Key Takeaways:
– Cyclists Laurence Pithie and Finn Fisher-Black set to debut at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in the Tour Down Under.
– Kiwi pair have a shared history in New Zealand cycling, often racing as rivals.
– Fisher-Black targets GC at the Tour Down Under while Pithie focuses on the Classics.
– Riders hope to unlock potential after significant investment from Red Bull into Ralph Denk’s project.
Cycling Comrades Begin New Chapter
Childhood rivals Laurence Pithie and Finn Fisher-Black are stepping into their new journey at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe together. Set to begin at the Tour Down Under in January, the cycling comrades from New Zealand bring into the fold their professional experiences from Groupama-FDJ and UAE Team Emirates respectively.
Drawn together by their shared love for racing, Pithie and Fisher-Black are globally recognized for their previous stints with the New Zealand Cycle Classic. Although their rivalry has been known since they started racing, the companionship has sparked extensive discussions on potentially being on the same team.
From Rivals to Teammates
Enhancing the close-knit community of New Zealand’s cycling platform, Fisher-Black has achieved numerous victories over Pithie. However, the friendly rivalry between the pair only garnered respect and friendships off the bike, leading them to unite under the same banner at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Now living in Christchurch, their consistent training together only amplifies the excitement to witness their dynamic duo in upcoming races.
Inspired and Aspired Aspirations
Following Pithie’s breakthrough in 2024, wherein he proved his potential as a Classics star with a radiant seventh-place finish at Paris-Roubaix, he will mainly revolve around the bergs and hellingen of Flanders after launching his tenure in Australia. Pithie is looking forward to defending his title at Surf Coast Classic and Cadel’s, followed by his first WorldTour win experience at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
On the other hand, Fisher-Black, who missed out on Grand Tour racing despite an impressive start to the season’s Middle-East races, will target a General Classification (GC) victory at the Tour Down Under. Further, focusing on the hilly Classics stage racing, Fisher-Black aims to feature at either the Tour or the Vuelta.
The Road Ahead
Entering the scene at the age of 22 and 23 respectively, Pithie and Fisher-Black still hold a vast pool of potential to unlock. With a significant investment from Red Bull into Ralph Denk’s project, the riders aspire to shine through their new voyage at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe together. Undoubtedly, their previous rivalry promises an exciting journey, strengthening their chance to seamlessly collaborate at cycling’s super team in the near future.