It will be a big weekend of cycling on road and track this weekend as Cycling Southland hosts three events over four days.

Longest running club classic in the country, The Stonewood Homes Gore to Invercargill Classic will kick things off on Thursday, with riders in the open classic handicap race taking on a 71km course from Gore to Invercargill, finishing on McQuarrie Street. With $500 on offer for the first rider across the line, $500 for the fastest time, and $500 for the first woman, the prize purse is a big draw for riders.

Brendan Akeroyd of Stonewood Homes said that being involved as a sponsor of an iconic event like the Stonewood Homes Gore to Invercargill classic was a privilege.

“It’s just one of those historic events, we try to attract as many good riders as possible, and have a good day out. It is a race that everybody knows and likes, and Stonewood Homes likes to get behind it and support it,” he said.

This will be followed by the ILT New Year Track Carnival at the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome, starting at 5pm on Friday, with the second session at 10am on Saturday. Spectator entry is free, and there will be some great racing on show, with events including invitational Keirin racing on Friday evening, and riders competing for the OJ Henderson Memorial Trophy in the junior wheel race, and the Cycling Southland Wheelrace Trophy in the open wheel race.

The weekend will close with the Ascot Park New Year Criteriums on Sunday, taking place from 10:30am on a circuit around the Ascot Park Hotel.

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