Latest news with #LaurencePithie
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Tour de France: George Bennett impressed with fellow Kiwi Laurence Pithie
FROM FIRST UP IV - ON AIR WED 0550AM New Zealand cyclist Laurence Pithie. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool / Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe / Oriol Castello Kiwi cyclist George Bennett wasn't able to make it to the start line for the 2025 Tour de France, but he's been closely following 'La Grande Boucle' from his training base in Andorra as he prepares for another of cycling's grand tours, the Vuelta a Espana. The efforts of fellow Kiwi Laurence Pithie have made an impression on Bennett. The 22-year-old is riding in his first Tour de France campaign and while he's back in 105th place after 10 stages, it's not his job to chase the yellow jersey. His role is to support Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe teammate Primoz Roglic. "He's a he's a big, strong boy from Canterbury." Bennett told RNZ's First Up . "He's definitely not scared to get his elbows out. He's a guy that likes to throw his weight around, and to have a guy like that on your team is really valuable. I love racing with guys like Laurence, but I hate racing against guys like Laurence. And that's why he's there for Primoz, and he's had a busy week protecting him." This year marks 50 years since the Tour first finished on the Champs circuit . To celebrate the occasion, organisers have altered the route of the final stage to include three laps of the Champs and three climbs up the Butte Montmartre. Normally the 21st stage is a largely ceremonial affair with the leaders sipping champagne on the road into Paris before a sprint finish. Bennett isn't a fan, and feels even without the changes, the final stage into Paris is a lot tougher than people realise. George Bennett in 2023. Photo: PHOTOSPORT "I hate it." he said. "On TV it kind of looks just like they cruise around and have a bunch sprint. The reality is that's one of the most horrific stages as it is, the cobbles are rough, it's uphill. It's it's such a horrific stage. If you win the Champ sprint then it's the biggest sprint of the year. But to make it another general classification day where suddenly you finish in the Alps, you take the charter flight to Paris and then you have to do this extremely dangerous (stage). Crashing on the cobbles is the worst, you don't get road rash, it takes big chunks out of you. It just, it just makes the whole last day so horrible." Although not having to ride it has altered his perspective a little. "When I was originally going on the tour and I saw that last stage, I wasn't very happy, but now that I'm sitting on my couch watching it, I think, yeah, cool." Once recent change Bennett is more positive about is the introduction of a punishment system for dangerous riding, first trialled during 2024. "In the past it was the wild west, and there weren't really consequences, but they've produced a bit of a yellow card system for dangerous riding. They've already handed out a few cards this year, and if you get two cards, you're out, so I don't know if it's making things safer, but it's probably adding a little bit of sort of justice for a few rogue operators that are repeat offenders." The tour resumes on Wednesday night New Zealand time with the 181 kilometre stage 12 from Auch to Hautacam. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
04-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Tour de France 2025: Laurence Pithie thrilled to fulfil his Tour de France dream
Christchurch 22-year-old Laurence Pithie will become the 19th New Zealander to ride in cycling's iconic Tour de France, which starts in the northern city of Lille tonight. Pithie, who rides for the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team, is in his third year on the UCI World Tour. His role is to
RNZ News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ's Laurence Pithie to make Tour de France debut
Laurence Pithie leads teammates at altitude training ahead of his debut in the Tour de France. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool / Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe / Oriol Castello Christchurch professional cyclist Laurence Pithie will become the 19th New Zealander to contest the famed Tour de France when racing begins next week. Pithie 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 3339kms over 21 stages later, on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. He rides for the 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, when Pithie moved to his current team they saw his potential as a Tour de France rider. "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," Pithie said. "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 this week completed a tough altitude camp at 2400m in Andorra, where he lives. "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. "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." Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates celebrates as he beats Slovenian Primoz Roglic Photo: DAVID STOCKMAN Pithie's role is to support Roglic who has stage wins on the Tour but not the overall honours which have been dominated by Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma) over the past 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." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
