was a short lap race around the main streets of Wellington Regan Gough attacked with a few kilometers to go and managed to hold off the other riders to win ahead of the sprinters. The team won the overall and Mountain classification with Mark Stewart plus 3 stages.[13]

Next on the calendar for the team was the New Zealand National Time Trial and Road Race Championships. The time trial was held first with Regan Gough winning the elite competition and Logan Currie the Under-23.[14] Being the largest New Zealand UCI cycling team they were the favorites to win the road race. The road race was cut short due to strong winds from Cyclone Dovi and at the time James Fouché was in a break alone and so he was deemed the winner.[15] The Oceania Road Cycling Championships were held in Australia and while riding for New Zealand Currie won the Under-23 Time trial with Fouché winning the elite road race and Gate the elite Time trial.[16][17]

With the home races done the team headed abroad to start their European season.[18] The first European race for the team was Tour du Loir-et-Cher where the team managed a podium in stage 2 with Aaron Gate[19] and Luke Mudgway finishing in fourteenth overall.[20] Then off to the Arno Wallaard Memorial where Tom Sexton missed the move of the day and finished in fourteenth 1:30 down on the winner.[21] The final race for April was the 2022 International Tour of Hellas, a five stage race in Greece. In stage 1 Gate managed to get into the breakaway with Fouche there to help pull the breakaway where Gate managed to stay away solo and win the stage by 1:46 to Eduard Prades (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA) who mistakenly celebrated thinking he had won.[22][23] Gate held the jersey through all the following stages with hard work from the team to take home the turquoise leaders jersey as the Overall winner Stewart finished third overall 1:56 down on Gate.[24] This was the teams first Overall victory outside of Oceania.

May started with the Ronde van Overijssel where Mudgway finished eleventh in the bunch sprint.[25][26] Then on to the Arnhem–Veenendaal Classic where the top rider was Mudgway who finished twentieth.[27] The team was unlucky in the Antwerp Port Epic with none of their riders making the front group, Ryan Christensen was first home nearly nine minutes down on winner Florian Vermeersch (Lotto–Soudal).[28][29] The team the headed to Circuit de Wallonie a race for sprinters, once again missing out on a top ten finish Gate finished eleventh.[30][31] Gate kept up with the front bunch at the Grote Prijs Marcel Kint finishing in twenty-fourth.[32] The Tour de la Mirabelle was the next stage race for the team. It started with a short 2.6 km prologue where Currie placed best in twelfth six seconds down.[33] The first road stage ended in a mass sprint with everyone keeping up but no one placing.[34] Stage three was a hilly stage with a flat ending, Currie and James Oram were able to keep up to contest the reduced bunch sprint. They didn't place in the top ten however, because they kept up they moved into fourth and sixth overall respectively with Currie moving into the white jersey of the young rider classification.[35] The final stage was hilly with 48 riders making it to the finish together Ethan Batt placed fifth in the sprint with Oram and Currie finishing on the same time securing their places in the GC and the youth jersey.[36]

The Ronde de l'Oise came back after two years of cancellation due to COVID-19.[37] The team set their sights on overall victory. Stage one started with Fouché getting into the breakaway of the day then being one of two riders left.[38] He then attacked and gained an advantage over break-away companion Aritz Bagües of 44 seconds to win the opening stage solo. Gate sprinted to third on the stage 1:19 down on Fouché.[39] Stages 2 and 3 ended in bunch sprints with both Fouché and Gate keeping up to retain first and third overall going into the final stage.[40][41] The final stage was the flattest stage of the race with all riders except Sexton keeping up for the bunch sprint, unluckily for Gate Jason Tesson won the final stage and gave Tesson enough time to move up to third overall pushing Gate down to fourth.[42] Fouché kept his overall lead and took home the white leaders jersey.[43][44] Remaining in France the team headed to the Tour d'Eure-et-Loir where Ryan Christensen was the designated sprinter, sprinting to ninth, eleventh and third in the three-stage race claiming fifth overall.[45][46] It was then off to the first UCI ProSeries race for the team the Tour of Belgium.[47] Stage 1 of the race started with Gate trying to get into the break of the day but getting caught a few kilometers later. Luke Mudgway managed to get into the break though, with 70 km to go he attacked but was caught by the break with 68 km to go. With 2 laps to go the race was back together a high-speed punchy finish combined with a puncture for Christensen meant the Gate was best finisher in 30th place.[48][49]

In December 2022, Union Cycliste Internationale announced that Bolton Equities Black Spoke Pro Cycling was granted a UCI ProTeam licence for 2023 season.[50]

2023 edit

Main article: 2023 Bolton Equities Black Spoke season

The team now a UCI ProTeam changed their name to Bolton Equities Black Spoke.[1]

Team roster edit

As of 14 January 2023[1][51]
Rider Date of birth
  Ethan Batt (NZL) (1998-08-20) 20 August 1998 (age 25)
  Matthew Bostock (GBR) (1997-07-16) 16 July 1997 (age 26)
  Josh Burnett (NZL) (2000-10-26) 26 October 2000 (age 23)
  Ryan Christensen (NZL) (1996-09-12) 12 September 1996 (age 27)
  Logan Currie (NZL) (2001-06-24) 24 June 2001 (age 22)
  Mitchel Fitzsimons (NZL) (2003-01-09) 9 January 2003 (age 21)
  James Fouché (NZL) (1998-03-28) 28 March 1998 (age 26)
  Aaron Gate (NZL) (1990-11-26) 26 November 1990 (age 33)
  Regan Gough (NZL) (1996-10-06) 6 October 1996 (age 27)
  George Jackson (NZL) (2000-02-20) 20 February 2000 (age 24)
Rider Date of birth
  Ollie Jones (NZL) (1996-04-23) 23 April 1996 (age 27)
  Josh Kench (NZL) (2001-05-06) 6 May 2001 (age 22)
  Luke Mudgway (NZL) (1996-06-12) 12 June 1996 (age 27)
  Bailey O'Donnell (NZL) (2000-09-25) 25 September 2000 (age 23)
  James Oram (NZL) (1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 (age 30)
  Jacob Scott (GBR) (1995-06-14) 14 June 1995 (age 28)
  Thomas Sexton (NZL) (1998-11-19) 19 November 1998 (age 25)
  Mark Stewart (GBR) (1995-08-25) 25 August 1995 (age 28)
  Rory Townsend (IRL) (1995-06-30) 30 June 1995 (age 28)
  Paul Wright (NZL) (1998-02-03) 3 February 1998 (age 26)

Major wins edit

2020
Stage 1 New Zealand Cycle Classic, Aaron Gate
Gravel and Tar, Hayden McCormick
2021
New Zealand Cycle Classic
Stage 2, Luke Mudgway
Stage 5, Campbell Stewart
Gravel and Tar, Aaron Gate
  New Zealand National Time Trial Championships, Aaron Gate
Stages 2 & 3 A Travers les Hauts de France, Campbell Stewart
2022
  Overall New Zealand Cycle Classic, Mark Stewart
Stage 1 (TTT) [N 1]
Stage 4, Mark Stewart
Stage 5, Regan Gough
  New Zealand National Time Trial Championships, Regan Gough
  New Zealand National U23 Time Trial Championships, Logan Currie
  New Zealand National Road Race Championships, James Fouché
  Overall International Tour of Hellas, Aaron Gate
Stage 1, Aaron Gate
  Ronde de l'Oise, James Fouché
Stage 1, James Fouché
  Overall Grand Prix Cycliste de Gemenc, Luke Mudgway
  Overall Tour of Romania, Mark Stewart
Prologue, Tom Sexton
Stage 3 Tour de Luxembourg, Aaron Gate
2023
  Overall New Zealand Cycle Classic, James Oram
Stage 1, James Oram
Stage 3, Josh Burnett
Stage 4, Luke Mudgway
  New Zealand National Criterium Championships, Luke Mudgway
  New Zealand National Time Trial Championships, Aaron Gate
  New Zealand National U23 Time Trial Championships, Logan Currie
  New Zealand National Road Race Championships, James Oram
Prologue International Tour of Hellas, Aaron Gate
  Overall Tour of Taihu Lake, George Jackson
  Points classification, George Jackson
  Young rider classification, George Jackson
Stages 3 & 4, George Jackson

National champions edit

2021
  New Zealand Time Trial, Aaron Gate
2022
  New Zealand Time Trial, Regan Gough
  New Zealand Under-23 Time Trial, Logan Currie
  New Zealand Road Race, James Fouché
2023
  New Zealand Criterium, Luke Mudgway
  New Zealand Time Trial, Aaron Gate
  New Zealand Under-23 Time Trial, Logan Currie
  New Zealand Road Race, James Oram
  New Zealand Under-23 Road Race, Logan Currie

Notes edit

  1. ^ The riders on the squad were Josh Kench, Logan Currie, Regan Gough, Mark Stewart, Ryan Christensen and Mitchel Fitzsimons

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "BOLTON EQUITIES BLACK SPOKE". UCI. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Black Spoke Pro Cycling Academy takes off with big ambitions". roadcycling.co.nz. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Black Spoke Pro Cycling Academy (CT)". ProCyclingStats.com. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  4. ^ "New Zealand UCI Continental Pro Cycling Team launched". voxy.co.nz. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  5. ^ "New Zealand launch UCI Continental Pro Cycling team". SBS Cycling. Special Broadcasting Service. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. ^ "NZ UCI Continental Pro Cycling Team launched". Scoop. Scoop Media. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Our Sponsors". Black Spoke Pro Cycling Academy. 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Portfolio". Bolton Equities. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  9. ^ "2022 NZ Cycle Classic Stage 1" (PDF). cycletournz. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 NZ Cycle Classic Stage 2" (PDF). cycletournz.com. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  11. ^ "New Zealand Cycle Classic 2022 Stage 3 results". procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  12. ^ "2022 NZ Cycle Classic Stage 4" (PDF). cycletournz.com. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  13. ^ "2022 NZ Cycle Classic Stage 5" (PDF). cycletournz.com. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  14. ^ Frattini, Kirsten (11 February 2022). "Williams, Gough win time trial titles at New Zealand Championships". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  15. ^ Giuliani, Simone (13 February 2022). "Remnants of Cyclone Dovi blow New Zealand Road Championships off course". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Josie Talbot and James Fouche crowned 2022 Oceania Road Champions | Oceania Cycling Confederation". oceaniacycling.org. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Aaron Gate and Georgie Howe claim Oceania road time trial titles | Oceania Cycling Confederation". oceaniacycling.org. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  18. ^ Hood, Ed (6 December 2021). "Mark Stewart - Targeting Winning Races with Kiwi Team Black Spoke Racing". VeloVeritas. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Tour du Loir et Cher 2022 Stage 2 results". procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Tour du Loir et Cher 2022 GC results". procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Arno Wallaard Memorial". UCI. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Aaron Gate wins first stage of Tour of Hellas cycing race in Crete". Stuff. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Prades mistakenly salutes Tour of Hellas stage win and crashes - Gallery". cyclingnews.com. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Bolton Equities Black Spoke's Aaron Gate triumphs at the ΔΕΗ International Cycling Tour of Greece – BHS-PL Beton Bornholm's Emil Toudal sprints to stage 5 victory". hellas-tour.gr. 1 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  25. ^ Overijssel, Ronde van (May 2022). "Gouden Vermeltfoort wint Ronde van Overijssel". rondevanoverijssel.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Ronde van Overijssel 07.05.2022 Results of The Race" (PDF). rondevanoverijssel.nl (in Dutch). 7 May 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic 2022 One day race results". procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Antwerp Port Epic / Sels Trophy". UCI. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  29. ^ "Schaal Sels". schaalsels.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  30. ^ "Andrea Pasqualon frustre les Belges et remporte la 56ème édition du Circuit de Wallonie". RTBF (in French). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Circuit de Wallonie 2022 One day race results". procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  32. ^ "Marcel Kint Classic 2022 One day race results". procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  33. ^ "Tour de la Mirabelle - Prologue : Classements - Actualité". DirectVelo (in French). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  34. ^ "Tour de la Mirabelle - Et. 1 : Classements - Actualité". DirectVelo (in French). 27 May 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Tour de la Mirabelle - Et. 2 : Classements - Actualité". DirectVelo (in French). 28 May 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  36. ^ "Tour de la Mirabelle - Et. 3 : Classements - Actualité". DirectVelo (in French). 29 May 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  37. ^ "Édition 2022". rondedeloise.com (in French). Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  38. ^ "Black Spoke Pro Cycling". facebook.com. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  39. ^ "Ronde De L'Oise 2 juin 2022 étape 1 classement". velopressecollection.ouest-france.fr (in French). 2 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  40. ^ "Ronde De L'Oise 4 juin 2022 étape 3 classement". velopressecollection.ouest-france.fr (in French). 4 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  41. ^ "Ronde De L'Oise 3 juin 2022 étape 2 classement". velopressecollection.ouest-france.fr (in French). 3 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  42. ^ "Ronde De L'Oise 5 juin 2022 étape 4 classement". velopressecollection.ouest-france.fr (in French). 5 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Ronde de l'Oise". UCI. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  44. ^ "Black Spoke Pro Cycling". www.facebook.com. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Tour d'Eure-et-Loir 2022". UCI. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  46. ^ "Tour d'Eure-et-Loir 2022 Stage 3 results". www.procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  47. ^ "Final startlist Baloise Belgium Tour". CyclingUpToDate.com. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  48. ^ "UITSLAG - RESULTS - RESULTAT 1e etappe/étape 15/06/2022 MERELBEKE MAARKEDAL" (PDF). Tour of Belgium. Royal Belgian Cycling League. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  49. ^ "LiveStats for Baloise Belgium Tour 2022 Stage 1". www.procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  50. ^ "Granting of last UCI Women's WorldTour licence and 18 UCI WorldTour licences, and registration of UCI Women's WorldTeams and UCI ProTeams for the 2023 season". UCI. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  51. ^ "Bolton Equities Black Spoke 2023". www.procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 13 January 2023.

External links edit

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