Tour of Wellington

Stage 1      Stage 2      Stage 3      Stage 4      Stage 5      Stage 6      Stage 7      Stage 8

The Stages:

Start/Finish: Wi-Neera Drive, (outside Radiola) Route is - Wi-Neera Dr, Right turn into into Titahi Bay Rd. Main Road, Left Turn into Bay Dr, Right Turn into Richard St, Right Turn into John St, Right Turn into Whanake St, Veer Left into Main Rd, Titahi Bay Rd, Left Turn into Wi-Neera Dr to finish.

Friday 10 April 1998 - Stage 2 Porirua-Waikanae, 70 kms.

Riders assemble Parumoana St, Porirua, 10.00. Race towards Paremata Roundabout and follow Paremata Road towards Pauatahanui. At Pauatahanui veer Right into SH58 towards the Hutt Valley. SH2 - River Rd, SH2, left turn into Akatarawas Rd towards the finish at Waikanae.

Friday 10 April 1998 - Stage 3 Waikanae-Porirua, 44 kms.

Riders assemble off SH1 Waikanae at 13.00. Riders travel over the railway line and turn Left heading South towards Paraparaumu. At Paekakaeriki veer Left up the Hill. Follow the road towards Pauatahanui. At Pauatahanui, go over the bridge into Paremata Rd - SH58. At Paremata roundabout, go Left into SH1 towards Porirua. Follow the road, veer left into the overbridge, go around the roundabout into Parumoana St to the finish.

Saturday 11 April 1998 - Stage 4 Wellington-Wainuiomata, 63 kms.

Riders assemble outside the Parliament Buildings, 10.00. Race travel neutralised towards Petone via Lambton Quay, Panama St, Featherson St, Hunter St, Jervois Quay,Bunny St and Thorndon Quay. Race start in Thorndon Quay, route is: SH2, Petone Esplanade, Waione St, Seaview Rd, Parkside Rd, Hutt Park Rd, Gracefield Rd, Wainui Rd. Riders will race towards Wainuiomata via Wainuiomata Rd, Main Rd and Coast Road. At the end of Coast Road, riders will do a U-turn and return to the finish in Wainuiomata. Riders return to Wainuiomata via Coast Rd, Main Rd. At the Wainuiomata Roundabout riders will go right into Fitzherbert Rd, and Left to the finish at The Strand.

Saturday 11 April 1998 - Stage 5 Gracefield-Hawkins Hill, 57 kms.

Assemble Hutt Park Road, 14.00. Race travel neutralized towards Wellington via Parkside Rd, Seaview Rd, Waione St and The Esplanade. Veer Left into Hutt Rd towards Wellington, Race starts and heads towards Hawkins Hill, via Hutt Rd, Thorndon Quay, Bunny St, Right into Jervois Quay, Cable St, Oriental Parade, Evans Bay Pde, Cobham Drive - left turn - Shelly Bay Road Left turn - Massey Road - Karaka Road - Marine Parade - Inglis St, right turn. Breaker Bay - Moa Point - Lyall Parade - Owhiro Bay Parade - Happy Valley Road -left turn into Todman Street - top of Brooklyn - follow to Mitchell Street - Right turn into Karepa Street - right turn to the finish top of Hawkins Hill.

Sunday 12 April 1998 - Stage 6 Miramar Peninsula Circuit, 100 kms.

Riders assemble - 9.45am outside the Parliament Buildings. Race travel neutralized towards Oriental Bay via Lambton Quay, Panama St, Featherson St, Hunter St, Right into Jervois Quay - Cable Street - Oriental Parade - Evans Bay Road - Cobham Drive - Enter Circuit - Miramar - Miramar Ave - left turn into Para Street - right turn into Awa Road - left turn into Karaka Bay Road - follow to Massey Road - Shelly Bay Road - Miramar Ave - left turn. Riders will complete 8 laps of the Circuit.

Monday 13 April 1998 - Stage 7 Wellington-Mount Victoria, 53 kms.

Riders assemble at Parliament Buildings, 10.00. Race travel neutralized towards Brooklyn via Lambton Quay, Panama St, Featherson St, Hunter St, Jervois Quay, Cable St, Right turn into Taranaki St, Race Start, Route is: Taranaki St, Right turn into Webb St, Left turn into Brooklyn Road, Ohiro Road. Follow the road towards Mount Victoria via Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Lyall Bay, Seatoun, Scorching Bay, Cobham Drive, Calabar Rd, Left into Broadway, go past the tunnel, veer left into Ferry St and Marine Parade. Follow the route to complete one more lap of circuit. At the end of the second lap, go into Cobham Drive, Evans Bay Parade, Oriental Parade. Right turn into Carlton Gore Road. Follow the road to the top of the hill via Grafton Road and Thane Road. Race finish at the Lookout.

Monday 13 April 1998 - Stage 8 Wellington Circuit (Frank Kitts Park)

Start/Finish inside the Wharf, circuit is Left line of Jervois Quay, Cable St, Left turn into Taranaki St. Gates and follow the circuit towards FKP.

Introduction to the Tour of Wellington

Short, hard stages of 50-70 kilometres in the morning and then another 60-odd Km stage in the afternoon create exciting racing. In the Wellington to Auckland cycle race - the only other event that comes near or rivals the Tour of Wellington for international involvement in New Zealand - the stages are much longer and most of the racing takes part out in the country side.

" In the Tour of Wellington we bring the race to the public, everyone gives their 100 percent best because they know they can do 60 kilometres, it is the speed that makes the classic such a great race" Race Director Jorge Sandoval said

The Australian National Teams entered in this year's Nicholsons Cycle Classic have only one thing on their mind - winning. The Aussies dominated the tour last year. The two Australian teams finished first and second overall and their cyclists also filled the first three places in the final individual positions, on top of that, Australia also won the King of the Mountains.

The Australian Cycling Federation has entered two national teams for this year's tour. Leading the way will be last year's Tour Winner Corey Sweet. Sweet who after wining the 1997 tour, went on to perform very well in the amateur Tour of Italy, the under-23 world championships in Spain and many other Europeans races and is looking forward to his return to Wellington.

"I won my first ever international tour here in Wellington last year and it would be nice to do the same again. We have a team as good if not better than last year, we know the hills in Wellington and we should do very well" said Sweet.

Joining Sweet as part of the 'Australian A Team' is Kris Denham who was a member of the 97 team, Josh Collingwood, Ben Brooks and Nick Brown.

Riding for the second Australian team are Cameron McDonald, Warren Jennings, Derek Crumpler, Mat Rice and Sean Sullivan. "They are part of a new breed of cyclists who are slowly taking over from some of the big names in Australian cycling ' said Ron Bonham, National Coaching Director of the Australian Cycling Federation.

Race Director Jorge Sandoval is delighted with the quality of the Australian teams "Australian riders dished out a hiding to New Zealand best last year. They won almost everything, including four out of seven stages, the King of the Mountains, the Teams competition and to put the icing on the cake, they finish 1-2-3 on general classification"

"It was tough for the kiwis, and looking at the two Aussie teams named for this year tour, plus a few more coming as individuals, we may see a repeat of 1997. The Aussies are back for more, and this team will be the biggest threat for the New Zealanders." said Race Director Jorge Sandoval.

Two formidable New Zealand National Teams have been named for next month international Tour of Wellington.

"This is a great boost for the Tour and give riders the opportunity to race for New Zealand right here on their own country before the 1998 Commonwealth Games" said Sandoval.

The two teams are the New Zealand Elite Road Team and the "New Zealand Track Cycling Team" who are preparing for this year's Commonwealth Games.

The Road National Team is to be lead by Graeme Miller "Graeme has pretty much became a household name in New Zealand. People particularly remember the two golds Graeme won at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, he is aggressive and a very honest rider, a promoter's dream" said Sandoval.

Two times winner of the Cycle Classic, Ric Reid from Auckland is also a member of the Team. Reid, winner of many stages in international tours in France, South Africa Canada and many other countries is one of the favorites to take this year's tour.

Other team members are Glen Mitchell, winner of the 1996 Palmerston North to Wellington Classic and this year's Ballarat Classic in Australia, John Ownsworth from Auckland who finish second in the 1997 Tour of Japan and last year's winner of the Under 23 Oceania Championships Karl Murray. Murray has also represented New Zealand at the 1997 World Championships in Spain, Taiwan, Germany and France.

"They are a very formidable team with very experince riders. All of them have ridden the tour a number of times so they know what to expect - anyone in this team is capable of winning the tour." said Sandoval.

Complete Starting List:

 1. Corey Sweet (Aus) AIS
 2. Josh Collingwood (Aus) AIS
 3. Kris Denham (Aus) AIS
 4. Ben Brooks (Aus) AIS
 5. Nick Brown (Aus) AIS
 6. Warren Jennings (Aus) VIS
 7. Derek Crumpler (Aus) VIS
 8. Cameron McDonald (Aus) VIS
 9. Mat Rice (Aus) VIS
10. Sean Sullivan (Aus) VIS
11. Nathan Blackman (Aus) Composite
12. Luke Kuss (Aus) Composite
13. Matt Gould (Aus) Composite
14. Jamie Drew (Aus) Composite
15. David Triney (Aus) Composite
16. Graeme Miller (NZ) New Zealand
17. Ric Reid (NZ) New Zealand
18. Karl Murray (NZ) New Zealand
19. Glen Mitchell (NZ) New Zealand
20. John Ownsworth (NZ) New Zealand
21. Haydon Godfrey (NZ) New Zealand-Track
22. Brendan Cameron (NZ) New Zealand-Track
23. Glen Thomson (NZ) New Zealand-Track
24. Tim Carswell (NZ) New Zealand-Track
25. Greg Henderson (NZ) New Zealand-Track
26. Stephen Wallis (NZ)
27. Ryan Russell (NZ)
28. Glen Wilson (NZ)
29. Mark May (NZ)
30. Matthew Yates (NZ)
31. Brian Fowler (NZ)
32. Jarrod Poad (NZ)
33. Brett Day (NZ)
34. Norm Shattock (NZ)
35. Heat Degarnham (NZ)
36. Darren Murray (NZ)
37. Murray Spencer (NZ)
38. George Fuge (NZ)
39. Greg Scott (NZ)
40. Jon-Paul Hendriksen (NZ)
41. Robin Reid (NZ)
42. Jamie Kidd (NZ)
43. Andrew Reid (NZ)
44. Andrew Mildenhall (NZ)
45. Karl Williscroft (NZ)
46. Zachary Prendergast (NZ) - B
47. Ross Heald (NZ) - B
48. Andrew Widdup (NZ) - B
49. Trevor Rice (NZ) - B
50. Cliff Fellingham (NZ) - B
51. Gordon McCauley (NZ)
52. DaviD Lee (NZ)
53. Lee Vertongen (NZ)
54. Jarrod Alty (NZ)
55. Fraser McMaster (NZ)
56. Darien Rush (NZ)
57. Mark Phillips (NZ)
58. Paul Bishop (NZ)
59. Kyle Jones (NZ)
60. Andrew Perry (NZ)