Black Spoke pulled the pin today, four years after it was established with the aim of providing a pathway for Kiwi riders onto the world stage.
It was made up of a majority of Kiwi riders and Kiwi staff, and had been mostly funded by rich lister Murray Bolton.
However Bolton slashed the funding in September, leaving the team with a funding gap that they ultimately weren’t able to fill.
“It’s just gutting for New Zealand cycling,” cyclist James Oram told 1News today.
General manager Scott Guyton said they had been looking for around $1.5 million in order to keep the team going and while he described the situation as “very disappointing”, he also acknowledged Bolton for giving the group the opportunity for the last four years.
Professional cycling teams are famously expensive to run.
Black Spoke – made up of 20 riders and 10 staff – had set up an entire operation in Europe, where most racing took place, including a base for the team in Belgium
They were rewarded with various podiums – including Aaron Gate’s stage win at the Tour of Luxembourg last year, while also making their debut on the prestigious World Tour earlier this year.
Guyton told 1News there’s pride in what they’ve achieved, but that more time would have been needed to build more of a legacy.
“It does take time to grow bike riders,” he said.
“Looking from where I am now, I’d say six, seven or eight years is needed to build something long-lasting.”
'There’s still opportunities out there'
The blow of Black Spoke’s end will be most bitter for several of the riders who are now without a team.
But some, like Commonwealth champion Aaron Gate, have already been picked up by other teams.
For New Zealand’s reigning national road champion Oram, it spells the end of his pro cycling career.
While he’d thought he’d be in Europe with the team through 2024, he says he has now decided to pull the pin.
“It’s time for a career change for me, which has its own challenges and own excitement… So like racing, I’m just going to jump into those.”
He says the timing isn’t ideal for other riders, with most teams already full.
However his own experience – having been part of a team that folded in 2017 – means he knows first-hand that it doesn’t mean the end.
“If you’ve truly got the hunger there's always an opportunity out there,” he said.
“New Zealand cyclists have always been underdogs, we’ve always fought our way to the top.
“So there’s still opportunities out there for those who are good, who are genuinely good – it’s just going to take them a year or two longer to get there.”
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